Driven by our Trust values: Honesty, Empathy, Ambition, Respect; the Trust's vision is to provide high quality care to the diverse communities we serve to make their lives better. We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Our cultural diversity, long term conditions and disabilities, and LGBTQIA staff networks are a key part of this commitment, creating positive change and helping build an inclusive culture across the Trust. Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed - our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process. Options for flexible working are considered for all roles within CCS, including job share opportunities, compressed hours, annualised hours, tailored working patterns and more. If you are interested in flexible working, please talk to the recruiting manager for this vacancy. Please note, the selection processes at Cambridgeshire Community Services are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored, we remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills. Job overview B6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Preschool Come and join our friendly Speech and Language Therapy Team in Luton, Bedfordshire. We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to join our established community therapy team working with preschool children in Luton. We need: Confident, motivated and enthusiastic therapist, willing to work flexibly Experience of working with preschool children with a wide range of SLCN Someone looking to develop their clinical knowledge and skills You will: Manage a caseload providing targeted, evidence-based assessment and therapy Work closely with colleagues in health and education Participate in training to parents and other professionals around SLC needs Support junior staff within the service As a Service we provide: A welcoming and supportive team Formal and informal training, including shadowing opportunities Regular robust clinical supervision and a mentoring system Regular whole team in house CPD days as well as in service and external courses Collaborative working with system partners including 0-19 team, Community Paediatrics and education settings Reflective clinical forums and buddying systems Regular whole service and locality meetings Career development opportunities including clinical and professional development "Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 06/10/2025" Advert The post holders will provide specialist clinical input to preschool children across the Luton locality. Working as part of the community preschool team, you will provide speech and language therapy support to children with a wide range of SLC needs including statutory provision. You will provide training to enable parents and other professionals to support children’s language and communication needs. You will mentor and support other colleagues. Working for our organisation Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives. There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff - who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey. If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Main Duties and Responsibilities To independently identify, assess and diagnose speech, language and communication impairments and select appropriate patients and type of therapy for effective treatment. To make a differential diagnosis based on evidence from assessment, and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need seeking advice as appropriate. Be responsible for delivering specialist speech and language therapy input to school age children and young people of all ages, covering a range of disorders of communication. To provide training to enable parents and other professionals to support children’s language and communication needs. Make independent decisions about caseload management, including discharge. To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical. To use clinical skills to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues. Gain extensive clinical experience and expertise to improve and further develop specialist skills through training, support and study. To have appropriate knowledge or an awareness of low tech AAC, for example communication boards. To have knowledge of and contribute to the EHCP process within the given timescales, including preparing reports with outcomes and targets for the initial report and for annual reviews as required. To triage new referrals into the service and reject or accept these based on service criteria, including skills in discussing potential referrals with referrers. To provide second opinions and shadowing opportunities for less experienced colleagues, including within the Language Provision, as required. To seek out second opinions from more experience colleagues as required. To make referrals onto specialist services as required, including Health, Education and / or Social Services. To participate in the development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others with and without support and reflect on and evaluate training provided. Independently take students on placements for clinical teaching and supervision, including exam placement. Undertake supervision and complete appraisals for SLTs and Support Practitioners. To contribute to the support of newly and recently graduated SLT Staff. To support and take part in the induction and training of new staff to the service. Communication To work collaboratively and liaise with a wide range of professions across a variety of locations and agencies To attend and report to case conferences/review meetings etc. for patients on the caseload, agreeing/ negotiating management, including the setting of agreed communication targets To attend and participate in professional meetings and other relevant meetings. To present and communicate complex condition-related information in such a manner as to motivate and inform patients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions, agreeing decision-making relevant to patient management. To communicate effectively with patients with communication problems where difficulties to understanding exist, using observation, listening and empathy To use good interpersonal skills to listen well and counsel patients and carers, so providing support and empathy without prejudice. To use negotiation skills to manage conflict as needed across a range of situations. To deal with initial complaints sensitively and manage patient concerns appropriately. To convey complex information clearly to patients, carers and other professionals both in verbal and written form To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge. To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff which are characterised by open communication, trust and respect To attend and contribute as appropriate to Locality Meetings, Clinical Forums and Paediatric service meetings and other professional and / or relevant meetings. Key Relationship Internal: Speech & Language Therapy colleagues 0-19 Team (Health Visitors and School Nurses) Allied Health Professionals Paediatric medical staff Administrative staff External: Education staff Social Services Budgetary Responsibility Does not hold budgetary responsibility but is aware of the need to plan non-pay expenditure. To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate. People Management To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at predetermined intervals ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio. To attend relevant training (courses, meetings, CEN’s) and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a therapist working in this field. To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good speech & language therapy practice in paediatrics and maintain up to date HCPC and RCSLT registration. To actively participate in reflective clinical supervision with peers / clinical supervisor in order to develop and enhance practice. Research & Development Activity To undertake Clinical Governance /audit projects within local service and Language Provision. To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects. To collect and provide research data as required. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures. Clinical and Practice Governance Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. To manage and prioritise a defined caseload and work with an appropriate degree of autonomy and independence. Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes. The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures. It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with HCPC and RCSLT and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust. The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required. Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis. The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team. To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions. On April 1st 2025, the Boards of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust will come together to deliver services as a group, with a singular board operating across both organisations. Both trusts are high performing specialist community health and care providers working in the East of England. Both have a strong track record, with the highest ratings from the Care Quality Commission, best in class NHS staff survey outcomes, and a decade of experience in innovation and clinical development. The group model provides health and care services to a population of 3.2 million in their homes and neighbourhoods. We provide care that supports people from the very beginning to the very end of their lives. We will remain 2 separate employers until further notice and the specific role being advertised will be in employed by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust Certificate of Sponsorship For roles that are eligible for sponsorship, applications from job seekers who require Skilled Worker Visa to work in the UK are welcome, and will be considered alongside all other applications. You are strongly advised to visit Check if you need a UK Visa website ( Opens in a new tab), and familiarise yourself with what is required which should assist you in your understanding of the process From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here. (Opens in a new tab) UK Registration For roles that require professional registration, applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new tab) Our safe recruitment pre-employment checks are undertaken before an appointment is confirmed and may include a DBS check. Where the role requires you to drive, we'll ask you to validate your driving licence online via the DVLA. In submitting an application, you authorise Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed. ALL CORRESPONDENCE will be via the e-mail address on your application form. If you have not been invited to interview within 2 weeks of the closing date, you unfortunately haven’t been successful on this occasion, but keep an eye on our vacancies as a job that’s just right for you may appear!