Job summary
Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to make an impact on outcomes for children and young people? Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the innovative Experts at Hand programme, part of the Children and Young People's Integrated Therapy Service.

Experts at Hand is a key element of Buckinghamshire's SEND reform programme, providing early, needs-led support to education settings through consultation, coaching, training and whole-setting approaches. In partnership with Buckinghamshire Council and the ICB, the programme aims to build inclusive, communication-friendly environments where children and young people can thrive.

This is an exciting opportunity for a clinician to apply their expertise beyond traditional direct therapy delivery. You will work collaboratively with education professionals to identify and address barriers to communication, participation and learning, supporting the implementation of evidence-based approaches through the graduated response.

The role offers the opportunity to influence practice at a setting and system-wide level, contributing to workforce development, service improvement and the ongoing development of an innovative countywide model of support. If you are passionate about inclusion, empowering others and improving outcomes for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job
As a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist within the Experts at Hand programme, you will provide consultation, coaching and training to education settings across Buckinghamshire, supporting inclusive, communication-friendly environments. Working with education staff, you will identify and reduce barriers to communication, participation and learning through observation, consultation and evidence-based recommendations. You will support children and young people with a range of speech, language and communication needs, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), speech sound disorders, social communication differences, language and learning needs, neurodevelopmental communication needs and participation difficulties. Through the graduated approach, you will help education staff implement strategies and reasonable adjustments. You will deliver training, develop resources and promote communication-inclusive practice across educational settings. Working with colleagues across education, health, social care and the voluntary sector, you will contribute to strengthening SEND provision and improving outcomes. As a senior clinician, you will provide leadership, supervision and support to colleagues and therapy assistants, while contributing to service development, quality improvement, audit and outcome evaluation. This is an exciting opportunity to influence practice at setting and system-wide level and make an impact for children and young people across Buckinghamshire.

About us
Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"?

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.

We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

What do we stand for?
Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.

We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.

We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact Pam.Daley@nhs.net (Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.

We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Details
Date posted: 23 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number: 434-CR8232540
Job locations: Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0JD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on bht.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification
Values
Essential

• Communicates openly, honestly and professionally, and actively promotes team working and building strong working relationships
• Patients are always first. Drives service improvements. Strong self-awareness with a desire to grow.
• Treats all with compassion and kindness. Ensures everyone feels valued.
• Consults others and listens to their views/opinions. Enables others to take the initiative

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential

• Recognised Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• Current Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration / Licence to Practise
• Registered member of the relevant professional body (RCSLT)
• Evidence of continuing professional development, including post-registration training relevant to children and young people
• Post-registration specialist training relevant to speech and language therapy needs (including sensory, motor, self-regulation and functional participation needs)
• Evidence of training in supervision, coaching, teaching or workforce development

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Substantial post-registration experience working with children and young people (0-19) with a complex range of needs
• Highly specialist experience of assessing and managing occupational therapy needs (including DLD, speech sound and social communication needs) in children and young people
• Experience of working within, or in close partnership with, education and early years settings
• Experience of delivering consultation, coaching and modelling to non-therapy staff
• Experience of designing and delivering training to professionals and the wider workforce
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary and multi-agency team
• Experience of supervising, mentoring or line managing staff and/or assistants
• Experience of service evaluation, audit or quality improvement
• Experience of contributing to the graduated approach and SEND processes

SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Highly specialist knowledge and clinical reasoning relating to occupational therapy needs (including DLD, speech sound and social communication needs)
• Advanced knowledge of current SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice, the graduated approach and SEND reform, spanning education and health
• Knowledge of relevant SALT assessment tools and evidence-based interventions for this population
• Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to a range of audiences
• Ability to negotiate, influence and manage differences of professional opinion constructively
• Ability to prioritise and organise a complex, autonomous caseload across multiple settings
• Ability to develop resources and deliver engaging training and coaching
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities and their application in practice
• Competent IT and record-keeping skills, including electronic record systems and remote / virtual delivery, clinical and non-clinical

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Essential

• Ability to travel independently across Buckinghamshire to multiple community and education settings

Desirable

• Ability to transport resources and equipment required for service delivery

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: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Address: Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0JD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Operational Lead CYP Speech and Language Therapy, Jennifer Corder, jennifer.corder1@nhs.net

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