Location
Speech and Language Therapy, Outpatients Department, Park Crescent, Erith

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£36,943 per annum

About the Role
The Bexley Children's Speech and Language Therapy service offers a wide range of specialist teams across Early Years, ASD, Hearing Impairment, Dysfluency, Specialist Resourced Provisions, and SEMH. You will work collaboratively across teams to provide clinical support and second opinions. There are opportunities to develop training skills to enhance knowledge for staff working with children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN). Professional development is encouraged and supported, with access to a team of therapists and assistants, as well as administrative, managerial, and clinical support.

Your responsibilities will include making differential diagnoses based on assessment evidence, managing and prioritising a defined caseload independently with planned supervision, and maintaining accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies. You will supervise assistants, therapy support staff, administration staff, and learning support assistants. You will explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students, and volunteers.

You will be accountable for your own professional actions, working within departmental and national protocols and professional codes of conduct. You will participate in the coordination, development, and delivery of training programmes for colleagues in health, education, voluntary organisations, and parents/carers. Sensitivity to the emotional needs of clients, carers, and colleagues is essential, especially when managing distressing situations such as child protection issues or terminal illness.

Effective communication with children, parents, and carers is vital to impart information regarding diagnosis, treatment plans, and outcomes in an understandable way, enabling involvement in decision-making. You will apply advanced interpersonal skills to manage complex social and multicultural situations and prepare detailed reports for Social Care, Educational, and Medical Case Conferences, including child protection cases.

You will also be responsible for monitoring stock levels, maintaining equipment safety and infection control standards, and motivating clients and carers to engage in therapy. Handling initial verbal complaints sensitively and adhering to Trust policies on absence and leave are also part of the role.

Important: This post is not eligible for a certificate of sponsorship.

Experience
Experience working with children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs is desirable. Ability to manage a caseload independently and work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams is essential.

About you
You will be empathetic, sensitive, and able to communicate effectively with children, families, and professionals from diverse backgrounds. You should be able to manage challenging behaviours and complex social situations with professionalism and care. A commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice is required.

Qualifications
You must be a qualified Speech and Language Therapist registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and adhere to the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) professional standards. Experience in report writing for statutory and legal purposes is expected.