About this role
Job summary
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust's Children and Young People's Therapies (CYPT) Service is excited to be offering a fixed term Band 7 maternity cover opportunity within it's Speech and Language Therapy Team. We are looking to recruit to an experienced SLT with specialist skills in Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC). If you also are looking to extend your leadership skills, as well as continuing to develop your specialist skills in supporting CYP with complex communication and eating and drinking needs associated with a range of medical conditions, this opportunity could be just right for you.
This fixed term post is 0.6 WTE and will be based in Stevenage. In addition to carrying a clinical caseload at Lonsdale School, a school for pupils with physical and neurological impairment aged from 3 to 18 years, you will support Severe Learning Disability (SLD) settings and provide clinical support to less experienced SLT/SLT Assistants in the locality area.
The postholder will be expected to work autonomously, and as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT), undertaking specialist assessment of children with complex communication needs who require AAC. Foundation dysphagia competencies to assess eating and drinking skills identifying aspiration risk are desirable.
*Proposed interview date: 8th July 2026*
Main duties of the job
Work within a MDT to carry out specialist speech, language and communication assessments of children with complex needs including where AAC is required and as part of the EHCP process.
Have specialist knowledge and experience of both paper/power based AAC including high tech devices; be familiar with hardware, software and access methods; and have an overview of AAC across the service.
Ensure that quality systems are in place to support AAC in school settings, including monitoring/providing feedback to less experienced colleagues and providing specific clinical support as required.
Deliver training to families/carers in the use of highly specialised equipment and software provided.
Provide second opinions for children with complex needs who require AAC.
Provide professional supervision, peer support and second opinions.
We offer:
Regular group professional supervision/peer support.
Working as part of a supportive team of highly specialist SLTs, ensuring best practice and delivery of high quality care systems.
Regular managerial supervision and well-established appraisal system.
Internal/external CPD opportunities such as bitesize tutorials, peer review, CENs.
A 2 week induction period to observe and shadow colleagues across a range of clinical areas/settings.
Regular meetings with Clinical Quality Leads and Operational Leads to plan and implement service delivery/service development.
About us
If you are looking for somewhere to make a real difference and are passionate about helping CYP access the right support at the right time to help them stay safe, and thrive in their development, a career with us may be just what you're looking for. At HCT we strive to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of our communities.
We are proud to be an organisation which focuses on our people, and we welcome people who share our values to come and work with us.
Our shared values support the development of a strong working culture, guiding and inspiring all of our actions and decisions. They enable us to be better at what we do ensuring we provide the highest quality of care to our patients.
Our patients, their families and carers are at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities
Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision
We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages
You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you
You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview - please use this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-communication-support-at-a-job-interview-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-access-to-work . You need to apply before the interview takes place.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.
You will be joining an innovative and agile CYP Therapies service committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.
Successful candidates will be enthusiastic and motivated. Advanced communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of children and young people through upskilling the wider workforce. As a highly specialist SLT, there will be opportunities for you to facilitate professional supervision groups and provide managerial supervision to less experienced colleagues.
You will be joining a well-established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride ourselves on the support we provide to staff. Please see below comments from a current member of the team:
I love working in CYPT/HCT - everyone in the team is super dedicated. There is strong management support, but also space for being flexible and creative to meet childrens needs; innovation & good practice is valued and encouraged. I enjoy & appreciate the robust supervision structures, training in supervision & coaching, and the many opportunities for personal development and learning, including for example in-house training days and tutorials. I have worked in many teams across Hertfordshire, all without exception friendly and welcoming. There is an ethos of peer support and encouragement & sharing learning; everyone works hard but there is a sense of belonging and always time for a quick chat and plenty of laughs. I feel valued here and I value my lovely colleagues and the fabulous children & young people we work with.
If you have any questions at all or you would like to come and visit us, please do contact us - we are only too happy to help and would love to tell you more about our Service.
Applications for part time work will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,192 and a maximum payment of £2,011 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).
If you would like further information about this post please contact Katie Tucker, Operational Manager, by email [email protected]
The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training Essential
Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy with experience and highly specialist knowledge in paediatric speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) acquired through further theoretical training, and experience to Master's level or equivalent relevant to complex communication needs. Continued Professional Development in the area of AAC as evidenced by attendance at specialist postgraduate courses and relevant CENs to maintain and develop specialist knowledge and expertise. Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent (post graduate diploma or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy leading to registration with HCPC) HCPC Licence to Practice, Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Membership of relevant CEN.
Experience and Knowledge Essential
Experience of delivering specialist training to peers and other professionals in the area of AAC, and of delivering training to families in the use of highly specialised equipment and software provided following an assessment. Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to carry out specialist assessment of children with complex needs who require a range of AAC, both paper based and power based. Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of power-based AAC including hardware, software and access methods. Continued Professional Development in the area of Paediatric dysphagia as evidenced by attendance at specialist postgraduate courses and foundation dysphagia practitioner competencies (RCSLT eating, drinking and swallowing competency framework) and attendance to relevant CENs to maintain and develop specialist knowledge and expertise. In depth and expert knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to the service, and high level clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and intervention. Working knowledge of electronic patient record system. Evidence of involvement in service policy development in area of specialism. Knowledge of NHS, Education Policy and directives including Tribunals where these impact on area of specialism or service delivery. Experience of supervising students and less experienced staff.
Desirable
Experience of carrying out mealtime observations / eating and drinking assessments to identify and manage aspiration risk, seeking support from more experienced dysphagia specialist as required
Skills and Abilities Essential
Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate. Ability to communicate effectively at all levels across organisations and with a range of audiences. Knowledge of barriers to understanding & ability to explain complex issues simply. Excellent group presentation skills both written and verbal, as well as computer literate including use of Excel spreadsheets, databases and PowerPoint, Word. Able to analyse and interpret complex data.
Other Essential
Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Address Danestrete Health Centre
Danestrete
Stevenage
SG1 1HB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.hct.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)