Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 448-BCHS-7820296-A
- Employer
- East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Liverpool Road Health Centre
- Town
- Luton
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum, pro-rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 28/04/2026
Employer heading
Highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Band 7
East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust delivers expert healthcare in people’s homes, community hospitals and local settings across the East of England.
Our nurses, therapists, clinicians, support teams and partners work together to provide coordinated care that supports independence, recovery and wellbeing. We believe people are best cared for close to home, in the communities where they live and belong.
By combining professional expertise with strong local relationships, we help people stay well, feel supported and access the right care at the right time. Expert healthcare, close to home, trusted by our communities.
Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed. Our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to creating a modern and inclusive work environment. We actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce and maintain and improve their wellbeing. We also offer flexible working patterns and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Before applying for this vacancy, please make sure you’re familiar with ongoing GOV.uk sponsorship eligibility criteria which will impact the organisations ability to provide sponsorship, whether this is currently or in the future.
Please note, our selection processes are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications i monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.
Job overview
Highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Schools Lead (Luton)
Are you passionate about Speech and Language Therapy?
Can you deliver highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy with confidence and expertise?
Would you like to be part of a talented, skilled, and compassionate team of Speech and Language Therapists and Support Practitioners?
Are you seeking a new challenge and motivated to make a real difference?
We are recruiting for an enthusiastic Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist — a first-class clinician with strong communication and interpersonal skills — to join our friendly and welcoming team.
The post holder will take delegated responsibility for the coordination and clinical management of the mainstream school service within the Luton locality. They will independently manage a community caseload and provide supervision and guidance to SLT colleagues. The role will also involve setting priorities, leading service developments, and carrying out audits in collaboration with other school leads and senior management.
Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 31.03.2026
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the management of a clinical caseload in mainstream schools. The role will involve working independently and managing complex cases.
As a schools lead, the post holder will supervise and support more junior staff and contribute to service improvement and re-development.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of professions across a variety of locations and agencies.
2. To identify priorities for caseload and workforce management across mainstream schools in Luton.
3. To identify gaps in local provision and report/escalate concerns to the Locality Lead as appropriate.
4. To independently manage a caseload of school age children who have speech, and language communication difficulties.
5. To undertake a range of assessments, both standardised and non-standardised, taking account of medical, social and educational factors, which combined with highly specialist theoretical knowledge will lead to differential diagnosis.
6. To plan, deliver and evaluate highly specialist intervention following professional guidelines and agreed service standards.
7. As part of that process, to plan appropriate long-term and short-term goals working towards discharge.
8. To understand and have a sound working knowledge of the EHCP process and the SEND appeal and tribunals process.
9. To have a sound working knowledge of relevant procedures / statutory requirements including; Safeguarding Children, SEND procedures and other legal frameworks.
10. To assess, diagnose and make recommendations for EHCPs, based on evidence and outcome-based models.
11. To undertake speech and language therapy assessments and compile reports to support the process for EHCP appeals and tribunals.
12. To explore the SALT provision that is already in place and offer support around rationale for this provision, together with any additional tailored clinical input that might be agreed.
13. To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment, and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need seeking advice as appropriate.
14. To provide training to enable parents and other professionals to support children’s language and communication needs, including colleagues and Local Authority staff, school teaching assistants, communicators, SENDCo’s, teachers and volunteers.
15. To have appropriate knowledge or an awareness of low tech AAC, for example picture exchange and high tech AAC.
16. To provide second opinions and shadowing opportunities for colleagues.
17. To make referrals onto specialist services as required, including Health, Education and / or Social Services.
18. Independently take students on placements for clinical teaching and supervision, including exam placement.
19. Undertake supervision and complete appraisals for SLTs and Support Practitioners.
20. To contribute to the support of newly and recently graduated SLT Staff.
21. To support and take part in the induction and training of new staff to the service.
22. Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical.
23. To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager/ locality lead, including participation in working groups, policy development groups
24. To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Recognised S< Degree or equivalent
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses
- RCSLT membership
- Registered with HCPC
Desirable criteria
- Membership of relevant CEN
- MSc or other recognised post graduate course linked to specialism
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of a broad range of clinical disorders, assessments and appropriate therapeutic interventions in specialist field
- Relevant specialist experience as qualified SLT with children and young people.
- Demonstrates an in depth knowledge of educational and clinical issues/developments relating to children with complex needs
- Demonstrates a sound knowledge of statutory legislation, national policies and procedures which affect service delivery and clinical practice
Desirable criteria
- Counselling skills training
- Experience working in a clinical leadership role
- Experience supervising students or supporting less experienced colleagues
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent interpersonal skills with patients with communication problems where difficulties to understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy
- Able to convey complex information clearly to patients, carers and other professionals both in verbal and written form
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
- Strong organisation, prioritisation and time-management skills
- Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lisa Delafield
- Job title
- Deputy Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07908185013
List jobs with East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge) in Allied Health Professions or all sectors