West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 24 July 2025

Job summary

We have the opportunity to recruit 3 full time (37.5hpw), Band 5, Speech and Language Therapists to our Community Paediatric SLT mainstream teams in the following roles across Suffolk: 1) Felixstowe: schools & clinics, 2) Ipswich: clinics & schools; 3) Stowmarket/Haverhill schools/clinic.

We work in a variety of settings including clinics, children's centres, nurseries, preschools, and mainstream schools within a dedicated and supportive team. Being organised and positive are key skills for these roles.

As a team we are strongly committed to delivering effective, evidence-based therapy, and we offer regular clinical and management supervision with in-house CPD/training opportunities.

We would welcome any applicants at the start of their career or those with current applicable experience especially regarding assessment and intervention of children and young people's speech, language and communication needs, experience working with therapy partners (parent/carers and educational staff), a passion / interest in delivering 1:1 and/or group therapy, and an interest in delivering training.

We cover a large geographical area so a willingness and ability to travel during the working day is essential. Interview date 13th August.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

Work with preschool children and young people with a broad range of speech, language, and communication needs.

Work independently to provide regular assessment sessions throughout the key stages of the patient journey.

Plan and deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people.

Understand typical and atypical development of speech, language, and communication skills

Select and successfully interpret a range of appropriate formal and informal assessments

Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, across settings to achieve best outcomes

Have strong emerging or established personal communication skills to convey key information to service users, colleagues, and other professionals

Be familiar and confident with health record keeping systems (SystmOne) and MS packages, keeping up to date records in a concise and timely manner

Have good organisational skills to be able to plan workload and maintain balance.

Be comfortable managing competing demands.

Support delivery of training packages to parents/carers and educational staff (both face to face and virtually)

About us

#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?

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7072566-I

Job locations

Ipswich

St Helens House, 571 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

IP3 8LX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description for further information

The primary purpose of this role is to provide a high standard of Speech and Language Therapy to children and young people aged 0-19 with a range of speech, language, and communication presentations.

This community-based role may involve working in a variety of settings, including clinics, mainstream schools, specialist units (SSUs), special schools, nurseries or homes, according to service need.

To effectively manage an autonomous clinical caseload and undertake professional duties as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, seeking advice from senior staff where appropriate.

To maintain an active continual professional development portfolio and to continue with post graduate learning.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description for further information

The primary purpose of this role is to provide a high standard of Speech and Language Therapy to children and young people aged 0-19 with a range of speech, language, and communication presentations.

This community-based role may involve working in a variety of settings, including clinics, mainstream schools, specialist units (SSUs), special schools, nurseries or homes, according to service need.

To effectively manage an autonomous clinical caseload and undertake professional duties as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, seeking advice from senior staff where appropriate.

To maintain an active continual professional development portfolio and to continue with post graduate learning.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • oRecognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
  • oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council
  • oEligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Desirable

  • oEvidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience and working knowledge of Paediatrics
  • oKnowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods
  • oExperience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals

Desirable

  • oExperience of working in community paediatric settings
  • oUse of outcome measures

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and awareness of role in providing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports
  • oKnowledge of Safeguarding CYP
  • oGood presentation skills, written and verbal
  • oDigitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
  • oAbility to work under pressure
  • oWell-developed concentration skills

Desirable

  • oExperience of record keeping via SystmOne

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • oFlexible approach and able to manage changing circumstances
  • oMotivated
  • oFrequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role

Desirable

  • oPragmatic
Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • oRecognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
  • oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council
  • oEligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Desirable

  • oEvidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience and working knowledge of Paediatrics
  • oKnowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods
  • oExperience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals

Desirable

  • oExperience of working in community paediatric settings
  • oUse of outcome measures

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the National Curriculum & Statutory Assessment Procedure and awareness of role in providing Statutory Assessment and Annual review reports
  • oKnowledge of Safeguarding CYP
  • oGood presentation skills, written and verbal
  • oDigitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
  • oAbility to work under pressure
  • oWell-developed concentration skills

Desirable

  • oExperience of record keeping via SystmOne

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • oFlexible approach and able to manage changing circumstances
  • oMotivated
  • oFrequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role

Desirable

  • oPragmatic

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich

St Helens House, 571 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

IP3 8LX


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich

St Helens House, 571 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

IP3 8LX


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Pathway Lead for clinics

Abbie Woodward

abbie.woodward@wsh.nhs.uk

07507556306

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7072566-I

Job locations

Ipswich

St Helens House, 571 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

IP3 8LX


Supporting documents

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