South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (Children's)
The closing date is 06 November 2025
37.5 hours per week, Children's Team Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Autism.
This Post has been funded by commissioners who recognise the value of increasing the SALT resource to support children with autism. You will be part of the multi‑disciplinary diagnostic pathway for autism. You will deliver therapy and interventions to children with a diagnosis of autism and social communication disorder. You will support children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs in clinics, Family Hubs and education settings.
We work with service users and partners across health, education, social care and commissioning as we strive to improve the services for all of our children and families across our locations to ensure a best start in life right up to transition to adulthood.
You will be in our journey to support families as part of a collaborative network around the child. You will recognise the challenge of supporting children as part of the diagnostic process whilst ensuring we deliver needs‑led interventions to children as part of a graduated response.
Main duties of the job
You will have experience of working with children with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties, and be able to assess, plan and provide intervention and therapy within a range of settings. You will have experience of working with autistic children. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be committed to working in a multi‑disciplinary way to facilitate the best outcomes for children.
Developing our team members in their career path is vital. We strive to share skills and work across our specialist clinical teams to develop our workforce and support each other with our growth and learning.
You will be part of a forward‑thinking department that strives to be innovative and put research into practice to improve patient outcomes.
You will develop your skills working across a range of mainstream and specialist settings. Your values will align with those of our organisation, and you will be passionate about making a difference to children and young people.
For more details contact: Ruth Rayner, Head of Service - 0191 569 9009
Nicola Johnson, Clinical Team Manager - 0191 569 9122 or Emma Bowen, Clinical Team Manager - 0191 283 3284.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award‑winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce’s health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist speech, language and communication service to patients with a wide range of speech, language, communication, eating and drinking difficulties across an array of community settings including Health Centres, mainstream schools, specialist provisions and early years settings.
PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
Person Specification
Skills/Attributes/Knowledge
* Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills.
* Ability to communicate effectively with Health, Education and Social Services professionals, as well as parents/families/carers.
* Influencing and problem‑solving skills.
* Demonstrate excellent analytical, assessment, deduction and reflection skills.
* Excellent presentation skills - written and oral.
* Excellent organisational and time‑management skills.
* Innovative thinking skills.
* Highly‑developed discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically.
* Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume supervisory responsibilities of assistants and mentoring responsibilities of less‑experienced therapists.
* Independent and autonomous working.
Qualifications
* Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree qualification.
* Membership of Health Care Professions Council.
* Eligibility for membership of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
* Fulfilment of NQT RCSLT competency criteria.
* Evidence of attendance at a wide range of short courses in specialist area e.g. Motor Speech Disorders, Specific Language Disorders.
* Evidence of CPD including successful completion of specialist post‑graduate training e.g. RCSLT accredited Dysphagia Management Course (Paediatrics), Hanen Certificate, Makaton Signing System.
* Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups.
* Well‑established knowledge of a range of specialist assessment tools relevant to a wide range of paediatric communication disorders.
* Knowledge of current national policies and procedures e.g.
* Education, Health and Care Planning process (Children and Families Act 2014).
* Knowledge of trends/best practice across the clinical specialisms.
* In‑depth knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to the client groups and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits of each.
* Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
* Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to client group.
* Knowledge of standards of record‑keeping.
* Working knowledge of child protection and vulnerable adult policies.
* Working knowledge of structure, policies and functioning of the NHS and Local Educational Authorities.
* Good working knowledge of structure, policies and functioning of STSFT and Local Educational Authorities.
* Good working knowledge of speech and language therapy service provision and examples of care pathways.
Other
* Please provide a contact telephone number.
Physical Requirements
* To have due regard for own personal safety and that of clients/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations and ensure the safe positioning of self and others.
* Lifting and carrying equipment for assessment and treatment on a regular basis.
* To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of client management for prolonged periods, in particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.
* To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
* To employ counselling skills with carers and clients (including clients with highly‑complex needs).
* To demonstrate the ability to manage clients with challenging behaviours, including the application of appropriate management strategies.
* To be adaptable to the demands of a variety of working conditions and/or a wide range of clients.
* To work within infection control and Health & Safety guidelines in order to deal with unpleasant conditions relating to client contact as they arise, for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis.
* To be aware of how to employ appropriate strategies to manage verbally aggressive behaviour within the workplace.
* To be able to meet the travel demands of the role.
Experience
* Significant knowledge and experience of a wide range of developmental speech, language and communication difficulties and their treatments.
* Experience of working within multi‑disciplinary teams.
* Experience liaising with other health, education and social professionals.
* Experience of planning and delivery of training for other professionals and parents/carers.
* Relevant experience at post‑graduate level e.g. assessment and intervention with more complex communication disorders and writing reports on outcomes.
* Experience of working alongside highly‑specialised therapists for highly‑complex cases.
* Relevant specialist experience post‑qualification e.g. Dysfluency key‑worker, Developmental language Disorder, Complex Language and Learning, Autism, Dysphagia.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
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