Advanced Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a part time Band 7 Advanced Speech and Language Therapist to work in the Community Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS) in the Newcastle/Gateshead team.  The hours of this post are negotiable but need to be between 22.5 and 30 hours per week.

We are seeking applications from registered Speech and Language Therapists with experience of working within mental health and/or learning disability services.  We are interested in appointing a dedicated and committed individual that possesses a desire to work with children and young people and who can demonstrate their ability to engage and work collaboratively with others/partner agencies and understand complex systems in order to support effective pathways.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will work with professionals within the multidisciplinary team, as well as with the wider system, to:

• Increase awareness of speech, language and communication needs and how to support them.
• Promote inclusive communication by developing communication-friendly environments that remove barriers to communication.
• Support professionals to consider a child’s speech, language and communication skills when they are assessing trauma and complex needs, using language-based assessments and interventions.
• Identify interventions which are accessible or help make existing resources accessible.
• Develop responses to behaviour which focus on developing positive communication, language for emotions and avoid exacerbating trauma.
• Provide training to carers and professionals, helping them access the language used in parenting and other interventions, and the skills needed to help children develop their speech, language and communication.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This post will deliver trauma-informed services to children and young people up to the age of 25.  Research indicates that children who have experienced abuse and neglect are more likely to have poor language and social communication skills.  Flashbacks and chronic stress can shut down language areas in the brain, and language skills may be diminished or lost in the longer term.  Children and young people who have had very negative early experiences often find it difficult to interact positively with others, so they miss out on opportunities to learn positive language and interaction skills.

As a result, the NICE guidelines recommend that if children in care are identified as having speech, language and communication problems (whether or not these have been previously diagnosed), they should be able to access support from speech and language therapists for assessment and for advice on how to communicate effectively with them.

This post is part of a pilot project and will involve an element of research, data collection and analysis as well as assessment, consultation, formulation, and training for the wider workforce.

The role will involve contributing to understanding the needs of children and young people in the local authority who may be considered to present high risk to themselves, high risk to others or are highly vulnerable within external relationships.  This will include children in care, and those in contact with the youth justice service.  As part of a wider team, the successful candidate will support consultations, assessments and formulation with professionals and carers working with children and young people to support the principles of the Integrated Care Framework outlined below.

• Every Interaction Matters: There is a focus first on building and supporting positive collaborative relationships.
• Children and young people and the relationships they experience are at the centre of all care they receive through genuine co-production.
• Those spending most time with young people are the primary facilitators of change.
• Positively influencing the day-to-day care is the basis of any intervention and primary focus of support.
• All behaviour is understandable in context; there is a focus on developing an understanding of each CYP’s behaviour and needs based on their story.
• There is a commitment by all to build and sustain trauma-informed organisations.

You should have qualifications and experience relevant in this clinical field and work well as part of a close team and be able to work independently.  You will liaise closely with fellow professionals to address communication difficulties as part of a holistic, service user centred service and be confident in providing high quality, evidence-based assessments and interventions and possess excellent communication and organisational skills.

This post is part of a national NHS England 2-year pilot to deliver extended services for children and young people with complex trauma.

This post is employed by CNTW and embedded into Local Authorities and will be based at Gateshead Civic Centre.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 17th June 2025

Closing date : 1st July 2025

We welcome your application.