Cognus Limited
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Therapy Lead
The closing date is 06 December 2026
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Job summary
We are looking for a band 7 highly specialist speech and language therapist and therapy lead to join our dynamic team at Cognus Therapies, to support our growing therapies team, an increase in statutory provision and implementation of the SEND Reform, in line with our new Experts at Hand model launched in September 2026.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly specialist speech and language therapist to join our supportive and innovative team. This is an exciting opportunity to work as a highly specialist speech and language therapist and a therapies line manager, whilst being involved in therapy lead (therapies management) meetings and leading on key areas of service development, in line with your interests and specialisms. This role has two days protected time for line management, clinical supervision and service delivery, with the rest of the working week focussed upon clinical caseload delivery.
Main duties of the job

• Take a lead role in overseeing and delivering speech and language therapy support for children and young people on your caseload, and area of specialism
• Contribute to therapy lead meetings to support service development for the service
• To be responsible for line management, and clinical supervision of a group of speech and language therapists within the team
• To lead on service development in own specialist area, and support the team to embed the tiered and embedded model - universal, targeted, targeted plus, specialist
• Support the head of therapies and principal speech and language therapist with service development, and lead on specific workstreams for the wider therapies team
• To hold a caseload in line with area of specialism and clinical interest
• To support the wider team to further develop a tiered Universal, Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist model of therapies delivery in the local area.
• To support the local area implementation of Experts at Hand.
• Participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention and models of service delivery, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant clinical practice and research within the area of specialism and making recommendations on procedural improvements to enhance team performance.
• Provide line management and clinical supervision for a group of Speech and Language Therapists and or Speech and Language Therapy Assistants and or students within the team

About us
Cognus Limited is a Local Authority Traded Company, which is commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton to provide education services to early years providers, mainstream schools/ colleges and specialist education settings in Sutton and the surrounding boroughs. Wholly owned by the local authority, we deliver a wide range of high-quality services to deliver excellent practice that improve the lives of children, young people, and families in Sutton and beyond.

Cognus Therapies are a thriving multidisciplinary team of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, practitioners and therapy assistants who support children and young people aged 4 to 25 years within the London Borough of Sutton and surrounding boroughs. We work with children and young people with a variety of special educational needs, e.g., Autism, Deafness, Down Syndrome, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), PMLD, Dyslexia, MLD and many more. We encourage all our therapists to develop their specialisms in particular areas of SEND and also have a variety of therapists who work across a wide range of different special educational needs and settings.

Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £57,877.27 to £63,113.18 a year
Includes HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: N0016-26-0037
Job locations: Cognus Limited. Sutton Local Authority, Cantium House, Railway Approach, Wallington, SM6 0DZ, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY

• Take a lead role in overseeing and delivering speech and language therapy support for children and young people on your caseload, and area of specialism
• Contribute to therapy lead meetings to support service development for the service
• Contribute to multi-agency meetings, annual reviews and tribunals if required
• To be responsible for line management, and clinical supervision of a group of speech and language therapists within the team
• To lead on service development in own specialist area, and support the team to embed the tiered model (universal/targeted/targeted plus/specialist)
• Support the head of therapies and principal speech and language therapist with service development, and lead on specific workstreams for the wider therapies team
• To hold a caseload in line with area of specialism / clinical interest

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Developing strong working relationships with Head Teachers and SENDCos and staff in assigned educational establishments.
• Deal with any problems promptly which may arise in order to maintain good working relationships, and propose solutions to these.
• Coordinate the work of the speech and language team within the assigned establishment/s including organising appropriate therapy packages, deciding length of input and discharge arrangements.
• To lead on training of teachers and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) to enable them to deliver carry-over work and to raise the profile of speech and language needs in the context of wider training when appropriate.
• Maintain effective and proactive working with partner agencies to enable transition and support for specific pupils.
• To support the wider team to further develop a tiered Universal, Targeted, Targeted Plus and Specialist model of therapies delivery in the local area.
• To support the local area implementation of Experts at Hand.
• Work with stakeholders and the team to achieve national and local targets/ outcomes.
• Take responsibility for the embedding of legislative change and key developments relating to improved outcomes for pupils with SLCN.
• Participate in the evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention and models of service delivery, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant clinical practice and research within the area of specialism and making recommendations on procedural improvements to enhance team performance.
• To be accountable for the achieving of clearly specified and measurable progress for pupils within these establishments and to provide outcome data.
• Work with Cognus Occupational Therapists and the wider Cognus teams to provide a joint working approach.
• Provide line management and clinical supervision for a group of Speech and Language Therapists / Speech and Language Therapy Assistants (SaLTAs) / students within the team
• Oversee a group of therapists within allocated hubs including clinical governance.
• To complete clinical audits and observations to review and monitor quality of practice of supervisees and wider team as required, including quality assurance of reports.
• Contribute to multi-agency meetings and Annual Reviews, including tribunals as and when required.
• Participate in department in-service training. To pursue an active programme of continuing professional development including feedback on any courses or conferences attended
• To meet regularly with the Therapy Leads and take ownership of service development and improvement
• To meet regularly with clinical supervisors and line managers for CPD, performance management and clinical and service development.
• To support the Head of Therapies in managing the Therapies budget and maximising outcomes from public money, modelling this stewardship to the wider team in financial decision-making
• To support Therapies traded income targets and, where possible, proactively seeking traded opportunities to support income generation and sustainability of the service. The specific traded projects will be agreed and delivered with oversight by your line manager.
• Maintain full, accurate and timely records including case notes and reports, and ensure that these are delivered within agreed service standards.
• Preparation and delivery of individual therapy programmes based on initial assessment and current evidence-based practice.
• Evaluation and recording of pupil progress and maintaining of records to the requirements of Cognus Limited.
• To facilitate appropriate management of caseload including negotiating appropriate therapy packages, length of input and discharge arrangements.
• The post holder may also be required to work flexibly in local schools and colleges across the 4 to 25 age range, delivering complex service activities and managing caseloads to ensure intended outcomes are delivered within agreed service standards.

Person Specification
Experience
Desirable: Experience in delivering line management and managing difficult conversations
Qualifications
Essential:

• Educated to degree level in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent
• Relevant qualifications including registration with HCPC
• Qualification, training or extensive experience in delivering clinical supervision to speech and language therapists and students

Knowledge, Experience and Skills
Essential:

• Ability to prioritise and deliver results to a high standard
• Excellent organisational and management skills
• Excellent communication skills including making and delivering presentations
• Ability to negotiate and troubleshoot, is methodical and persuasive
• Leads others by setting a positive example, in line with company values and acts as a role model
• Minimum of 5 years experience as a paediatric speech and language therapist
• Adherence to the RCSLT and HCPC policies and guidance
• Is committed to safeguarding and protection of children and young people
• Honours and upholds the Companys Equal Opportunity Policy, Dignity at Work Policy, Safeguarding and Protection of Children, Health and Safety and Data Protection Policy at all times

Desirable:

• Experience in delivering line management and managing difficult conversations

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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Cognus Limited
Address: Cognus Limited. Sutton Local Authority, Cantium House, Railway Approach, Wallington, SM6 0DZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://cognus.org.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principal Speech and Language Therapist, Tamara Rainsley, cognus.therapies@cognus.org.uk

Supporting documents
Privacy notice: Cognus Limited's privacy notice