Job summary
Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist who is passionate about working with children with complex needs?
Are you looking to develop your skills in a supportive, multi-disciplinary community team?
Our Children and Young People's Integrated Therapies (CYPIT) West team have upcoming opportunities for Band 6 Paediatric Speech & Language Therapists. In this role you'll:
- Support children with a broad range of complex needs - for example autism, cerebral palsy and rare genetic conditions.
- Work in a handful of special schools and resource bases across Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire, partnering closely with teaching staff and families to build strong relationships and deliver meaningful, child-centred care.
- Be part of a dedicated multi-disciplinary team working alongside occupational therapists, physiotherapists and assistants
Our CYPIT service supports children & young people from birth to 19 across Berkshire. We provide integrated therapy services with easy access to care and web-based advice. We're committed to family-centred, joined-up support - you'll play an active part in shaping how we work across our settings.
You'll have previously worked with children with additional needs - whether that's in specialist settings or supporting children in mainstream schools.
Ready to join our enthusiastic and forward-thinking team? We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, applications are processed as they are received, so vacancies may close early.
Main duties of the job
- Manage your own caseload of children and young people (aged 4-19) with complex communication needs.
- Deliver assessment, therapy, intervention planning and training in special schools and resource bases.
- Work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside OTs, physios and education staff.
- Contribute to EHCP processes and provide clear clinical documentation and reports.
- Deliver impactful training to school staff and families.
- Provide supervision and guidance to Band 5 SLTs, assistants or students.
- Use the Care Aims approach to ensure interventions are effective and outcomes-focused.
- Regular travel to our community locations across Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire.
- Opportunities for hybrid working and flexibility where appropriate.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust site
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Qualified Speech and Language Therapist, registered with HCPC
- Significant post qualification experience (generally this will be more than 2 years)
- Experience working with children with complex needs and good understanding of SEND processes
- A car driver with UK licence (or the equivalent ability to travel between community sites efficiently).
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Caroline Pethick on 07795617511 or email: caroline.pethick@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
- Qualified Speech and Language Therapist, registered with HCPC
- Significant post qualification experience (generally this will be more than 2 years)
- Experience working with children with complex needs and good understanding of SEND processes
- A car driver with UK licence (or the equivalent ability to travel between community sites efficiently).
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Caroline Pethick on 07795617511 or email: caroline.pethick@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/ Training
Essential
- AHP qualification degree or equivalent
- HCPC Registered
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Completion of post graduate education or training relevant to clinical role or post
Previous Experience
Essential
- Evidence of experience in clinical work in children's services to a level of in depth knowledge and expertise
- Contribution to clinical supervisory or mentoring less experienced staff, students or assistants
Desirable
- Evidence of leadership e.g. staff management, leading a project, change in practice
- Experience of staff management
- Evidence of working with children with complex needs
- Evidence of experience working with children with dysphagia
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- High level of knowledge of service provision within children's therapy services
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Awareness of community working and structures
- Basic computer literacy
Desirable
- Understanding of data in performance monitoring and delivery of services
- Efficient, effective and diplomatic communication skills both written and verbal
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Car Driver with ability to travel to multiple sites
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/ Training
Essential
- AHP qualification degree or equivalent
- HCPC Registered
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Completion of post graduate education or training relevant to clinical role or post
Previous Experience
Essential
- Evidence of experience in clinical work in children's services to a level of in depth knowledge and expertise
- Contribution to clinical supervisory or mentoring less experienced staff, students or assistants
Desirable
- Evidence of leadership e.g. staff management, leading a project, change in practice
- Experience of staff management
- Evidence of working with children with complex needs
- Evidence of experience working with children with dysphagia
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- High level of knowledge of service provision within children's therapy services
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Awareness of community working and structures
- Basic computer literacy
Desirable
- Understanding of data in performance monitoring and delivery of services
- Efficient, effective and diplomatic communication skills both written and verbal
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Car Driver with ability to travel to multiple sites
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
