Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Salary Range: £48,948 - £54,423 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary £43,130 - £48,593 per annum)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent (Term-Time only) 

Are you looking for a rewarding and varied role where you can make a real difference to the lives of children and young people? If so, join our friendly and supportive Education and Inclusion Therapy Service as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, where you’ll be part of a passionate team delivering high quality speech and language therapy across areas including Winchester, Eastleigh, Havant, East Hampshire, Hart and Rushmoor.

This role provides a fantastic opportunity to work within a well established, respected service in a high performing local authority. With a term time only contract, this role offers excellent work-life balance and is broadly equivalent to an NHS Band 7 position. It’s ideal for you if you have Band 6/7 level experience in NHS, local authority or educational settings and are looking to develop your specialist practice, manage a more complex caseload, and lead on high quality EHCP provision.

What you’ll do:

• Provide specialist speech and language therapy assessments and evidence based interventions for children and young people.
• Work collaboratively with education staff, families and multi agency professionals to develop and implement effective and meaningful support plans.
• Deliver services predominantly within specialist educational settings for children with learning difficulties, SEMH needs and/or autism.
• Support capacity building work within schools and educational settings, contributing to training, whole school communication strategies and policy developments.
• Offer clinical and managerial supervision to Speech and Language Therapists within the team.
• Support service development through activities such as developing care pathways and school cluster lead.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and ensure adherence to professional and organisational standards.
• Travel across Hampshire to deliver services in various settings. Caseloads will be allocated predominantly within your geographical area of Hampshire.

What we’re looking for:

• A qualified Speech and Language Therapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Experience of and a strong passion for supporting children and young people across education, NHS or community settings, with a range of SEN needs, including severe learning difficulties, autism and/or SEMH needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to build positive relationships with schools, families and professionals.
• A flexible, proactive and reflective approach, with strong organisational and problem solving skills.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development, clinical excellence and reflective practice.
• Confidence using IT systems for clinical documentation, reporting and service management.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Why join us?

• Be part of a warm, highly skilled, well-established and respected Therapy Service team who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.
• Access to a comprehensive induction and on-going training opportunities. We have a strong CPD offer both using internal expertise in regular Bitesize sessions as well as external supervision where required for development.
• A supportive team environment with regular clinical supervision delivered by a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist suited to your caseload, and managerial supervision from a Therapist in your geographical area, alongside strong peer support to help you develop both clinically and in your career.
• Opportunities for career progression and involvement in service innovation. The Service comprises Speech and Language Therapists at an equivalent level to roles in the NHS of Band 5,6,7 and 8a and b allowing for progression. There are also opportunities to work alongside our Occupational Therapists.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• A competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.   

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK before applying.

Other roles you may have experience of may include: Senior Speech and Language Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, Advanced Speech and Language Practitioner, Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Community Speech and Language Practitioner, School-Based Speech and Language Therapist, Educational Speech and Language Therapist.

Travel Requirements:

You may be required to visit other locations within Hampshire and therefore need to have the ability to travel, as necessary.

Additional Information:

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Candidate Pack

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check. As such, please note that under safer recruitment requirements for Children’s Services, references will be requested prior to interview.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Heather Marshall, Head of Service on heather.marshall@hants.gov.uk or Vicky Rouse, Deputy Head of Service on victoria.rouse@hants.gov.uk