Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our Therapy Team. This role will require the successful candidate to provide specialist Speech and language therapy to children and young people accessing The Childrens Trust School and residential services. You will provide high quality, evidence-based speech and language therapy assessment and intervention to children and young people with neurodisabilities and neurodevelopmental concerns, within a multidisciplinary and multi-agency setting. Our service delivery aims to promote outcome focussed interventions, safe care, function and participation of children and young people accessing home, school and community life. You will support children and young people with communication needs, speech and language difficulties, and eating and drinking management within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency setting. Staff benefits include London weighting, shuttle bus, and more Read more below Main duties of the job Provide high quality, evidence-based speech and language therapy provision for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School and rehabilitation services, in partnership with other members of the Multi-disciplinary team and education services. Be an autonomous practitioner with responsibility for assessment, treatment and planning for an allocated caseload of children/young people. Undertake specialist speech and language therapy assessments of children and young people with complex needs e.g. multiple co-morbidities, neurodisabilities and chronic conditions, through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations. Develop therapy goals, in collaboration with the child and family/carers, as well as the multidisciplinary and education teams, other health professionals and agencies, to facilitate the participation of the child or young person in life skills. Devise suitable, individualised, 24hr speech and language therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child. Facilitate involvement of family and carers in the rehabilitation process, including day-to-day therapy sessions, and the handing over of practical skills and care. About us About Us The Childrens Trust is the UKs leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service. Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom. Date posted 12 February 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary Depending on experience £42,939 – £50,697 per annum, pro rata incl of London weighting Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number B0474-25-0018 Job locations The Childrens Trust Tadworth Court Tadworth Surrey KT20 5RU Job description Job responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities Provide high quality, evidence-based speech and language therapy provision for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School and rehabilitation services, in partnership with other members of the Multi-disciplinary team and education services. Be an autonomous practitioner with responsibility for assessment, treatment and planning for an allocated caseload of children/young people. Undertake specialist speech and language therapy assessments of children and young people with complex needs e.g. multiple co-morbidities, neurodisabilities and chronic conditions, through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations. Develop therapy goals, in collaboration with the child and family/carers, as well as the multidisciplinary and education teams, other health professionals and agencies, to facilitate the participation of the child or young person in life skills. Devise suitable, individualised, 24hr speech and language therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child. Facilitate involvement of family and carers in the rehabilitation process, including day-to-day therapy sessions, and the handing over of practical skills and care. Support assessment and management guidelines for young people with assistive technology needs. Support assessment and intervention in the clinical area of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) for school, teaching and integrating skills with members of the multidisciplinary and educational teams. Set outcomes as part of the child or young persons annual review and Education, Health and Care Plans. Support the Multidisciplinary and education teams with measuring short term targets, through using the ImPACTS curriculum, therapy outcome measurement tools e.g. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). Teach, integrate and monitor speech and language therapy interventions in the childs environment, whether it is carried out by parents, school staff, therapy staff, nursing and care staff or volunteers. Assess, and organise the provision of necessary speech and language therapy / eating and drinking equipment. With support from the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, devise suitable individual dysphagia management plans for each child/young person. Identify, assess, and refer appropriate children / young people requiring instrumental assessment, for example Videofluoroscopy Swallow Study, in accordance with departmental policy and guidance. Support the provision of high quality, evidence-based dysphagia management for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School and Rehabilitation services, in partnership with other members of the multi-disciplinary team Liaise with all appropriate medical staff, whether employed by The Childrens Trust, visiting consultants or at off-site clinics, and attend clinics with the child as required. Contribute to the assessment and discussion of new referrals to The Childrens Trust, carrying out off site referral assessments around the United Kingdom, as required. Utilise patient reported and standardised outcome measures for each allocated child/young person and complete in a timely manner. Assess, evaluate, and recommend discharge/transition plans for children/young people within the multidisciplinary team framework. Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, in order to ensure effective service delivery. Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust. Contribute to child related reports, including looked after children and annual review reports as required, and assist with the collation of these as required, in a timely manner in line with organisational targets. Support the delivery of a tiered model approach to speech and language therapy at The Childrens Trust School, providing regular integrated time to classes and houses. Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child. This will include any home/school visits, professional child related meetings and/ or appointments, as required. Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, to ensure effective service delivery. Work flexibly in terms of hours, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month. Communication Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of consistent communication). Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team. Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate. Attend and contribute to Multidisciplinary Team meetings, to discuss individual children/ young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics, etc. Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust Policy. Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times. Attend regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team, to discuss individual children/young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics. Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, and as they occur taking immediate action where necessary. Professionalism Meet current HCPC and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists standards with respect to professionalism and to keep up to date with any changes. Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and other Professional Bodies. Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust. Management of Self and Others Provide support and supervision for junior team members and students, within area of responsibility, providing direction, motivation and support to achieve key objectives. Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as Appraiser and Appraise. Manage time effectively, prioritising and delegating work appropriately and as required. Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy. Advance personal knowledge, understanding and skills in line with identified learning needs, by making appropriate use of a variety of learning and development resources and opportunities, e.g. by attending courses/ lectures, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and visiting other departments/ organisations and by conducting Literature Reviews. Prepare appropriately for Performance Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements. Submit research Abstracts/ Posters to both local and national conferences, with support if required. Participate in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate. In addition to The Childrens Trust policies, the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist is governed by, and should adhere to, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for speech and language therapists and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Quality Assurance Standards. Make day-to-day decisions regarding speech and language requirements for children and young people, based on case load, including recommendations for specialist equipment. Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service. Monthly formal supervision. Governance Read and implement all policies, procedures and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as and when they occur. Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Heads of Therapy. Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions, where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated. Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Therapy Team Leads. Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of future practice. Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, in order that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required. Actively participate in local clinical governance activities. Health and Safety Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control. Provide evidence of a valid NHS Covid Pass or acceptable proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption and all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post. Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training. Promotes the health and safety of others. Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed. Job description Job responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities Provide high quality, evidence-based speech and language therapy provision for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School and rehabilitation services, in partnership with other members of the Multi-disciplinary team and education services. Be an autonomous practitioner with responsibility for assessment, treatment and planning for an allocated caseload of children/young people. Undertake specialist speech and language therapy assessments of children and young people with complex needs e.g. multiple co-morbidities, neurodisabilities and chronic conditions, through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations. Develop therapy goals, in collaboration with the child and family/carers, as well as the multidisciplinary and education teams, other health professionals and agencies, to facilitate the participation of the child or young person in life skills. Devise suitable, individualised, 24hr speech and language therapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child. Facilitate involvement of family and carers in the rehabilitation process, including day-to-day therapy sessions, and the handing over of practical skills and care. Support assessment and management guidelines for young people with assistive technology needs. Support assessment and intervention in the clinical area of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) for school, teaching and integrating skills with members of the multidisciplinary and educational teams. Set outcomes as part of the child or young persons annual review and Education, Health and Care Plans. Support the Multidisciplinary and education teams with measuring short term targets, through using the ImPACTS curriculum, therapy outcome measurement tools e.g. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). Teach, integrate and monitor speech and language therapy interventions in the childs environment, whether it is carried out by parents, school staff, therapy staff, nursing and care staff or volunteers. Assess, and organise the provision of necessary speech and language therapy / eating and drinking equipment. With support from the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, devise suitable individual dysphagia management plans for each child/young person. Identify, assess, and refer appropriate children / young people requiring instrumental assessment, for example Videofluoroscopy Swallow Study, in accordance with departmental policy and guidance. Support the provision of high quality, evidence-based dysphagia management for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School and Rehabilitation services, in partnership with other members of the multi-disciplinary team Liaise with all appropriate medical staff, whether employed by The Childrens Trust, visiting consultants or at off-site clinics, and attend clinics with the child as required. Contribute to the assessment and discussion of new referrals to The Childrens Trust, carrying out off site referral assessments around the United Kingdom, as required. Utilise patient reported and standardised outcome measures for each allocated child/young person and complete in a timely manner. Assess, evaluate, and recommend discharge/transition plans for children/young people within the multidisciplinary team framework. Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, in order to ensure effective service delivery. Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust. Contribute to child related reports, including looked after children and annual review reports as required, and assist with the collation of these as required, in a timely manner in line with organisational targets. Support the delivery of a tiered model approach to speech and language therapy at The Childrens Trust School, providing regular integrated time to classes and houses. Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child. This will include any home/school visits, professional child related meetings and/ or appointments, as required. Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, to ensure effective service delivery. Work flexibly in terms of hours, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month. Communication Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of consistent communication). Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team. Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate. Attend and contribute to Multidisciplinary Team meetings, to discuss individual children/ young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics, etc. Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust Policy. Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times. Attend regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team, to discuss individual children/young people and service in general, as required e.g. reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics. Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, and as they occur taking immediate action where necessary. Professionalism Meet current HCPC and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists standards with respect to professionalism and to keep up to date with any changes. Be responsible for maintaining registration with HCPC and other Professional Bodies. Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust. Management of Self and Others Provide support and supervision for junior team members and students, within area of responsibility, providing direction, motivation and support to achieve key objectives. Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as Appraiser and Appraise. Manage time effectively, prioritising and delegating work appropriately and as required. Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy. Advance personal knowledge, understanding and skills in line with identified learning needs, by making appropriate use of a variety of learning and development resources and opportunities, e.g. by attending courses/ lectures, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and visiting other departments/ organisations and by conducting Literature Reviews. Prepare appropriately for Performance Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements. Submit research Abstracts/ Posters to both local and national conferences, with support if required. Participate in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate. In addition to The Childrens Trust policies, the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist is governed by, and should adhere to, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency for speech and language therapists and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Quality Assurance Standards. Make day-to-day decisions regarding speech and language requirements for children and young people, based on case load, including recommendations for specialist equipment. Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service. Monthly formal supervision. Governance Read and implement all policies, procedures and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as and when they occur. Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Heads of Therapy. Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions, where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated. Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Therapy Team Leads. Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of future practice. Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, in order that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required. Actively participate in local clinical governance activities. Health and Safety Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control. Provide evidence of a valid NHS Covid Pass or acceptable proof of Covid vaccination or medical exemption and all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post. Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training. Promotes the health and safety of others. Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed. Person Specification Qualifications Essential RCSLT recognised degree or postgraduate diploma in Speech and Language Therapy. HCPC registration. Continuous Professional Development in line with regulatory body standards. Identifies own training needs and pursues on own initiative. Desirable Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy. Member of specialist interest group or forum. Experience Essential Minimum of two years clinical experience post qualification. Experience of working with children/young people with neurodisabilities and or mainstream and or specialist schools/ and or paediatrics. Experience of working as part of a multi-professional team. Dysphagia competency to Level B (RCSLT Competencies). Desirable Experience of working with families. Experience of SEND legislation and SENDist tribunals. Recent relevant training with respect to dysphagia. Recent relevant training with respect to assistive technology 2 years post grad experience Skills & Abilities Essential Knowledge of speech and language therapy management for neurodisability supported by clinical reasoning. Clinical reasoning skills in predictable situations, analysing a variety of evidence and presenting this in a relevant format e.g. report, presentation. Workload management including delegation of tasks. Observation and treatment skills relevant to the assessment and management. Ability to meet the physical demands of a school therapy role. Attention to detail. Ability to supervise others and enable development of their skills. Professional integrity, particularly in clinical governance. To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. This may include one weekend day a month and early evening working- there is no on call required. Competent written and verbal communication skills. Desirable Risk assessment skills. Knowledge Essential Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities. Competent skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint. Knowledge of relevant outcome measures and statutory outcome requirements. Desirable Knowledge of current research, clinical audit and service evaluation methods. Personal Qualities Essential Physically fit and able to comply with trust manual handling guidelines. Able to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities. Ability to cope working in a demanding environment. Flexible and can do attitude to competing commitments in workload. Highly motivated and reliable. Commitment to the vision and values of The Childrens Trust. Person Specification Qualifications Essential RCSLT recognised degree or postgraduate diploma in Speech and Language Therapy. HCPC registration. Continuous Professional Development in line with regulatory body standards. Identifies own training needs and pursues on own initiative. Desirable Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy. Member of specialist interest group or forum. Experience Essential Minimum of two years clinical experience post qualification. Experience of working with children/young people with neurodisabilities and or mainstream and or specialist schools/ and or paediatrics. Experience of working as part of a multi-professional team. Dysphagia competency to Level B (RCSLT Competencies). Desirable Experience of working with families. Experience of SEND legislation and SENDist tribunals. Recent relevant training with respect to dysphagia. Recent relevant training with respect to assistive technology 2 years post grad experience Skills & Abilities Essential Knowledge of speech and language therapy management for neurodisability supported by clinical reasoning. Clinical reasoning skills in predictable situations, analysing a variety of evidence and presenting this in a relevant format e.g. report, presentation. Workload management including delegation of tasks. Observation and treatment skills relevant to the assessment and management. Ability to meet the physical demands of a school therapy role. Attention to detail. Ability to supervise others and enable development of their skills. Professional integrity, particularly in clinical governance. To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. This may include one weekend day a month and early evening working- there is no on call required. Competent written and verbal communication skills. Desirable Risk assessment skills. Knowledge Essential Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities. Competent skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint. Knowledge of relevant outcome measures and statutory outcome requirements. Desirable Knowledge of current research, clinical audit and service evaluation methods. Personal Qualities Essential Physically fit and able to comply with trust manual handling guidelines. Able to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities. Ability to cope working in a demanding environment. Flexible and can do attitude to competing commitments in workload. Highly motivated and reliable. Commitment to the vision and values of The Childrens Trust. 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name The Children's Trust Address The Childrens Trust Tadworth Court Tadworth Surrey KT20 5RU Employer's website https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/jobs (Opens in a new tab)