Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 179-7072566-I
- Employer
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ipswich
- Town
- Ipswich
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 Pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 5
Job overview
We have the opportunity to recruit 3 full time (37.5hpw), Band 5, Speech and Language Therapists to our Community Paediatric SLT mainstream teams in the following roles across Suffolk: 1) Felixstowe: schools & clinics, 2) Ipswich: clinics & schools; 3) Stowmarket/Haverhill schools/clinic.
We work in a variety of settings including clinics, children’s centres, nurseries, preschools, and mainstream schools within a dedicated and supportive team. Being organised and positive are key skills for these roles.
As a team we are strongly committed to delivering effective, evidence-based therapy, and we offer regular clinical and management supervision with in-house CPD/training opportunities.
We would welcome any applicants at the start of their career or those with current applicable experience especially regarding assessment and intervention of children and young people’s speech, language and communication needs, experience working with therapy partners (parent/carers and educational staff), a passion / interest in delivering 1:1 and/or group therapy, and an interest in delivering training.
We cover a large geographical area so a willingness and ability to travel during the working day is essential. Interview date 13th August.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
Work with preschool children and young people with a broad range of speech, language, and communication needs.
Work independently to provide regular assessment sessions throughout the key stages of the patient journey.
Plan and deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people.
Understand typical and atypical development of speech, language, and communication skills
Select and successfully interpret a range of appropriate formal and informal assessments
Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, across settings to achieve best outcomes
Have strong emerging or established personal communication skills to convey key information to service users, colleagues, and other professionals
Be familiar and confident with health record keeping systems (SystmOne) and MS packages, keeping up to date records in a concise and timely manner
Have good organisational skills to be able to plan workload and maintain balance.
Be comfortable managing competing demands.
Support delivery of training packages to parents/carers and educational staff (both face to face and virtually)
Working for our organisation
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description for further information
The primary purpose of this role is to provide a high standard of Speech and Language Therapy to children and young people aged 0-19 with a range of speech, language, and communication presentations.
This community-based role may involve working in a variety of settings, including clinics, mainstream schools, specialist units (SSUs), special schools, nurseries or homes, according to service need.
To effectively manage an autonomous clinical caseload and undertake professional duties as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, seeking advice from senior staff where appropriate.
To maintain an active continual professional development portfolio and to continue with post graduate learning.
Person specification
Education & Qualification
Essential criteria
- • Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
- • Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
- • Eligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
Desirable criteria
- • Evidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics
- • Knowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods
- • Experience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of working in community paediatric settings
- • Use of outcome measures
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
- • Knowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and awareness of role in providing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports
- • Knowledge of Safeguarding CYP
- • Good presentation skills, written and verbal
- • Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
- • Ability to work under pressure
- • Well-developed concentration skills
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of record keeping via SystmOne
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- • Flexible approach and able to manage changing circumstances
- • Motivated
- • Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role
Desirable criteria
- • Pragmatic
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
- Abbie Woodward
- Job title
- Pathway Lead for clinics
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07507556306
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