At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic SaLT service and mentor future practitioners in schools.
- Company: Join Unlocking Potential, a charity transforming children's mental health support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Hybrid role with travel across London and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the next generation of therapists.
- Qualifications: Experience in speech and language therapy and a passion for mentoring.
The predicted salary is between 44000 - 48000 £ per year.
About the role
Hours: Full year (52 weeks) OR Term-time plus (between 41-44 weeks per year) available. Full-time: 5 days, 37.5 hours + unpaid breaks per week (including clinical days*) OR Part-time available. 12-month fixed-term contract (potential to extend). An equivalent of 2 days per week is allocated to the Lead work. Any additional days would be allocated to clinical and Practice Educator work, with responsibilities as set out within the SaLT JD. This ratio may change over time in line with the growth and needs of the service.
Location: (Hybrid) Travel across London schools as required to deliver services. London Head Office (SE1 3GN) for team days, meetings, trainings etc. Remote working.
Salary: £44,000- £48,000 FTE per annum (dependent on skills and experience, this will be pro-rata to any part-time and term-time working patterns).
This is an exciting time for our charity! Our new strategy focuses on growth and long-term sustainability, with ambitious plans to extend our reach and impact nationally and to expand and diversify our services. Our long-term ambition for the future is a transformed landscape of multi-disciplinary therapeutic support in schools, with UP acknowledged and recognised as a thought-leader, innovator, preferred collaborator and convener.
The children we typically support are those with mild to moderate social communication needs. These are the children that don't meet the criteria for community paediatric and CAMHS services and are often at significant risk of developing mental health and behavioural difficulties later on in life. We also offer EHCP work for more complex cases.
Alongside your school-based clinical and practice educator work across the rest of the week, you will dedicate the equivalent of two days per week to flexibly:
- Oversee the day-to-day operational delivery of a high-quality SaLT service across our partner schools, ensuring services are delivered effectively, in line with school contracts, and responsive to the needs of each setting (supported by UP Hub Managers).
- Liaise with universities and coordinate trainee placement cycles (typically 2-3 per year) that run efficiently, compliantly and to a consistently excellent standard. Trainees are one of UP's key audiences, and we are committed to providing robust, structured, supportive and developmental placement experiences for the leading practitioners of the future.
- You will provide high-quality supervision, modelling opportunities, competency assessment and structured guidance to NQPs throughout their first year of practice.
This role is ideal for a SaLT who enjoys working flexibly and innovatively, combining excellent clinical practice, service coordination, and developing the next generation of SaLTs. You will be motivated by delivering high-quality support for children and contributing directly to our strategic ambitions through your work.
Making your application: In line with safer recruitment practices, to apply for this role please complete an application form by following the link on our online recruitment portal. Please make your application by submitting your CV, along with a cover letter which clearly demonstrates how you meet the person specification criteria (we will be shortlisting candidates closely against the person specification). Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis. Please note that we may close the advert once we have sufficient candidates to invite for interview, please don't delay submitting your application! We will keep you updated on your application by email, and will let you know about anything you will need to prepare if you are shortlisted. For further information, or if you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application process please contact us.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all those who work with us to share this commitment. It's a criminal offence for a person to apply to work with a group from which they have been barred from working.
About Unlocking Potential
Our Purpose: Unlocking Potential is the charity that supports schools and communities to ensure no child or family struggles alone with their social, emotional and mental health needs. We provide flexible, over-time, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support that meets children and families where they are, and enables them to feel safe, understood and the best version of themselves.
Vision: Everyone feels supported, equipped and able to achieve their potential.
Mission: Our mission is to provide tailored therapeutic support to more children, while training the practitioners of the future to build holistic, resilient social systems that equip children and their families with the confidence, tools, and skills to thrive at school and within their communities.
Values:
- Individual: Everything we do is about the individual and what is right for them; no two children, families or schools are the same.
- Innovative: We look for new solutions, evolving our thinking and approach ensuring the use of bold, co-designed practice.
- Collaborative: We choose to work with others to find the best solutions; we are stronger together.
Lead for Service Delivery and SaLT Trainee Programme employer: Unlocking Potential
Unlocking Potential is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its staff while making a meaningful impact on children's lives. With a flexible work culture, opportunities for professional development, and a commitment to innovation in therapeutic support, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. Located in London, the role offers a unique chance to collaborate with schools and shape the future of speech and language therapy, all within a supportive and dynamic team environment.
