Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Job Description

Job overview We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Speech and Language Therapist to join our integrated healthcare team at HMYOI Feltham A. This is a unique opportunity to develop and deliver a specialist Speech, Language and Communication Therapy service for children and young people in a secure setting, where your work can make a meaningful and lasting difference.

In this senior clinical role, you will work autonomously while contributing to a multidisciplinary approach to care. You will assess, plan and deliver high quality, trauma informed interventions for young people with complex communication needs, and support the development of care pathways that improve engagement, rehabilitation and long term outcomes.

You will play an important role in influencing practice across the service by providing specialist advice, contributing to staff training and helping to promote communication supportive environments. The role requires confident clinical decision making, strong organisational skills and the ability to build effective relationships with young people, colleagues and partner agencies.

You will be joining a supportive and forward thinking team within a Trust that values innovation, collaboration and professional development. This is an opportunity to shape a developing service while building advanced clinical expertise in a rewarding and challenging environment.

Main duties of the job As Senior Speech and Language Therapist, you will lead and deliver a specialist Speech, Language and Communication Therapy service for children and young people in a secure setting. This autonomous role offers the opportunity to shape how communication needs are identified and supported across the establishment.

You will manage a complex caseload, providing specialist assessment, formulation and intervention for a wide range of communication needs. This includes delivering individual and group therapy, advising staff on effective communication strategies and helping to create environments that support engagement, rehabilitation and emotional wellbeing.

You will contribute specialist expertise to multidisciplinary care planning, deliver training, and support colleagues to understand the links between communication needs, behaviour and mental health. The role also involves developing pathways, prioritising referrals, monitoring outcomes and supporting service evaluation and improvement.

As the sole Speech and Language Therapist within the youth service, you will work autonomously while building strong partnerships with healthcare, education, residential teams and external agencies. There may occasionally be opportunities to support service delivery on the adult side of the estate, agreed in advance through senior clinical leadership.

This is an opportunity to shape a developing service and make a meaningful difference to young people's life chances.

Working for our organisation Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is a large, progressive organisation delivering community, mental health and health and justice services across London and beyond. Our work is guided by values of compassion, respect, empowerment and partnership, shaping both patient care and how we support staff.

At HMYOI Feltham A, you will join a dedicated integrated healthcare team working with children and young people in a secure setting. This is a unique clinical environment where teamwork, reflective practice and a shared commitment to improving life chances are central. Staff work closely with education, residential and specialist services to provide trauma informed, holistic care that supports engagement, rehabilitation and long term wellbeing.

The team combines a strong work ethic with a supportive and inclusive culture. You will be encouraged to contribute ideas, influence service development and help embed effective approaches to communication support across the establishment.

Although this role offers a high level of professional autonomy as the sole Speech and Language Therapist within the youth service, you will be supported by senior clinical leadership, wider therapy networks and multidisciplinary colleagues. Opportunities for professional development, service improvement and collaboration across the Trust are actively encouraged.

This role offers the chance to build specialist expertise while making a meaningful difference to vulnerable young people.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities The post holder will be responsible for the operational delivery and ongoing development of Speech and Language Therapy provision for children and young people at HMYOI Feltham A. This includes managing referrals, undertaking specialist assessment, delivering targeted interventions and maintaining clear clinical records and reports in line with professional and Trust standards.

The role involves contributing specialist communication expertise to multidisciplinary care planning, supporting staff through consultation and structured training, and developing practical resources and pathways to improve identification and management of speech, language and communication needs within the establishment.

The post holder will work collaboratively with internal and external partners to support coordinated care and effective transition planning. They will contribute to audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activity.

While flexible working is supported where possible, this is the only Speech and Language Therapy role based at HMYOI Feltham. The post holder will therefore normally be expected to work on site five days per week to ensure consistent clinical presence and service continuity.

Person specification Education & Criteria
  • Degree or recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Current HCPC registration
  • Evidence of post qualification CPD relevant to paediatric / adolescent SALT practice
  • Evidence of specialist training in assessment and intervention for speech, language and communication needs
  • Training relevant to trauma informed practice / CAMHS / neurodevelopmental conditions
  • Practice educator or student supervision training
Previous Experience
  • Significant post qualification experience working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs
  • Experience managing a complex caseload with a high level of autonomy
  • Experience delivering specialist SALT assessment and intervention across a range of communication needs
  • Experience working within a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience working with vulnerable or high risk young people (e.g. SEMH, CAMHS, safeguarding, youth justice contexts)
  • Experience supervising students or supporting learners
Skills & Knowledge
  • Demonstrates specialist clinical reasoning and knowledge of evidence based SALT interventions for CYP
  • Demonstrates ability to prioritise workload and manage competing demands
  • Demonstrates ability to produce clear clinical documentation and professional reports
  • Demonstrates understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and information governance
  • Demonstrates ability to provide consultation, advice or training to other professionals
  • Knowledge of trauma informed approaches and communication needs linked to behaviour and mental health
  • Experience using electronic clinical record systems (e.g. SystmOne)
Other
  • Demonstrates understanding of the requirements of working in a secure or highly structured environment
  • Evidence of involvement in service development, audit or quality improvement work
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant's own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate's real experience. AI generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
  • Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
  • Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
  • Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
  • If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Employer certification / accreditation badges You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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Hours

Full time