At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic therapy team to support autistic children and enhance their communication skills.
- Company: Renowned specialist educational organisation with over 50 years of expertise in autism support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, term-time contract, comprehensive benefits, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Dual-site role in West London with travel between Acton and Southall.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people while advancing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: HCPC-registered Speech and Language Therapist with significant experience and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 54320 - 64500 £ per year.
Dual Site — Acton and Southall, West London
Permanent Full Time — 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
£54,320 – £64,500 per annum (Inner London)
The Opportunity
We are proud to be recruiting on behalf of a highly regarded specialist educational organisation dedicated to the support and development of autistic children and young people. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to take on a senior clinical leadership position within a dynamic, multidisciplinary team in West London.
You will be joining a well-established specialist school operating across two sites in the Acton and Southall areas of West London, serving young people aged 4.5 to 22 years. With over 50 years of expertise in providing holistic, personalised education for autistic pupils, the school holds an outstanding reputation and operates a large, collaborative therapy team of 8–9 therapists across its two sites. For an SLT who is passionate about neuro-affirming practice, leadership, and making a meaningful difference, this is a genuinely exciting role.
About the Role
As Principal Speech and Language Therapist, you will hold senior accountability for therapy outcomes across the school, working closely with the Head of Therapy and the Senior Leadership Team to drive quality, innovation and continuous improvement. The role is at the heart of embedding therapy into everyday classroom life, ensuring every pupil receives the tailored, communication-accessible support they need.
You will lead and manage the school-based therapy team, provide clinical supervision, oversee EHCP-aligned intervention planning, and contribute to curriculum design and whole-school strategic development. The role also offers clear pathways for career progression into wider NAS network leadership, research and policy roles.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the school-based therapy team, providing clinical leadership, supervision and performance oversight
- Develop, implement and quality-assure evidence-based, neuro-affirming therapeutic practice across the school
- Embed outcome-focused interventions into everyday school practice, routines and curriculum delivery
- Work in close partnership with families to strengthen parental engagement and support positive change across the family system
- Collaborate with education staff, multidisciplinary colleagues and external professionals to deliver integrated, joined-up provision
- Contribute to the design, delivery and review of curriculum content to ensure it is communication-accessible and therapeutically informed
- Drive service development using data, outcomes and feedback to continuously improve practice
- Contribute to local and national projects, research activity and service innovation
- Act as a senior leader within the school, contributing to strategic planning, decision-making and whole-school improvement
- Maintain own HCPC and RCSLT registration and ensure colleagues maintain registration with relevant professional bodies
What We Are Looking For
Essential
- HCPC-registered and RCSLT-member Speech and Language Therapist with significant post-qualification experience (minimum 6 years)
- Senior leadership or management experience within a school-based or specialist therapy setting — autism-specific experience highly desirable
- Proven experience delivering clinical supervision
- Strong commitment to evidence-based, neuro-affirming and strengths-based practice
- Understanding of therapeutic curriculum development and quality assurance in independent special schools
- Excellent communication, project management and strategic planning skills
- Makaton trained
Desirable
- Experience working across paediatric and early adulthood settings
- AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) specific experience
- Track record of developing and managing partnerships with external stakeholders
Why This Role Stands Out
- Inner London salary band: £54,320 – £64,500 per annum
- Term-time contract with full pay during school holidays — approximately 12 weeks paid leave per year
- Join an established team of 8–9 therapists within a school with over 50 years of specialist autism expertise
- Clear career progression pathways into Head of Therapy, regional leadership, research and national policy roles
- Comprehensive benefits package including pension, Simply Health cash plan, Life Assurance (2x base salary), 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Headspace app and retail discounts
- Employer pension contribution of 6% of gross salary (employee minimum 4%)
- Funding and time off available towards further qualifications; specialist CPD and online learning academy
- Relocation support considered for the right candidate
- Dual-site role across two West London locations — candidates should be comfortable with travel between sites
- Meaningful, values-driven work within a nationally recognised, outstanding-rated specialist school
Principal Speech & Language Therapist in Southall employer: RGH-Global | People Services
Join a highly regarded specialist educational organisation in West London, dedicated to supporting autistic children and young people. As a Principal Speech & Language Therapist, you will benefit from a competitive Inner London salary, a term-time contract with generous paid leave, and clear pathways for career progression within a collaborative and dynamic multidisciplinary team. With a strong commitment to neuro-affirming practices and a comprehensive benefits package, this role offers meaningful work that truly makes a difference in the lives of young people.
Contact Details:
RGH-Global | People Services Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Speech & Language Therapist in Southall
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the field of speech and language therapy. Attend relevant events or workshops where you can meet potential employers and showcase your passion for neuro-affirming practice.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and the specific needs of the autistic children they support. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss your experience in managing teams and driving quality improvements. Highlight any successful projects you've led that align with the role's responsibilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Speech & Language Therapist in Southall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience and skills that align with the role of Principal Speech & Language Therapist. We want to see how your background fits into our mission of supporting autistic children and young people.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior position, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past, especially in therapy settings. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and manage others!
Highlight Evidence-Based Practice:We’re all about neuro-affirming and evidence-based practices here at StudySmarter. Make sure to mention any relevant methodologies or frameworks you’ve used in your previous roles. This will show us that you’re on the same page as our values.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at RGH-Global | People Services
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest evidence-based practices in speech and language therapy, especially those that are neuro-affirming. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of autistic children and young people, as well as the curriculum and therapeutic approaches used at the school.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your previous leadership experiences and how you've successfully managed a therapy team. Think of examples where you've driven quality improvements or implemented new strategies that made a real difference in a school setting.
✨Engage with the Team
Since this role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, be ready to talk about how you’ve worked with other professionals in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve fostered partnerships with families and external stakeholders to enhance therapy outcomes.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask during the interview. This could include inquiries about the school's approach to embedding therapy into everyday practice or how they measure the success of their interventions. It shows you're genuinely interested and have done your homework!
