Lead Speech & Language Therapist

Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Salary: Band 7 / 8a Equivalent – Specialist School Leadership Role
Location: Pace School, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Salary: £54,710 FTE (£47,976 term-time actual salary)
Contract: Full-time, permanent (term-time working)

Lead a specialist therapy service and help shape life-changing support for pupils with complex needs

Pace School is seeking an experienced Lead Speech and Language Therapist to lead and develop our Speech & Language Therapy provision within a highly regarded specialist education setting.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced SLT who wants to combine clinical expertise, team leadership, and strategic influence while continuing to work directly with children and young people with complex
communication needs.

You will play a key role in shaping therapy provision across the school and supporting pupils to achieve meaningful communication outcomes.

Why SLTs choose to work at Pace

• Lead and develop a well-established therapy service
• Work in a collaborative multidisciplinary team including teachers and therapists
• Shape therapy provision and service development
• Term-time working to support work–life balance
• Ongoing CPD and leadership development opportunities
• A role where your work has visible impact every day

About the role
As Lead Speech & Language Therapist, you will oversee and develop the speech and language therapy service within the school.

Your role will include both clinical leadership and direct therapy work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the Speech & Language Therapy service
• Providing clinical supervision and support to therapists and support staff
• Delivering assessment and intervention for pupils with complex communication needs
• Working closely with teachers, families, and the multidisciplinary team
• Supporting service development and strategic planning
• Ensuring therapy provision reflects best practice and evidence-based approaches

What the role looks like in practice

You will work with pupils with complex communication needs within a specialist education environment, combining leadership responsibilities with hands-on clinical work.

The role involves:

• Clinical assessment and therapy planning
• Supporting staff to embed communication strategies across the school
• Supervising therapists and therapy assistants
• Contributing to EHCP reviews and multidisciplinary planning
• Leading service improvements that enhance pupil outcomes

Who this role may suit

This role may be ideal for:

• Senior Band 7 SLTs ready to step into a leadership role
• Existing clinical leads or team leaders
• SLTs passionate about specialist education and complex needs
• Therapists who enjoy mentoring, service development, and multidisciplinary collaboration

About you

You will be:

• A qualified Speech and Language Therapist registered with HCPC and RCSLT
• An experienced clinician working with children and young people
• Confident providing clinical leadership and supervision
• Passionate about improving outcomes for pupils with complex communication needs
• A collaborative professional who works well within multidisciplinary teams

Experience in specialist education, SEND, or complex needs settings would be highly beneficial.

What you’ll receive

• Competitive salary aligned with senior SLT leadership roles
• Term-time working for improved work–life balance
• Supportive leadership and collaborative team culture
• Opportunities for ongoing CPD and leadership development
• The opportunity to lead a service that has real impact on pupils’ lives

Interested but want to learn more first?

We welcome informal conversations before applying.

If you would like to discuss the role or arrange an informal visit to the school, please email: fiona.jones@thepacecentre.org

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short covering email outlining your interest in the role.

Take the next step in your Speech & Language Therapy career and help lead a service that transforms communication outcomes for young people.