Job summary
Are you an experienced Speech & Language Therapist who is passionate about working with children and young people? Are you looking to work as part of a supportive team in a flexible working environment whilst earning HCAS?

We have a new and exciting opportunity for a band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join our team based in Reading.

Within this post you will have the opportunity to work as part of an experienced team of therapists in a mix of community settings, educational settings, homes, having independence and autonomy to manage your own caseload.

As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in this role, you will be responsible for delivering high quality speech and language therapy services to children and young people with developmental and complex needs.

We are seeking a candidate who demonstrates genuine passion for assisting children and young people to reach their full potential. The position involves collaborating with advanced clinicians, enabling you to provide both communication therapy and specialist support in areas such as eating, swallowing, and drinking.

Full time position available, part-time considered. The role will involve some travel but also leaves room for some home working.

Main duties of the job

• Provide high quality assessment and interventions for children and young people with developmental / complex needs.
• Function as a specialist autonomous clinician, supporting delivery of the CYPIT model and providing support to more junior staff and students.
• Contribute to defined projects and service development initiatives as requested.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records and provide written therapy plans and reports including contribution to the EHC Assessment process and tribunals as required.
• Use needs-led, impact-based clinical decision making, and associated outcome measures.
• Provide specialist clinical care including assessment, diagnosis and intervention.

About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Details
Date posted: 02 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £41,957 to £50,387 a year
per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-TAP-CFS7131
Job locations: Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BZ

Job description
The must haves for this role:

1. Be a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, with experience in assessing and treating children and young people with developmental and complex needs presentations
2. Excellent communication skills
3. Hold a full UK driving license, with access to using a vehicle for work purposes

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips see the help with your application document attached once you click apply.

If you're someone who shares our passion for excellence and care, you belong at Berkshire Healthcare!

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Gemma West on 07789741450 or email:gemma.west@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.

Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential

• Professional qualification
• Professional knowledge acquired through degree
• Post graduate clinical experience in relevant professional background
• Ability to demonstrate required clinical knowledge of up to date speech and language interventions and service issues
• An understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people

Desirable

• Clinical Educators course

Continuous Professional Development
Essential

• Recognised CPD in relevant Children's therapy interventions

Previous Experience
Essential

• Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience
• Experience of working with families from a wide variety of backgrounds including age and ethnicity
• Experience with developing and delivering training programmes to support service delivery
• Experience of evaluating and managing a range of developmental speech, language and communication conditions
• Able to demonstrate a clinical knowledge and familiarisation with a range of standardised and non-standardised assessment tools relevant to speech and language therapy interventions
• Experienced and able to demonstrate a commitment to integrated working and close partnership working with external partners

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Evidence of a value system which puts the child at the heart of actions
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people
• Evidence of an understanding and application of impact based Care Planning approaches, and evidence of a belief in its value
• Able to use IT to support and innovate clinical development
• Excellent, succinct written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a calm and confident manner in stressful situations
• Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of current professional and statutory issues
• Ability to work across professional boundaries to effect seamless family care
• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to act as a role model to others in adopting change

Additional Requirements
Essential

• Car Driver with access to own car and willingness to work across localities, as required
• Excellent communication skills: both written and verbal
• Able to deliver presentations to a high standard

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: Erlegh House, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6BZ

Employer's website: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Talent Acquisition Partner
Jamie Poole
jamie.poole@berkshire.nhs.uk