Organisation
Southampton City Council
Service Area
Education
Job Location
Civic Centre
Contract Length
Permanent
Work Hours
Full time 37 hours per week
Salary
£41,771 to £46,141 per annum
Special Requirements
Enhanced DBS Check required
Closing Date
15/10/2025
Job Reference
16035
Job Description and Person Specification
We saw that social care reform was coming, and we acted. We transformed our service, restructured our teams, changed how we work with each other and our partners, and we improved.
We believe one simple thing: that everyday counts and everyone matters.
Over the last couple of years, we've been on a journey that has seen Ofsted has our Children's Services as 'Good' with 'Outstanding Leadership', and more recently has inspected our SEND provision (Area full SEND inspection) and how we work with partner agencies (Joint Target Area Inspection). In every inspection Ofsted has recognised our commitment and dedication to delivering the best outcomes for children, young people and families.
But we're ambitious for our children and young people, so our journey continues.
We have an opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist to join our team
About the Team
The Speech and Language Therapist will be a key member of the SEND Service and the ND MDT, a joint initiative between NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and Southampton City Council. The team is dedicated to transforming support for neurodivergent children and young people, moving away from diagnosis-driven models towards a needs-led, family-centred approach.
About the Role
We are seeking a skilled and passionate Speech and Language Therapist to provide specialist therapy and support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) across Southampton's East, Central and West localities. The role involves direct clinical work, strategic service development, and multi-agency collaboration.
Key responsibilities include:
* Delivering specialist speech and language therapy, including assessment, intervention, and review for children and young people with neurodivergent profiles.
* Supporting early identification and intervention through the ND Profiling Tool and MDT pathways.
* Providing training and guidance to professionals and families on communication strategies and neurodiversity awareness.
* Collaborating across education, health and social care to promote inclusive and integrated support.
* Attending locality team meetings and acting as a communication lead and liaison between Education and CSC.
* Contributing to the development and implementation of care pathways within the ND MDT.
* Maintaining accurate clinical records and contributing to service audits, evaluations, and reporting requirements.
* Participating in strategic planning, policy shaping, and quality improvement initiatives.
* Acting as a role model and advocate for inclusive communication, empowering children and young people to express themselves and participate fully in their education and community life.
For further information about this role, please view the job description.
About You
Essential Skills:
* Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
* HCPC registration.
* Member of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
* Evidence of CPD in paediatric/neurodiversity specialism.
* Minimum 2 years in paediatric therapy.
* Experience with neurodivergent children and young people.
* Experience of delivering training and clinical supervision.
* Experience of multi-agency working.
* Relevant knowledge and understanding of neurodiversity and strategies to support.
* Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and Ordinarily Available Provision requirements.
* Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and child protection issues.
* Proven communication skills, both oral and written, including report writing and presentation skills.
* Effective problem-solving and analytical skills.
* Experience of providing services to children and/or families with complex needs.
* Experience of mediation/negotiation skills to achieve positive outcomes.
* Good knowledge of parenting strategies, child development, attachment, and play.
* Ability to use own initiative and work both independently and as part of a team.
* Excellent IT literacy, including MS Office and digital user platforms.
* Willingness to travel and work from locations outside normal work base as required.
* Commitment to personal development and continuous professional development.
Desirable Skills:
* Study at Master's level or equivalent experience.
* Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups.
* Experience of policy development and contributing to service redesign.
* Experience of tribunal or legal reporting.
What We Can Offer You
Salary: The salary band for this role is £41,771 - £46,141 The starting salary is £41,1771 with annual progression through the salary bands.
Here at SCC we have a range of different perks and benefits, a few examples can be found below.
* Excellent local government pension with 16.8% employer contribution
* Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
* Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
* Flexible working options (role-dependent)
* Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
* Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
* Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
* Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
* Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
* Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
* Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
* Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer
For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits )
Please note: We are not able to offer Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship on this role, at this time.
Contact Details for Informal Discussion
For further information and details regarding the Locality Officer for SEND role, please contact Daniel Beck (Strategic Lead SEND) at
Recruitment Contact Details
Email:
Tel:
For more information about this campaign please visit: Southampton's social care reform journey
For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
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