Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 7
Main area: Children & Young Grade. NHS AfC: Band 7. Contract: Permanent. Hours: 28 per week. Job ref: 220-WHT-3918.
Employer: Whittington Health NHS Trust (Site: Edgware Community Hospital, Town: Edgware). Salary: £58,133 - £65,261 per annum inclusive of HCAs (depending on experience). Closing date: 29/05/2026 23:59.
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Highly Specialist speech and language therapist to join our large Whittington Health team which includes specialists in many clinical areas. You will gain new skills and experiences and support Barnet children and young people, their families, and schools. We have a strong focus on working with families and achieving the best outcomes for the children and young people.
The role is based in Special schools, additional resourced provisions and mainstream schools and offers a breadth of experience and the opportunity to have impact on supporting across the team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Take appropriate action to identify and manage risk and maintain safety of users, staff and others.
2. Be trained and competent in the relevant policies and procedures for managing staff and other resources; seek advice from senior management and specialist staff as necessary.
3. Communicate effectively with staff and maintain productive working relationships.
4. Delegate appropriate responsibility to staff to ensure optimum service delivery and decision making, whilst retaining overall accountability.
5. Promote a culture of learning and development and facilitate arrangements for and participate in training and development of staff.
6. Take a major role in the specialist assessment of children who have speech, language and communication needs in mainstream schools, Additional Resourced Provisions, and special schools.
7. Have specialist knowledge in specific requirements of own therapy discipline.
8. Manage quality of service delivery with co-workers by establishing and maintaining positive relationships with external co-workers outside of the trust through liaison, training and education.
9. Develop comprehensive training programmes to support colleagues and outside agencies towards delivering an appropriate level of clinical practice across all disciplines and care providers.
10. Share clinical knowledge with other therapists within the Trust: make practice fields known to colleagues, update on evidence base practice, evaluate own practice and participate in clinical audits, contribute to developing outcome measures.
11. Provide clinical advice and education to families and individuals within your client group: undertake assessments, establish required clinical needs, promote health initiatives.
12. Manage information and act as a source of therapy development: contribute to written reports, promote changes in service delivery, participate in clinic supervision and clinical audit, self‑evaluate practice.
13. Ensure continuing professional development in line with HCPC guidelines: manage development time, prioritise needs, undergo clinical supervision, maintain a professional diary or other evidence.
14. Be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trust’s IM&T Strategy.
15. Maintain accurate patient records, ensure confidentiality, participate in planning and administration of caseload, report service performance targets.
16. Communicate effectively with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads; facilitate positive outcomes and collaborative working; review and develop clinical policies.
17. Mentor students, providing effective education, support learning needs and promote high standards of care.
18. Support new staff and their integration into the team.
19. Support training: plan mandatory training, workshops, appraisal, personal development plan, and implement new policies and guidelines; train school staff on postural management.
20. Support integrated pathways planning and professional guidance of therapists.
21. Undertake home visits; deal with saliva, mucus and oral residue; occasional exposure to lice, unpleasant smells, and verbal aggression.
22. Support the effective functioning of the Service and the specific settings.
23. Perform any other duties as required by the Heads of Speech & Language Therapy Services.
24. Work in accordance with Whittington Health working policies, guidelines and information security policy.
25. Take majority of annual leave during school holidays.
26. Ensure hours of duty: 9.00 – 5.00 (flexible: e.g. 8.30 – 4.30); core hours in school: 8.45 – 3.30.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
* Degree or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy
* NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
* Health Professions Council Registration to practice
* Evidence of successful completion of a range of specialist short courses in specialist area to MSC equivalency
Skills and Abilities
* Advanced knowledge of the evidence base of rehabilitation relating to specialist area.
* Excellent specific therapy assessment and treatment skills in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities utilizing a range of approaches.
* Able to independently manage own and others' clinical caseload and prioritise as required.
* Demonstrates effective communication skills with all disciplines and agencies.
* Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Excellent presentation skills of complex information.
* Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals' needs.
* IT skills including word processing and use of email.
Knowledge and Experience
* An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities.
* Appropriate assessment tools for this client group.
* Current issues in the delivery of community based services.
* Sound understanding of confidentiality.
* Previous NHS experience.
Other
* Ability to take the majority of leave during the school holidays.
* Demonstrating Trust Values.
* To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area.
Personal Qualities
* Able to respond to pressure appropriately.
* Flexible approach to work.
* Uses initiative.
* Commitment to Continuing Professional Development.
* Professional manner.
Safeguarding
* Ensure familiarity with and comply with London Child Protection Procedures and protocols.
* Ensure familiarity with and comply with London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
* Ensure familiarity with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
* Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
* Participate in required training and supervision.
* Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct.
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr