Cognus Limited

Band 5 Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 30 April 2026

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to invite applications from Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists and Newly Qualified Therapists to join our service, who wish to develop their knowledge, experience and their expertise within a dedicated and supportive team. Increased clinical supervision, line management are provided.

Cognus Therapies is a thriving multidisciplinary team of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Therapy Assistants who support children and young people in schools, colleges, bases and specialist provisions within the London Borough of Sutton and surrounding boroughs. We work with children and young people aged 4 to 25 years of age, across Primary, Secondary and Post-16 provisions. We work with children and young people with a variety of special educational needs, e.g., Autism, Deafness, Down Syndrome, Developmental Language Disorder, PMLD, MLD, Dyslexia and many more and encourage all our therapists to gain experience and expertise across a range of specialisms, to look forward to specialising in the future.

Main duties of the job

  • Work within a multidisciplinary team of speech and language therapists and occupational therapists
  • Have the opportunity to work in schools, colleges, bases and or specialist provisions across the London Borough of Sutton
  • Work with children and young people (often working within a specific age range, e.g. Primary)
  • Support local schools / settings to support children and young people with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
  • Work with children and young people who have a range of special educational needs (e.g. Autism, Deafness, Developmental Language Disorder, Down Syndrome, PMLD, MLD, SLCN)
  • Manage own caseload with support, to ensure intended outcomes are delivered within agreed service standards
  • Raise awareness of SLCN within the London Borough of Sutton

About us

Cognus Limited is a Local Authority Traded Company, which is commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton to provide education services to early years providers, mainstream schools and specialist education settings in Sutton. Wholly owned by the local authority, we deliver a wide range of high-quality services to deliver excellent practice that improve the lives of children, young people, and families in Sutton and beyond.

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£35,073.92 to £44,026.66 a year incl HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

N0016-26-0005

Job locations

Cognus Ltd

Railway Approach

Wallington

Surrey

SM6 0DZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

To personally undertake a caseload to include:

Visiting children and young people at their educational setting

Completing assessments with children and young people

Delivering therapy programmes to individuals or small groups

Offering advice and support to parents / carers and teaching staff

Maintaining all records to a high standard

Specific Duties:

Provide advice and support to school staff

Use screening and assessment tools (formal and informal assessments)

Prioritise new referrals, with support

Complete case histories to gather relevant information

Write reports based on assessment information

Make onward referrals, with support

Liaise with all professionals involved

Liaise with parents / carers and school staff to work collaboratively

Contribute to professional advice regarding statutory assessments (Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments)

Contribute to professional advice for Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) annual reviews

Complete duties for both London Borough of Sutton and out of borough (when requested)

Monitor and record the child or young persons progress towards their outcomes and targets

Attend team meetings

Attend clinical supervision

Attend managerial supervision

Training and Development Responsibility:

Promote Evidence Based Practise and embed this into professional activities, e.g. delivery of therapy

Embed legislative change and key developments with support from the team

Participate in clinical audits, service development activities and research as and when required

Engage in CPD activities

Comply with the Cognus Limited mandatory training requirements

Plan, deliver and evaluate training sessions for educational provisions, with support

GENERIC OBJECTIVES:

Contribute to Cognus Limited's business objectives at the appropriate level by ensuring every child matters and has access to education and learning opportunities, including:

Health and safety

Safeguarding and protection of children

Equal opportunities and management of diversity

Data protection

Outstanding Customer care

GENERAL:

SAFER RECRUITMENT:

Cognus is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that it works with. An offer of employment is subject to safer recruitment practices which include an enhanced DBS check, two professional references acceptable to Cognus Limited, proof of qualifications, proof of right to work in the UK, proof of personal address and employment history covering 5 years and, fitness to work with children (occupational health assessment). These checks must have been completed prior to commencement of employment. We have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across the organisation.

PROCESSING OF DATA:

You (the employee) consent to the holding and processing of personal data provided by you to the Company (the Company) for all purposes relating to your employment, but not limited to administering and maintaining personnel records, paying and reviewing salary and other remuneration and benefits, undertaking performance appraisals and reviews, the compulsory Disclosure and Baring Services check (DBS) details in line with its statutory responsibility to safeguard and protect children and vulnerable service users; maintaining sickness and other absence records and taking decisions as to your fitness for work.

You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Company may, in the course of its general and statutory duties as an employer be required to disclose personal data relating to you for legislative purposes during or after the end of your employment. This does not affect your statutory rights under the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT:

During the course of your employment, you will have access to and knowledge of Company confidential information and trade secrets.

Disclosure of any of this confidential information and/or trade secrets could have serious financial consequences and/or create serious competitive disadvantages for the Company. There may be material damage, financial or otherwise, deliberate or otherwise, to the Company's legitimate business interest.

Under the terms of this confidentiality agreement, you agree to keep secret and shall not at any time, either during employment or post-employment, use, communicate or reveal to any person any trade secret or confidential information relating to the Company or any Associated Company.

You are aware of the Company's policies in relation to compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and undertake to act in accordance with these at all times. Any breach of these policies will be dealt with under the Company's disciplinary procedure and action taken can include dismissal without notice.

This job description and person specification outlines the summary of key accountabilities and is not an exhaustive list of duties and, is subject to periodical review and changes in line with the business needs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

To personally undertake a caseload to include:

Visiting children and young people at their educational setting

Completing assessments with children and young people

Delivering therapy programmes to individuals or small groups

Offering advice and support to parents / carers and teaching staff

Maintaining all records to a high standard

Specific Duties:

Provide advice and support to school staff

Use screening and assessment tools (formal and informal assessments)

Prioritise new referrals, with support

Complete case histories to gather relevant information

Write reports based on assessment information

Make onward referrals, with support

Liaise with all professionals involved

Liaise with parents / carers and school staff to work collaboratively

Contribute to professional advice regarding statutory assessments (Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments)

Contribute to professional advice for Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) annual reviews

Complete duties for both London Borough of Sutton and out of borough (when requested)

Monitor and record the child or young persons progress towards their outcomes and targets

Attend team meetings

Attend clinical supervision

Attend managerial supervision

Training and Development Responsibility:

Promote Evidence Based Practise and embed this into professional activities, e.g. delivery of therapy

Embed legislative change and key developments with support from the team

Participate in clinical audits, service development activities and research as and when required

Engage in CPD activities

Comply with the Cognus Limited mandatory training requirements

Plan, deliver and evaluate training sessions for educational provisions, with support

GENERIC OBJECTIVES:

Contribute to Cognus Limited's business objectives at the appropriate level by ensuring every child matters and has access to education and learning opportunities, including:

Health and safety

Safeguarding and protection of children

Equal opportunities and management of diversity

Data protection

Outstanding Customer care

GENERAL:

SAFER RECRUITMENT:

Cognus is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that it works with. An offer of employment is subject to safer recruitment practices which include an enhanced DBS check, two professional references acceptable to Cognus Limited, proof of qualifications, proof of right to work in the UK, proof of personal address and employment history covering 5 years and, fitness to work with children (occupational health assessment). These checks must have been completed prior to commencement of employment. We have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across the organisation.

PROCESSING OF DATA:

You (the employee) consent to the holding and processing of personal data provided by you to the Company (the Company) for all purposes relating to your employment, but not limited to administering and maintaining personnel records, paying and reviewing salary and other remuneration and benefits, undertaking performance appraisals and reviews, the compulsory Disclosure and Baring Services check (DBS) details in line with its statutory responsibility to safeguard and protect children and vulnerable service users; maintaining sickness and other absence records and taking decisions as to your fitness for work.

You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Company may, in the course of its general and statutory duties as an employer be required to disclose personal data relating to you for legislative purposes during or after the end of your employment. This does not affect your statutory rights under the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT:

During the course of your employment, you will have access to and knowledge of Company confidential information and trade secrets.

Disclosure of any of this confidential information and/or trade secrets could have serious financial consequences and/or create serious competitive disadvantages for the Company. There may be material damage, financial or otherwise, deliberate or otherwise, to the Company's legitimate business interest.

Under the terms of this confidentiality agreement, you agree to keep secret and shall not at any time, either during employment or post-employment, use, communicate or reveal to any person any trade secret or confidential information relating to the Company or any Associated Company.

You are aware of the Company's policies in relation to compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation and undertake to act in accordance with these at all times. Any breach of these policies will be dealt with under the Company's disciplinary procedure and action taken can include dismissal without notice.

This job description and person specification outlines the summary of key accountabilities and is not an exhaustive list of duties and, is subject to periodical review and changes in line with the business needs.

Person Specification

Values

Essential

  • Committed to safeguarding and protection of children
  • Honours and upholds the Company's Equal Opportunity Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, Safeguarding and Protection of Children, Health and Safety and Data Protection Policy at all times

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Relevant qualifications including registration with HCPC and RCSLT
  • Knowledge of relevant assessment tools and therapy interventions
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Excellent ICT skills, e.g. using spreadsheets and recording notes electronically
  • Ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with other professionals
  • Adherence to RCSLT and HCPC policies and procedures

Desirable

  • Ability to prioritise and deliver results to a high standard

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in educational settings
  • Experience as a paediatric speech and language therapist
Person Specification

Values

Essential

  • Committed to safeguarding and protection of children
  • Honours and upholds the Company's Equal Opportunity Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, Safeguarding and Protection of Children, Health and Safety and Data Protection Policy at all times

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Relevant qualifications including registration with HCPC and RCSLT
  • Knowledge of relevant assessment tools and therapy interventions
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Excellent ICT skills, e.g. using spreadsheets and recording notes electronically
  • Ability to work collaboratively and in partnership with other professionals
  • Adherence to RCSLT and HCPC policies and procedures

Desirable

  • Ability to prioritise and deliver results to a high standard

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in educational settings
  • Experience as a paediatric speech and language therapist

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

Cognus Limited

Address

Cognus Ltd

Railway Approach

Wallington

Surrey

SM6 0DZ


Employer's website

https://cognus.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Cognus Limited

Address

Cognus Ltd

Railway Approach

Wallington

Surrey

SM6 0DZ


Employer's website

https://cognus.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Speech and Language Therapist

Tamara Rainsley

tamara.rainsley@cognus.org.uk

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£35,073.92 to £44,026.66 a year incl HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

N0016-26-0005

Job locations

Cognus Ltd

Railway Approach

Wallington

Surrey

SM6 0DZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Cognus Limited's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)