Bank Speech & Language Therapist

Job summary

Are you inspired by helping children find their voice and reach their potential?

Kingston Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service is part of Your Healthcare, not-for-profit social enterprise delivering high-quality NHS community services. Working within our friendly and supportive team, you'll help children and young people with speech, language and communication needs develop the skills, confidence and independence to thrive.

We are looking for qualified Speech & Language Therapists to join our bank and work with us in our Childrens Service during periods of high demand. You would be part of a well-established dynamic team and would gain invaluable knowledge; skills and experience.

We have a good track record of Therapists joining us on the bank and later gaining a permanent position with us.

Your Healthcares SLT service consists of Speech and Language Therapists and Assistants based together at Hollyfield House working in partnership with colleagues from health, education, social services and the private and voluntary sector.

We work with children and young people up to age 19 in all settings across Royal Borough of Kingston; nurseries, playgroups, mainstream and specialist schools, health centres, Child Development centre and homes.

Your Healthcare CIC reserves the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date if a high number of applications are received. If you are interested in this role, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Main duties of the job

Role Highlights:

• Make a real difference to CYP's communication, confidence and independence every day.
• Work in a supportive, innovative and child-centred team.
• Build strong partnerships with families, schools and colleagues.
• Be part of a service that is ambitious for CYP and empowers staff to innovate and influence positive change.

We're Looking for Someone Who

• Has experience working with children and young people with SLCN in a range of settings.
• Is enthusiastic about supporting communication needs and inclusion.
• Is an excellent team player with strong communication and relationship-building skills.

About us

At Your Healthcare CIC, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-led health and social care services for residents in Kingston and providing specialised learning disability services in Richmond. As a Community Interest Company, we prioritise community-driven care and offer an environment that empowers you to make a real impact.

Why Choose Us?

• NHS Pay & Benefits: Enjoy the security of NHS pay, Agenda for Change terms, NHS pension scheme, and salary sacrifice schemes
• Bureaucracy-Free Environment: Implement good ideas quickly and effectively without delays
• Work-Life Balance: Benefit from our Employee Assistance Programme and various staff discounts
• Exceptional Staff Experience: Join a supportive workplace with positive feedback from staff and patients
• Inclusive Culture: We promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from all backgrounds
• Impactful Community Involvement: Have a real voice in shaping care as part of our membership organization. Your ideas and contributions matter

Join Us Today

We are looking for passionate individuals who value high-quality care, inclusivity, and community engagement. Join our forward-thinking, patient-centred team. Explore our career opportunities and become part of a team that values your expertise and dedication.

We recognise that applicants may choose to use AI as part of their application process. This is permitted, however please clearly state within your application where AI has been used.

Job responsibilities

Please find full Job Description under Supporting Informations section. Please refer to full Job Description when completing your application.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Demonstrates ability to blend and participate with team member and assume leadership responsibilities
• Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, sharing knowledge and supporting the learning and development of colleagues across the team.
• Committed and motivated
• Can do attitude

Experience
Essential

• In depth experience of working with children who experience a wide range of communication difficulties Providing second opinions and subject expertise to colleagues
• Working with parents/carers in emotionally distressing situations relating to complex clinical issues and their consequences
• Working collaboratively with a range of professionals
• Resolution and negotiation of conflict including dealing with complaints
• Implementation of a range of communication programmes/approaches
• Previous experience of supervision/ mentoring other SALTs
• Contributing own specialist knowledge to the development and implementation of clinical governance, research and audit procedures within the SLT team

Desirable

• An understanding and appreciation of costing and resourcing involved in the delivery of pieces of work, as per an agreed contract
• Project Management

Knowledge
Essential

• Of a range of speech & language therapy assessments relevant to pre school/ school age children with a range of learning disabilities & /or physical disabilities and associated conditions such as autism.
• Of applying assessment information to current theories in communication to formulate diagnoses and devise intervention / care plans
• Of a wide range of approaches to support children with SLCN
• Of clinical decision making for priorities in an inter- disciplinary context for planning and monitoring and of supporting others in clinical decision making in their own work with children and young people who experience SLCN
• Outcome measurements, particularly Therapy Outcome Measures and planning and monitoring for Education, Health and Care Plans and children at SEN
• Of legal requirements around the provision of speech and language therapy in education, National Curriculum and SEND Code of Practice including the SEN reforms; Every child Achieving and Thriving.
• Of delivering specialist clinical expertise in speech, language and communication, to be able to provide a second opinion on cases of clinical complexity
• Of applying visual systems to support communication e.g. TEACCH, Makaton signs and symbols, cued articulation
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group)
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping

Desirable

• Of models of supervision
• Of working with and developing Speech and Language Therapists
• An understanding and appreciation of costing and resourcing involved in the delivery of pieces of work, as per an agreed contract
• Project Management

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Highly developed Negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
• Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
• Well-developed concentration skills
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent organisational skills
• Prioritisation skills
• Delegation skills
• Ability to lead on pieces of work and work in a team
• Excellent time and resource management skills
• Good at using IT software such as MS Teams / Office 365

Desirable

• Ability to contribute to service development, research, quality improvement, and innovation, using evidence, outcomes data, and feedback to improve service delivery and outcomes for children and young people.
• Strategic / operational experience

Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification
• Health Professions Council Licence to Practice
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to post graduate equivalent
• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks

Desirable

• Leadership qualifications
• Telehealth experience
• Makaton
• TEACCH
• ADOS
• Early Bird
• SCERTS

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.

Your Healthcare CIC reserves the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date if a high number of applications are received. If you are interested in this role, please submit your application as soon as possible.