Job summary
This is a 2 year 8a Highly Specialist role to lead the delivery of Speech and language therapy provision to children with an EHCP from Central Bedfordshire Local authority workingacross Central Bedfordshire mainstream and special school settings including some out of borough schools.
You will have delegated responsibility for the coordination, clinical management, and quality assurance of SLT provision specified in EHCPs, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based, effective, and meet statutory requirements. Providing highly specialist assessment, intervention, and advice for children referred to the service or following Tribunal outcomes, including participation in annual reviews.
Please note that should we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close the advert ater the 24th October
Main duties of the job
The ability to work flexibly and travel independently across Central Bedfordshire and neighbouring areas is essential.
- Lead and coordinate the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) provision for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) across mainstream, special, and out-of-borough school settings.
- Provide highly specialist assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and advice for children referred to the service or following Tribunal decisions, including contributing to annual reviews.
- Work collaboratively with the Central Bedfordshire EHCP team to undertake assessments, compile reports, and contribute to the EHCP process, including appeals and tribunals.
- Act as a liaison therapist for parents and carers, ensuring clear and compassionate communication throughout the EHCP and appeal process.
- Represent the service at hearings and tribunals, presenting clinical findings and professional advice based on robust evidence.
- Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and guidance to colleagues, supporting consistency and quality in EHCP-related work across the SLT service.
- Promote evidence-based, outcome-focused practice, ensuring interventions meet professional and statutory standards.
- Contribute to service development, resource creation, and the implementation of best practice in SEND and tribunal-related work.
- Ensure professional compliance with safeguarding, SEND legislation, and other relevant statutory frameworks.
About us
Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake highly specialist SLT assessments, diagnosis, and recommendations to inform EHCPs and contribute to annual reviews, appeals, and tribunals.
- Attend multi-agency meetings with parents, carers, schools, legal representatives, and the Local Authority to discuss assessment outcomes and recommendations.
- Review existing SLT provision and provide a clear rationale for current or revised recommendations, ensuring alignment with identified needs.
- Deliver direct therapy and specialist advice to children and young people across a range of communication disorders and settings.
- Coordinate and respond to requests from the Local Authoritys SEN teams, supporting consistency and timeliness in EHCP-related work.
- Develop and deliver training to parents, education staff, and other professionals to build capacity for supporting speech, language, and communication needs.
- Provide supervision, mentorship, and appraisal for SLT staff and students, including supporting newly qualified and recently graduated therapists.
- Support the induction of new staff and contribute to professional development across the team.
- Provide and seek second opinions where required, and make referrals to other specialist services in Health, Education, or Social Care as appropriate.
- Participate in clinical governance, service evaluation, and audit activities to ensure quality and continuous improvement within the service.
- Travel across the locality and to out-of-borough schools, including one day per week based at a special school in Hertfordshire, ensuring flexible and effective service delivery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake highly specialist SLT assessments, diagnosis, and recommendations to inform EHCPs and contribute to annual reviews, appeals, and tribunals.
- Attend multi-agency meetings with parents, carers, schools, legal representatives, and the Local Authority to discuss assessment outcomes and recommendations.
- Review existing SLT provision and provide a clear rationale for current or revised recommendations, ensuring alignment with identified needs.
- Deliver direct therapy and specialist advice to children and young people across a range of communication disorders and settings.
- Coordinate and respond to requests from the Local Authoritys SEN teams, supporting consistency and timeliness in EHCP-related work.
- Develop and deliver training to parents, education staff, and other professionals to build capacity for supporting speech, language, and communication needs.
- Provide supervision, mentorship, and appraisal for SLT staff and students, including supporting newly qualified and recently graduated therapists.
- Support the induction of new staff and contribute to professional development across the team.
- Provide and seek second opinions where required, and make referrals to other specialist services in Health, Education, or Social Care as appropriate.
- Participate in clinical governance, service evaluation, and audit activities to ensure quality and continuous improvement within the service.
- Travel across the locality and to out-of-borough schools, including one day per week based at a special school in Hertfordshire, ensuring flexible and effective service delivery.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Recognised S< Degree or equivalent HCPC registration Evidence of Completion of relevant post graduate courses/training
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in working with children and young people with EHCPs, including assessment, intervention, annual reviews, and tribunal or appeal processes.
- Experience in multidisciplinary and interagency working, collaborating effectively with health, education, social care, and legal professionals.
- Proven experience in leading, coordinating, and managing SLT provision across multiple settings, including mainstream and special schools.
- Demonstrated leadership and clinical supervision experience, including mentoring or supporting junior staff.
- Demonstrated ability to liaise and communicate with families and carers, including managing sensitive or complex discussions around care and provision
- Experience of delivering training to parents and professionals
- Experience in supervision, mentoring, and supporting junior or newly qualified staff within an SLT team
- Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating SLT resources or service pathways to support SEND provision
Skills
Essential
- Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical
- Competence in using outcome-based models, clinical governance processes, and evidence-based practice.
- Inclusive approach, promoting involvement and engagement
- Able to communicate effectively with patients with communication problems where difficulties in understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy.
- Ability to manage a varied caseload independently, demonstrating strong clinical reasoning, prioritisation, and decision-making skills.
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant statutory frameworks
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Recognised S< Degree or equivalent HCPC registration Evidence of Completion of relevant post graduate courses/training
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in working with children and young people with EHCPs, including assessment, intervention, annual reviews, and tribunal or appeal processes.
- Experience in multidisciplinary and interagency working, collaborating effectively with health, education, social care, and legal professionals.
- Proven experience in leading, coordinating, and managing SLT provision across multiple settings, including mainstream and special schools.
- Demonstrated leadership and clinical supervision experience, including mentoring or supporting junior staff.
- Demonstrated ability to liaise and communicate with families and carers, including managing sensitive or complex discussions around care and provision
- Experience of delivering training to parents and professionals
- Experience in supervision, mentoring, and supporting junior or newly qualified staff within an SLT team
- Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating SLT resources or service pathways to support SEND provision
Skills
Essential
- Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical
- Competence in using outcome-based models, clinical governance processes, and evidence-based practice.
- Inclusive approach, promoting involvement and engagement
- Able to communicate effectively with patients with communication problems where difficulties in understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy.
- Ability to manage a varied caseload independently, demonstrating strong clinical reasoning, prioritisation, and decision-making skills.
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant statutory frameworks
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).
