Speech and Language Therapist

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate Speech and Language Therapist who wants to make a real, lasting difference to children and families. You’ll work in a supportive, values-driven organisation where quality, collaboration and innovation are central to everything we do. You will have the chance to deliver meaningful, specialist therapy while building strong relationships with schools, families and partner services. We offer varied and rewarding work, opportunities to develop specialist interests, and the freedom to contribute ideas that shape how services are delivered. If you are looking for a role where your clinical skills are valued, your professional voice is heard, and your work genuinely improves outcomes for children, ChatterBug is a place where you can grow, belong and thrive.

Main duties of the job

You will work directly with children and young people across clinic, school and community settings, providing assessment, intervention and ongoing support tailored to individual needs. The role involves collaborating closely with families, teachers and other professionals to create effective communication environments and practical support strategies. You will contribute to reports, care planning and review processes, ensuring progress is monitored and outcomes are clearly demonstrated. The role also includes supporting therapy assistants and students, sharing knowledge, and contributing to service improvement initiatives. Alongside clinical work, you will play an active part in developing services, representing the organisation positively, and helping to strengthen partnerships within local communities.

About us

ChatterBug is a national social enterprise committed to improving communication outcomes for children and young people. Our services are built around strong relationships, evidence-based practice and a belief that every child deserves the opportunity to be heard and understood. Our team is friendly, collaborative and highly supportive, with a strong culture of learning and shared problem-solving. We value openness, reliability and resilience, and we encourage everyone to bring ideas, creativity and passion into their work. Working at ChatterBug means being part of an organisation that invests in professional development, values work-life balance, and recognises the importance of looking after the people who deliver great care. You’ll join a growing service where your contribution truly matters.

Job responsibilities

The postholder will plan, develop and deliver effective, evidence based Speech and Language Therapy services across private clinic, school and community based settings, contributing to high standards of professional practice, safe service delivery, and positive outcomes for children and young people. The postholder will deliver high-quality, evidence based Speech and Language Therapy services in line with the needs of the client base, working across a range of settings. They will contribute to the assessment and diagnosis of children and young people with a variety of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), and provide professional support to students, apprentices, and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants. The role also requires active involvement in the wider development of Chatterbug, including representing the organisation at local and national levels and working flexibly across locations as required. This is a dynamic role within a growing social enterprise and will involve contributing to service development and organisational initiatives alongside core clinical work.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To assess, diagnose and provide support to children with a range of SLCN, including a range of needs, with appropriate supervision.
• To ensure a client-focused assessment and approach to treatment.
• To represent the service at health and education panels where required.
• To provide assessment and advice on optimising the clients communicative environment taking into consideration the communication skills of parents/guardians, carers and other professionals.
• To develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment and programmes and to measure and evaluate outcomes.
• To demonstrate clinical effectiveness through the use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures.

Communication

• To employ excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Communicate information from assessment and treatment to clients, carers and other professionals effectively.
• To produce detailed reports, reflecting knowledge regarding clients needs and summarising proposed treatment plans.
• To provide verbal and written advice and programmes to parents/guardians, carers and other professionals regarding the management and care of children.
• To ensure that clients/parents/teaching staff are involved in the planning and prioritisation of the treatment plans.
• To contribute to legal documents such as Education Health and Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Annual Reviews as appropriate.
• To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and service policies.
• To share information with clients, carers and other professionals, observing current data protection guidelines.

Clinical Governance Requirements

• To gather statistical data punctually.
• To participate in service research as required.
• To undertake Clinical Governance/audit projects within the local service as required.
• To have a working knowledge of relevant procedures including safeguarding children, SEN procedures, and other legal frameworks.

Information Governance

• Comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR rules.
• The postholder must not disclose any information relating to service users or employees, or of the lawful business practices, of the organisation.
• The postholder will be required to comply with the processing of requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
• The postholder must comply with ChatterBug policies that protect the information assets of the organisation from unauthorised disclosure, modification, destruction, inappropriate access or use.
• The postholder will be responsible for maintaining the clinical and or corporate records that fall within the remit of this role to the organisations standard, and data quality processes and standards.

Continuing Professional Development

• To identify personal/professional development evidenced by the Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework, including objectives.
• To demonstrate a passion and commitment to the profession through self-guided study.
• To participate in an individual performance review, ensuring that the objectives set reflect the service and trust plans, including objectives relevant for SLCN.
• To demonstrate knowledge of and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Local Clinical Guidelines.
• To attend relevant in service training and meetings.
• To take responsibility for maintaining and continually developing professional skills and knowledge in SLCN.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice independently, with peers and mentors to identify own strengths and development needs.
• To demonstrate a well-developed ability to integrate information taking account of all aspects of the clients communication including verbal, non-verbal and environmental.
• To anticipate and take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of relationships with parents/ guardians and other professionals.
• To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment, seeking support and advice from a specialist as appropriate.

Responsibility for Client Care and Contact with Carers

• To demonstrate the well-developed ability to manage people with communication disorders and challenging behaviour.
• To work closely with clients, carers and other professionals to negotiate and agree on client management.
• To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where significant barriers to understanding exist.
• To respond sensitively at all times particularly when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clinical difficulties and their implications.
• To demonstrate expert skills in motivating clients, carers and other professionals to engage in the therapeutic process.
• To adapt the practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.

Service Development & Organisational Contribution

• Contribute to service development, quality improvement and organisational initiatives in line with the needs of a growing social enterprise.

Physical Skills

• To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of clients.
• To demonstrate knowledge of correct moving/handling clients with disabilities.
• To use equipment with due care.

Responsibility for Equipment or Financial Resources

• To be responsible for the security, care, maintenance and delivery of equipment ensuring standards of safety are maintained, including equipment loaned to clients.
• To monitor stock/equipment levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.

Freedom to Act

• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking support as appropriate.
• To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and a professional code of conduct.
• To discharge appropriately, agreeing on a point of closure with the clients and carers and informing other professionals.

Health & Safety

• Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the postholder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions.
• This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

• The Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies to all Trust staff. It is the responsibility of every person to ensure that they keep up to date with the Act and that the delivery of patient care/services is conducted in line with local and national policy and the MCA Code of Practice.

Safeguarding is Everyone's Business

ChatterBug has a responsibility to ensure that all children/young people and adults are adequately safeguarded and protected. As a consequence, all employees are required to adhere to national and local safeguarding policies/procedures and to act upon any concerns in accordance with them.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree or recognised qualification in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) or eligible to apply.
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Postgraduate training or specialist courses related to paediatric SLCN.
• Training in specific therapy approaches or assessment tools.

Experience

• Experience working with children and young people with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).
• Experience of assessment, diagnosis and delivery of therapy programmes.
• Experience working with parents/carers and education professionals.
• Experience of writing clinical reports and maintaining accurate case records.
• Experience of contributing to EHCPs, IEPs or review meetings.
• Ability to manage a caseload and prioritise work effectively.
• Experience working in at least one of the following settings: clinic, school or community.
• Experience working across multiple settings (clinic, school and community).
• Experience supporting or supervising therapy assistants, students or junior staff.
• Experience of contributing to service development or quality improvement projects.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams.

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.