Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We have sessions available for a Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in our growing Children’s Community Speech and Language Therapy team. We are a department that promotes Equality, Diversity and Belonging in our workforce and practice and value difference and welcome everyone.

We are a team of innovative, enthusiastic clinicians, delivering a range of Speech and Language Therapy services in partnership with parents, Health, Education, Social Services, Local Authority, Youth Justice Services and the voluntary sector working across Lambeth & Southwark.

We have a permanent role available in our Autism Assessment team.

The Speech and Language Therapy department provides focused and clinically driven services across the community (Lambeth & Southwark). Our aim is to ensure clear delivery and development of services for the specific populations we serve, enabling smoother transitions, enhanced skill development across the team and greater job satisfaction.

Main duties of the job

In the Autism Assessment Team: the role requires specialist knowledge of Autism. You would be working with the multi-disciplinary Autism and Related Disorders clinic team administering ADOS assessments, offering clinical expertise and writing reports. You would also be participating in offering pre-and post-assessment virtual and in-person parent/carer workshops and workshops to professionals. You would also be part of the Autism Network, a team of SLTs with particular interest in Autism whose role is to support CPD for the wider SLT team and further develop their own skills and knowledge. As a team we are working to develop our neuroaffirmative approach to all our work with children/young people and those who care for and support them.

As a senior therapist, you will be expected to take on service development work supported by departmental Clinical Leads.

We provide separate line management and clinical supervision to ensure strong clinical performance and development opportunities. You would: offer line management/clinical supervision (with support from Leadership) and second opinions to colleagues as needed.

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Health and Care Professions Council – Licence to Practice
• Willingness to undertake post qualification study
• ADOS trained and experienced

Desirable

• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks

Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience of working as a Speech and Language Therapist with a paediatric caseload, including children with complex conditions.
• Experience of planning and delivering training to a range of audiences
• Understanding of the impact of local social, cultural, and linguistic factors on service delivery.
• Problem solving skills in complex situations including local resolution of complaints where possible
• Independently manages own time/tasks and responsive to the changing demands of the service
• Experience of administering ADOS and differential diagnosis/clinical formulation in MDT Autism assessment

Desirable

• Experience in contributing to policy planning and service development

Skills

Essential

• Highly Specialist knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to client groups and settings and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits underpinned by evidence based practice.
• Knowledge of EYFS and National Curriculum, and understanding of curriculum differentiation and environmental adaptations.
• A working knowledge of relevant procedures and legal frameworks and to demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to clinical practice, including: Safeguarding Children, Code of Practice, Information Governance and other legal frameworks
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including reflective practice, audit and research methodologies.
• Knowledge of methods of involving users in improving client care
• Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key professionals in health, education, voluntary and social services
• Knowledge and experience of clinical supervision and the ability to engage others in reflective practice
• Highly skilled in differential diagnoses on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate. This includes supporting colleagues with their clinical decision-making in specialist area.
• Ability to use knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements and decision-making for complex cases
• Ability to engage and negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management

Ability

Essential

• Ability to use ICT for clinical and administrative tasks
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal skills; including observation, listening and empathy sensitivity tact and diplomacy, team-working.

Closing Date: 3 September 2026