Job Overview
The Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist will provide strategic, clinical and operational leadership for the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team within the Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) Neurodevelopmental Service. The post holder will lead the delivery of high‑quality, evidence‑based assessment and intervention for children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs, including autism and complex communication difficulties, while maintaining a specialist clinical caseload. Working as part of a multidisciplinary leadership team, the role is responsible for service development, workforce leadership, quality improvement, and ensuring children, young people and families receive safe, effective and person‑centred care across integrated neurodevelopmental pathways.
Responsibilities
* Provide strategic, clinical and operational leadership for the SLT provision within the BHR Neurodevelopmental Service.
* Lead the delivery of evidence‑based assessment and intervention for children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs.
* Design and implement integrated neurodevelopmental pathways that support children and young people with autism, developmental language disorder and other complex communication needs.
* Develop systems, processes and service models that enhance access, quality and outcomes across health, education and community settings.
* Provide line management and professional leadership to SLT staff, ensuring effective recruitment, induction, supervision, appraisal, performance management and workforce development.
* Foster a positive team culture, promote continuous professional development and ensure compliance with professional, organisational and safeguarding requirements.
* Maintain a specialist clinical caseload and provide advanced assessment, differential diagnosis and intervention for complex communication difficulties.
* Develop evidence‑based treatment plans and provide expert advice to families, schools and multidisciplinary colleagues.
* Contribute to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and provide specialist reports where required.
* Collaborate with health, education, social care and voluntary sector partners to ensure integrated care planning and effective service delivery.
* Represent the service at local, Trust‑wide and external forums, contributing to strategic developments and ensuring services respond to national policy, SEND reforms and local priorities.
* Oversee service performance, quality assurance and clinical governance, including audit, service evaluation, risk management, policy development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives.
* Monitor activity and performance data, contribute to service reporting and support the achievement of key performance and quality indicators.
* Lead the development and delivery of specialist training programmes, support research and innovation, and contribute to the development of evidence‑based practice across the wider workforce.
Working Conditions
New starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive two‑week induction covering mandatory training, systems training and equipment allocation. An internal probationary period is applied unless the applicant is an internal staff member or currently in a probationary period. The role is based in Rainham, Essex.
Compensation
Salary includes a high‑cost area supplement of 15 % of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,870 to a maximum of £6,137 p.a. pro‑rata for part‑time staff).
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