Specialist Speech and Language TherapistinWatfordinWatfordPUBLISHED WED 12 MAR 2025

Do you have a passion for working with children with complex needs?If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. We are looking to recruit a dynamic, enthusiastic and creative Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) in to a 1 WTE fixed term Band 6 SLT role (for 12 months). You would be joining a well-established team based at Peace Children's Centre in Watford, where you would have access to specialist support to help grow their skills.

You will work up to 4 days a week within Breakspeare school in Watford, supporting children and young people (CYP) with severe learning disabilities. You will also have an opportunity to support pre-school children within a range of community settings so the post will enable youto develop your specialist clinical skills, including developing dysphagia competencies. As a specialist speech and language therapist you will use your skills and experience to support the wider SLT team.

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our CYPT integrated service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.

You will have the opportunity to work as part of an MDT within Breakspeare School, working with the wider CYP Team and teaching staff. You will access support from the established local special school team, who meet regularly to discuss collaborative working and support development of specialist skills.You will also use your specialist skills to support pre-school children within community and home settings.

You will be joining an innovative and agile Children and Young People's Therapies (CYPT) service committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives.

We offer:

• Regular group supervision, managerial supervision and a well-established appraisal system
• CPD opportunities such as Bitesize tutorials, peer review and locally hosted CENs for DLD and ASD
• Opportunities to develop leadership skills and to supervise less experienced members of staff
• Opportunities to work alongside other therapists/assistants to deliver evidence based episodes of care to children/young people requiring specialist support
• A 2 week induction period where you will have the opportunity to observe and shadow your team, including access to a buddy

About us

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

Successful candidates will need to be enthusiastic and motivated. Good communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of your patients.

We pride ourselves on the support we offer within our service. Please see comments made by a member of the team:

I love working in CYPT/HCT - everyone in the team is super dedicated. There is strong management support, but also space for being flexible and creative to meet childrens needs; innovation & good practice is valued and encouraged. I enjoy & appreciate the robust supervision structures, training in supervision & coaching, and the many opportunities for personal development and learning, including for example in-house training days and tutorials. I have worked in many teams across Hertfordshire, all without exception friendly and welcoming. There is an ethos of peer support and encouragement & sharing learning; everyone works hard but there is a sense of belonging and always time for a quick chat and plenty of laughs. I feel valued here and I value my lovely colleagues and the fabulous children & young people we work with.

If you would like to know more about our service and about this particular role, please do get in touch.

Applicants wanting to work full time or part time will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2.

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122 per annum pro rata (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19