Children and Young People's Speech and Language Therapist

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 06 April 2026

Are you newly qualified or experienced Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist, or hoping to return to practice?

We are very excited to be recruiting Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists to join our dynamic and supportive Children and Young People's Speech and Language Therapy service on the beautiful South-West coast in Dorset offering both permanent and fixed term opportunities.

We are working to the new speech, language and communication pathway for Dorset based on the Balanced System Framework. Working collaboratively with our Education and Children's Centre Partners, aiming to give all children the right input at the right time.

As a Speech and Language Therapist you will work with a caseload of children and young people (0 19) with speech, language and communication needs including Developmental Language Disorder, Dysfluency, Selective Mutism, Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia, Autism Spectrum Condition, Complex Needs, Speech Disorder and Speech and Language delay. You will be involved with clinical care and decision making including assessment, diagnosis, advice and therapy interventions and work in collaboration with children, their family and other professionals in a variety of settings including schools, pre schools, clinics, children's centres and sometimes at home.

We offer flexible working around core hours.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

We offer:

A high level of clinical and management support including mentoring, peer supervision groups (with other Band 5 therapists and across bandings), regular 1:1 contact with your team lead as well as 1:1 clinical supervision.

Access to a range of clinical lead specialists for advice and guidance.

Excellent opportunities to access formal and informal training.

Opportunities to be involved in projects to enhance our service delivery offer.

Bi annual whole service training/service development days.

Dorset Healthcare provide a very comprehensive and fully supported Preceptorship Programme for newly qualified healthcare professionals.

We also welcome applications from SLTs wishing to return to practice, and for successful applicants we are able to offer paid Return to Practice opportunities with progression to a Band 5 role when meeting the required competencies.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000 strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact .

• Degree/diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
• Member of HCPC
• Member of RCSLT

• Student placement in a community clinic
• Student experience of work within a mainstream school
• Previous experience as a qualified SLT working in an NHS setting
• General experience of working with children in a paid or voluntary capacity

• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively
• Subject to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business

• Ability to work as a team player
• Good organisational and planning skills

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.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Sturminster Newton Medical Centre and surrounding area

Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton

£31,049 to £37,796 a year p.a. / pro rata for part time

Fixed term

12 months

Full time, Part time, Flexible working, Compressed hours, Term time hours, Annualised hours

152-M590.25

Sturminster Newton Medical Centre and surrounding area

Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton