Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 18 November 2025

Apply for this job

Job summary

We are looking for a Speech and Language Therapistwho is experienced and enthusiastic about autism to join a friendly and supportive team who are passionate about neurodiversity. We would love to hear from you if you want to develop your career in autism and to be part of a team that is forward thinking about neurodiversity and committed to excellence across all ages.

You will join an experienced and dedicated team who work in a number of locations across Berkshire to provide autism assessments across the age, ability and complexity range. The Autism Assessment Team works closely with partnership agencies and voluntary services to facilitate continued support and advice for families pre-assessment and beyond diagnosis and provides online support pre-assessment and post-diagnosis via the innovative BHFT online platform 'SHaRON' (Support Hope and Resources Online Network).

You will be self-motivated and able to work autonomously at pace; be effective in managing your time, workload and priorities and motivated by your drive to deliver the highest quality care while ensuring the best possible patient experience. We are striving for our service to be innovative, creative and young person and family focused. We are inspired by some of the best practice and emerging evidence from around the country and are not afraid to trial some new and original thinking for the benefit of our young people.

Main duties of the job

  • Conducting autism assessments for children and young people from 2-18 years, across the ability range. All assessments are conducted with 2 clinicians

  • This will include complex and second opinion autism assessments

  • Identifying when onward referral is required and managing this

  • Provision of high-quality assessment reports with recommendations

  • Clinicians in the Autism Assessment Team also offer training, consultation and supervision and clinical moderation on our online support platform

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 sites

Details

Date posted

04 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum ( Incl of HCAS) (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

371-CFS574-A

Job locations

Autism Assessment Team West, Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy along with HCPC registration

  • Previous experience in assessment and/or intervention with autistic children and young people (pre-school and school age)

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

  • Good organisational and time management skills

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: Liz Pitts on 0118 931 5800 or email: liz.pitts@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl 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.

We can consider both full time (37.5 hours per week) and part time applications.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  • Recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy along with HCPC registration

  • Previous experience in assessment and/or intervention with autistic children and young people (pre-school and school age)

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

  • Good organisational and time management skills

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: Liz Pitts on 0118 931 5800 or email: liz.pitts@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl 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.

We can consider both full time (37.5 hours per week) and part time applications.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Recognised qualification - degree/equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Registration with HCPC and membership of RCSLT
  • At least 2 years relevant experience

Continuous Professional Development

Desirable

  • Post-graduate training within specialism
  • Post qualifying Child & Adolescent Mental Health training, qualifications or experience of working with children, young people and families.
  • Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, teaching, assessing and mentoring of students.
  • A supervisory qualification or substantial supervision experience in the relevant professional discipline.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience in assessment and/or intervention with children and young people on the autism spectrum (pre school and school aged)
  • Experience of working with children and adolescents and their families across a range of settings

Desirable

  • Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or consultation.
  • Experience of contributing to service improvement initiatives.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding child development and the impact it can have on meeting the five Every Child Matters outcomes The Children's Act 1989 and 2004 and The Mental Health Act 1983 and 2007
  • Competent IT skills and the ability to navigate around various systems and software packages (such as RiO, outlook, databases, MS office and the internet). Good keyboard skills.

Desirable

  • Relevant training and/or experience in multi-disciplinary assessments of autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents including training and/or a working knowledge of ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), ADI-R or 3Di'.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Ability to be self-reflective and use supervision effectively
  • The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system
  • Car owner/driver and possess full UK driver's licence or evidence of ability to travel to designated base and other sites.
  • Able to maintain professional boundaries and conduct
  • Car owner/driver and possess full UK driver's licence or evidence of ability to travel independently between multiple locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

Desirable

  • Able to manage difficult situations with child/young person and their families including where there might be complex mental health conditions and/or challenging behaviours
  • Ability and willingness to work in a flexible way including working outside of normal hours to facilitate out of hours clinics as required.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Recognised qualification - degree/equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Registration with HCPC and membership of RCSLT
  • At least 2 years relevant experience

Continuous Professional Development

Desirable

  • Post-graduate training within specialism
  • Post qualifying Child & Adolescent Mental Health training, qualifications or experience of working with children, young people and families.
  • Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, teaching, assessing and mentoring of students.
  • A supervisory qualification or substantial supervision experience in the relevant professional discipline.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience in assessment and/or intervention with children and young people on the autism spectrum (pre school and school aged)
  • Experience of working with children and adolescents and their families across a range of settings

Desirable

  • Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency environment
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or consultation.
  • Experience of contributing to service improvement initiatives.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  • Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding child development and the impact it can have on meeting the five Every Child Matters outcomes The Children's Act 1989 and 2004 and The Mental Health Act 1983 and 2007
  • Competent IT skills and the ability to navigate around various systems and software packages (such as RiO, outlook, databases, MS office and the internet). Good keyboard skills.

Desirable

  • Relevant training and/or experience in multi-disciplinary assessments of autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents including training and/or a working knowledge of ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), ADI-R or 3Di'.

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Ability to be self-reflective and use supervision effectively
  • The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system
  • Car owner/driver and possess full UK driver's licence or evidence of ability to travel to designated base and other sites.
  • Able to maintain professional boundaries and conduct
  • Car owner/driver and possess full UK driver's licence or evidence of ability to travel independently between multiple locations to fulfil the requirements of the position.

Desirable

  • Able to manage difficult situations with child/young person and their families including where there might be complex mental health conditions and/or challenging behaviours
  • Ability and willingness to work in a flexible way including working outside of normal hours to facilitate out of hours clinics as required.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Autism Assessment Team West, Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Autism Assessment Team West, Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Employer's website

https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Joint Team Lead

Liz Pitts

liz.pitts@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189315800

Details

Date posted

04 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year per annum ( Incl of HCAS) (pro rata for part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

371-CFS574-A

Job locations

Autism Assessment Team West, Erlegh House

Reading

RG6 6BZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)