Job summary
We have a permanent Band 6 Speech and Language therapy post available at Paddock School. Paddock is made up of a primary and a secondary school. We are a large NHS team of 16 therapy staff (SLTs, OTs, therapy assistants and and an administrator) based on site. This is an exciting time for Paddock , with an amazing new secondary school building which opened in September 2025, as part of the Paddock expansion programme with a significant increase in pupil numbers.

This is a great opportunity to develop your skills in working with autistic pupils with learning difficulties, all of whom have EHCPs. Our team are highly skilled in the use of AAC and a wide range of language and social communication interventions. We are currently focusing on developing our offer for our pre-formal learners using play based approaches such as DIR Floortime, Intensive Interaction and the Curiosity programme.

Working at Paddock is also a great opportunity for MDT working, as the SLTs and OTs work together as a single team, liaising daily with our teaching colleagues. We also work closely with parents/carers, CAMHS and the LA Educational Psychologists.

In addition , we have excellent and highly skilled therapy assistants who support us in delivering 1:1 and group interventions.

The school has a primary site in Putney and a secondary site in Tooting.

Main duties of the job
To undertake specialist paediatric assessment of each pupil on your caseload, and from this assessment to formulate an intervention plan and deliver related therapy provision in partnership with the teaching team.

To deliver training and in class support to the teaching team.

To deliver other indirect provision, as appropriate, through the teaching team and also the family, for each pupil.

To supervise and support junior therapists, therapy assistants and students and be involved in teaching MDT staff as well as those from other agencies

Opportunities to join working parties to develop your skills in service development.

You will need:

• Experience and skills relevant to working with a diverse paediatric caseload
• Experience and skills relevant to working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Clinical skills related to ASD and learning disability and/or enthusiasm for developing your skills in these areas
• Ability to work flexibly and independently where necessary
• Enthusiasm, imagination and initiative

About us
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. Being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent
• HCPC registration and RCSLT registration

Desirable

• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with children in an educational or multi-disciplinary setting
• Experience completing assessments and developing intervention plans for children

Desirable

• Special school experience
• Experience of working with pupils with ASD and/or learning difficulties
• Experience of working closely with teachers and teaching assistants and other school support staff

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of a range of assessment approaches and assessment tools relevant to the client group
• A working knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the client group
• Understanding the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
• Sound knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Established analytical and reflection skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of a range of appropriate Augmentative and Alternative Communication aids for this client group

Skills
Essential

• Ability to identify own learning needs utilising the appraisal process and in line with personal and service development needs
• Excellent ability to evaluate and reflect on own practice and experience

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