Job overview
This is a fantastic opportunity to support the Speech and Language Therapy team within the Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) Neurodevelopmental Service, situated in one of London's most culturally rich and diverse areas. You will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care for children and young people with complex communication needs, including autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

You'll manage a specialist caseload, delivering expert clinical opinions and contributing to diagnostic assessments, as well as supporting children with speech, language and communication needs.

Main duties of the job

• Support the delivery of evidence-based therapy services that align with integrated care pathways for children and young people with complex communication needs.
• Deliver high-quality neurodevelopmental assessments, in line with NICE guidelines, according to DSM-V and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria.
• Foster strong partnerships with Local Authorities, schools, and community stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team including Paediatricians, Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists to design and deliver coordinated neurodevelopmental care.
• Engage actively with families and community networks to ensure services are responsive, inclusive, and outcome-focused.
• Maintain a specialist clinical caseload, providing expert assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
• Promote ongoing service evaluation, quality improvement, and compliance with Trust policies.
• Drive forward innovation in service delivery, including digital resource development and embedding research within clinical practice.
• Champion culturally sensitive approaches and contribute to reducing health inequalities within the diverse communities we serve.

About us
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex.

We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Job responsibilities
Joining #TeamNELFT means you'll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We're CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration.
• Show active interest in CPD – specifically in the areas of complex communication - in line with RCSLT guidelines.

Desirable criteria

• Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy.
• MSc in Speech and Language Therapy or a relevant clinical field.
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) training certification.

Experience
Essential criteria

• Ability to manage a high number of referrals and an ongoing complex caseload
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service areas
• Experience of paediatric therapy and management of communication difficulties
• Developing CPD programme for service/team with experience of offering clinical supervision
• Working with multi-agency and/or within an MDT
• Working with clients who have a range of speech, language, and communication needs

Knowledge
Essential criteria

• An in-depth knowledge of theory and practice in child development and its applications to speech and language therapy
• Advanced clinical knowledge of the impact of specific developmental disabilities on the development of the child or young person
• Knowledge of developmental and acquired communication disorders
• In depth knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions and ability to compare and contrast relative benefits and outcomes
• Knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist patient group, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
• Understanding of safeguarding

Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Goodmayes Hospital.

Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High-Cost Area Supplement
This post also attracts payment for High-Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,870 and a maximum payment of £6,137) pro rata for part time staff.

Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

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.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.