Speech & Language Therapist in Autism Assessment and Early Years

Speech & Language Therapist in Autism Assessment and Early Years

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract 12 months (I year fixed term contract to cover maternity leave) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 220-WHT-4169

Employer Whittington Health NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Tynemouth Road Health Centre Town Tottenham Salary £45,953 - £54,254 Per annum (pro rata) inclusive of Outer HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 07/09/2026 23:59

This is a wonderful opportunity to progress in autism assessment and early years SLT. The post holder will be part of our rich peer supported network in the Haringey Autism Assessment Team and Early Years SLT team. You will have an interest in developing a specialism in autism assessment and early years communication. You will be part of the MDT autism assessment team 3 days a week assessing children 2-12yrs as well as offering post diagnostic support. Your EYrs caseload will consist of 2-5 yrs. You will advise and give training on communication development, AAC and autism to parents and EY Practitioners. In the autism team you will work alongside paediatricians, Occupational therapists and a clinical psychologist with opportunities for joint working and interdisciplinary learning. You will also work with and support more junior staff including therapists, assistants and students.

Your caseload of children in EY will have SLCN and will include clinic and nursery visits. Interventions maybe 1-1 or group. You will advise/train carers and multi-agency staff on issues related to both individual cases and effective communication strategies/good communication environments. The postholder will demonstrate a high level of clinical expertise and participate in CPD to maintain and further develop specialist knowledge and clinical practice.

Main duties of the job

• Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
• Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met, and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
• Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the trust through leading ward and/or department projects, and supporting training
• Ensure optimum use is made of working time.

Working for our organisation

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide specialist input into autism assessments for children 2-12 years. This could involve detailed development case histories from parents/carers and/or ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule) assessments with the child/young person.
• To provide specialist input into assessment and therapy for children with SLCN (including autism) and their families (age under 5 years).
• The postholder will demonstrate a high level of clinical expertise and participate in continuing professional development to maintain and further develop specialist knowledge and clinical practice.
• To be involved in clinical governance issues by keeping up to date with developments in paediatrics, undertaking audits to evaluate practice and participating in research projects.
• To have a support role with junior colleagues, therapy assistants and students.
• To advise and train carers and multi-agency staff on issues related to both individual cases and effective communication and language strategies.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications/ Training

• Diploma, Degree or MSC in Speech and Language Therapy
• Registered Member of the RCSLT and HCPC Registration to Practice
• Evidence of successful completion of short courses and other CPD in clinical area
• Membership of Clinical Excellence Network in relevant area of work

Skills/Abilities/Experience

• Knowledge of autism assessment practice including NICE guidelines and DSM 5/ICD 11.
• Experience working with children with additional needs, especially children with autism and communication difficulties, their relatives and carers.
• Experience of prioritisation of therapy/ own workload. Experience working collaboratively with colleagues in health and other agencies including education.
• Knowledge and experience of using autism assessment tools such as ADOS, Vanderbilt ASD PEDs, ADI-R, DISCO
• Minimum of 6 months experience working with children
• Evidence of delivering training online or settings to EYPs and parents

Other Requirements

• To take the majority of leave in school holidays
• An ability to speak other language e.g. Turkish, Polish, Spanish/ Portuguese, or a non-European language – i.e. an African language.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
• Ensure you are familiar and compliant with theLondon Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.
• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Other important information –

• You must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom or fully meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship; however, we can only consider these where all UKVI requirements are met. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role satisfy the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points‑based system criteria, as applications that do not meet these requirements cannot be progressed. For more information about the criteria, please click here
• Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.
• In submitting an application form, you authorise WhittingtonHealth NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.

We would welcome applications from individuals who are from underrepresented groups in the organisation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.