West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 30 November 2026

Job summary
We have the opportunity to recruit a part time (3 days/22.5hpw), Band 5, Speech & Language Therapist to our Community Paediatric SLT mainstream schools team in the Bury St Edmunds area.

This role will focus on children and young people of primary school age in their settings but may involve work with pre-schoolers. Knowledge and skills working across both age ranges is an advantage. Being organised and positive are key attributes for the successful candidate.

As a team we are strongly committed to delivering effective, evidence-based therapy, and we offer regular clinical and management supervision with in-house CPD/training opportunities. We would welcome any applicants at the start of their career or those with current applicable experience especially regarding assessment and intervention of children and young people's speech, language and communication needs, experience working with therapy partners (parent/carers and educational staff), a passion / interest in delivering 1:1 and/or group therapy, and an interest in delivering training.

We cover a large geographical area so a willingness and ability to travel during the working day is essential. Interviews are planned for 18th December 2026.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:

• Work with children and young people with a broad range of speech, language, and communication needs.
• Work independently to provide regular assessment sessions throughout the key stages of the patient journey.
• Plan and deliver therapeutic interventions to children and young people.
• Understand typical and atypical development of speech, language, and communication skills.
• Select and successfully interpret a range of appropriate formal and informal assessments.
• Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, across settings to achieve best outcomes.
• Have strong emerging or established personal communication skills to convey key information to service users, colleagues, and other professionals.
• Be familiar and confident with health record keeping systems (SystmOne) and MS packages, keeping up to date records in a concise and timely manner.
• Have good organisational skills to be able to plan workload and maintain balance.
• Be comfortable managing competing demands.
• Support delivery of training packages to parents/carers and educational staff (both face to face and virtually).

About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details
Date posted: 12 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year, Pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 179- 8395251-W
Job locations: Child Health Centre, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3ND, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for further information

The primary purpose of this role is to provide a high standard of Speech and Language Therapy to children and young people aged 0-19 with a range of speech, language, and communication presentations.

This community-based role will involve working in different settings, including clinics, mainstream schools, specialist units (SSUs), special schools, nurseries or homes, according to service need.

To effectively manage an autonomous clinical caseload and undertake professional duties as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, seeking advice from senior staff where appropriate.

To maintain an active continual professional development portfolio and to continue with post graduate learning.

Please note: This vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date if a high volume of applications is received. Early application is therefore encouraged.

Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language therapy degree qualification
• Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
• Eligible for registered membership of Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Desirable

• Evidence of applicable short courses or training relevant to clinical caseload: Makaton, PECS, SCERTS, stammering approaches, Nuffield, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Eating/Drinking etc

Experience and Knowledge
Essential

• Experience and working knowledge of Paediatrics
• Knowledge and experience of a range of paediatric SLC assessment methods
• Experience of working with other professionals including parents, education staff and health professionals
• Knowledge and experience of using a range of paediatric therapy techniques and approaches. (I)
• Knowledge and experience of the impact of a SLCN difficulty for the child or young person and their family / carers. (I)

Desirable

• Experience of working in community paediatric settings
• Experience of MDT working (I)
• Experience of working in teams or groups (I)
• Experience of working with children/young people with complex presentations (I)
• Experience of record keeping via SystmOne
• Use of digital methods for therapy
• Use of outcome measures

Skills and abilities
Essential

• Good presentation skills, written and verbal
• Digitally literate: able to use digital methods for record keeping and communicating
• Good organisational skills including ability to prioritise work and caseload
• Well-developed concentration skills

Desirable

• Problem solving
• Able to work in a team and independently
• Able to work under pressure

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means (A)
• Flexible approach to working hours and duties.
• Able to manage changing circumstances

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: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Child Health Centre, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3ND, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Pathway Lead for Mainstream schools, Matthew Tarr, Matthew.Tarr@wsh.nhs.uk, 07939803016

Supporting documents
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