Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 10/08/2026
- Closes
- 03/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role is for a Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist within the Children's Community Speech and Language Therapy team, specifically in the Autism Assessment team. The therapist will administer ADOS assessments, provide clinical expertise, write reports, and participate in workshops for parents/carers and professionals. The position involves working with a multi-disciplinary team and contributing to service development, with a focus on neuroaffirmative approaches. The successful candidate will also offer line management and clinical supervision to junior colleagues.
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
- Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
- 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
- Experience in contributing to policy planning and service development
- 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
- 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.
- Knowledge/Qualifications
- 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
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
- Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks
- 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
- Experience in contributing to policy planning and service development
- 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 an
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £58,133 – £65,261 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 20d ago · Closes in 5d
Applications close soon — apply now if this is a fit.
Full advert · preview
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
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