Who are we
Unlocking Potential is the charity that supports schools and communities to ensure no child or family struggles alone with their social, emotional and mental health needs. We provide flexible, over-time, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support that meets children and families where they are, and enables them to feel safe, understood and the best version of themselves.
The scale of the social and mental health challenges affecting children and families in the UK is greater than ever before and our services for schools, and with families, is an impactful response to unprecedented demand and unmet need for therapeutic support.
Our Purpose
Unlocking Potential is the charity that supports schools and communities to ensure no child or family struggles alone with their social, emotional and mental health needs. We provide flexible, over-time, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support that meets children and families where they are, and enables them to feel safe, understood and the best version of themselves.
Vision
Everyone feels supported, equipped and able to achieve their potential.
Mission
Our mission is to provide tailored therapeutic support to more children, while training the practitioners of the future to build holistic, resilient social systems that equip children and their families with the confidence, tools, and skills to thrive at school and within their communities.
Values
Individual
Everything we do is about the individual and what is right for them – no two children, families or schools are the same.
Innovative
We look for new solutions, evolving our thinking and approach – ensuring the use of bold, co-designed practice.
Collaborative
We choose to work with others to find the best solutions – we are stronger together.
Overview
This is an exciting time to be joining the charity! Our new strategy focuses on growth and long-term sustainability, with ambitious plans to extend our reach and impact nationally and to expand and diversify our services. Our long-term ambition for the future is a transformed landscape of multi-disciplinary therapeutic support in schools, with UP acknowledged and recognised as a thought-leader, innovator, preferred collaborator and convener.
This role is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced SaLT who is passionate about transforming children’s life chances and is keen to lead and grow a Speech and Language Therapy service in the field of Social Emotional Mental Health needs.
The children we typically support are those with mild to moderate social communication needs. These are the children that don’t meet the criteria for community paediatric and CAMHS services and are often at significant risk of developing mental health and behavioural difficulties later on in life. We also offer EHCP work for more complex cases.
In this role you will be working operationally and strategically. Drawing on your experience as a SaLT, alongside your excellent communication and mentoring skills, you will manage a team of SaLTs ensuring that high-quality Speech and Language Therapy is delivered across our partner schools and support the oversight of the SaLT trainee model, ensuring strong relationships with training providers and high-quality trainee placements.
You will also lead the SaLT service’s strategic growth and development, working with the Clinical Manager, Clinical Director and Director of the Schools Programme to expand the service across more schools, develop our offer and model, and respond to external opportunities as they arise.
There is real opportunity for you to make this role your own. We are looking for someone interested in working in an innovative, self-directed and flexible way, who can champion the value of the MDT working and collaboration to ensure the best outcomes of our children and families.