Band 7 (15 hrs) Community Paediatric Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
We are looking for a highly specialist speech and language therapist to work within our preschool complex needs (PSCN) team on Thursdays & Fridays, providing assessment, differential diagnosis and intervention for children from birth to 5 years of age. This post has a communication focus, preschool dysphagia experience is useful, but not essential. Experience of the EHCNA process and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team is essential. The post will be based in Ipswich CDC and includes multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessment sessions. The post holder must be able to manage the highly specialist caseload independently, oversee the work of an assistant and be able to travel to rural locations. There will be regular supervision and support sessions. We are an inclusive service and promote neuro-affirmative practises.
Interviews scheduled: Monday 3 rd August 2026
You will:
Independently manage a caseload of preschool children with a range of complex needs (PSCN). Provide assessments & deliver one to one interventions in a variety of community settings. Work closely with other MDT professionals which will include multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessment sessions. Upskill and empower therapy partners (parents, carers or educational staff) via direct and indirect work including face to face and virtual training groups (experience of Teams is desirable). Participate fully in the EHC process, which includes assessment & report writing for initial plans & reviews. Use your knowledge and skills of eating/drinking issues to make onward referrals, signpost and support as required. You will work at a highly skilled level, be able to support less experienced colleagues and lead with students. You will support innovations in the team and actively participate in whole team & pathway meetings. Familiarity with Systm One is advantageous however training is available.
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Please see the job description attached
Education and development
To maintain and develop clinical excellence and professional competence through continuing professional development, and to reflect on and evaluate learning undertaken
To maintain up to date working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworks
To share and promote learning within SLT Team, and more widely if required
To provide in-service training sessions as appropriate to relevant staff
To develop, organise, plan and deliver specialist training sessions for teachers/parents/carers and other professional staff
To provide specialist clinical advice to other professionals
To provide clinical and managerial supervision including appraisals to junior staff
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To actively provide second opinions/supervision to other therapists
To contribute to the identification of training needs within the team
To develop workforce / staff where applicable such as managing development posts for specialist area or pathway, apprentices and supporting individual staff development needs within area of expertise by offering shadowing / on-site learning, coaching or signposting to self-directed learning.
