Part-Time Senior Speech & Language Therapist – Autism Lead

About the Role

Prior's Court is seeking a Senior Speech and Language Therapist (SaLT) to join our Therapy team in a part-time role. This is an opportunity for an experienced and qualified clinician who has managed a caseload and has worked with autistic young people with complex needs, including those who may present with behaviours that challenge.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of Speech and Language Therapy practices at Prior's Court.
• Manage a caseload of autistic young people with complex needs, including assessment, implementation, and review of therapy input to ensure progress.
• Line manage the team of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Contribute and/or lead in the planning and delivery of training to develop the knowledge and skills of others in the areas of autism and communication.
• Deliver input through the Prior's Court Communication Skills Learning Programme, which prepares all young people to have a functional communication system to enable them to live healthy, happy, independent lives after leaving Prior's Court.
• Provide specialist intervention using evidence‑based therapy approaches individualized to meet young people's needs in expression, understanding, social communication and AAC (low and high tech).
• Contribute to the annual review process by providing high‑quality written reports, assessment, review of EHCP targets, and attending annual review meetings as appropriate.
• Support the Head of Therapy to collect evidence of SaLT impact on young person outcomes – including assessment data, case studies and feedback from staff, parents/carers.
• Liaise with external (NHS and/or independent therapists) to share information and ensure consistent therapy plan across organisations.
• Participate in regular reviews of the SaLT provision and support the planning and implementation of SaLT provision improvement projects.
• Participate in the ordering, budget management and maintenance of SaLT specific equipment and resources.

Qualifications and Experience

• Professional qualification in Speech and Language Therapy with HCPC registration.
• Experience working and managing a caseload as a qualified SALT.
• Use of clinical reasoning skills for both assessment and intervention planning.
• Experience of mentoring or coaching others.
• Ability to use assessment findings to develop therapy programmes.
• Knowledge and experience of using a wide range of evidence‑based therapeutic approaches to meet the needs of autistic young people with complex needs.
• Experience in managing a small team of people.
• Attended training in autism specific approaches (e.g., TEACCH, intensive interaction, attention autism).
• Specific training in a sub‑speciality of SaLT.
• Experience in delivering training.
• Experience in an education and/or residential care setting.

About Prior's Court

Prior's Court was graded "Outstanding" in all five areas by Ofsted, recognising the strength of our integrated therapeutic approach and the impact of specialist support across the setting. Inspectors noted the highly adept therapeutic input and pastoral care received by pupils, a sense of calm and focus in classrooms, and rare disruptions to learning.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary: £46,000 - £53,000 (FTE prior to pro rata)
• 33 days annual leave, including Bank Holidays.
• Company pension – combined 8% contributions (Employer 5%, Employee 3%).
• Employee recognition schemes, including an annual staff awards programme and Long Service Awards.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Full Flexible Benefits package – dental insurance, private medical insurance, critical illness, increased life insurance, partner life insurance, self‑funded health cash plan and many others.