The Role

36 hours per week (part time hours will be considered)
Term time only (39 weeks)

We are delighted to be able to offer this new opportunity. Do you have a passion for working with children and young people with Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and/or Hearing Impairment? Are you looking for an exciting post that will give you the opportunity to demonstrate, and continue development of your specialist clinical skills in the assessment and management of children with SLCN?

This post will give you the chance to be part of the therapy team at Oak Lodge School - an innovative and successful secondary school in Balham, London.  You would be part of a team consisting of Speech and Language therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Therapy assistants. The therapy team also work in close collaboration with a very supportive teaching staff. Our team is enthusiastic, friendly, fun and, fully committed to evidence-based practice ethos. We encourage sharing of new ideas and enhancing clinical skills through joint working, regular supervision and continuous professional development within a supportive integrated therapy setting to optimise clinical outcomes for children and young people.

We are looking to recruit a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work with us on a permanent basis, to provide clinical support and training within our school community. The ideal candidate would have had experience in working in a range of settings. You would be able to organise and manage your own caseload; whilst receiving regular supervision from the team. The successful candidate must be able to evidence clinical skills in SLCN. Working knowledge of SEND reforms and EHCP planning are also beneficial.

As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you would work collaboratively with SLT Therapy Assistant Practitioners; Teaching staff; Advisory Teachers including Teachers of the Deaf and SLCN teachers; other Allied Health and Education professionals (e.g. Educational Psychologist, SENCos). You would facilitate peer support to less experienced colleagues and therapy assistants.

You will be a member of the RCSLT and HCPC who has an interest working with SCLN students, within a school setting. You will require a minimum of 3 years’ experience as a SaLT and have skills, or be willing to learn, BSL up to Level 2, and AAC. Knowledge and/or training in Dysphagia would be an advantage.

Oak Lodge provides education for D/deaf students and SCLN students whose primary difficulties are linked to language and communication. As our students present with a range of learning, communication and language issues- communication may be facilitated through sign language (BSL), sign supported English (SSE), spoken/written English and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as appropriate to meet the needs of all our students. The position involves assessment, delivery of therapy, training and close working with teaching staff, parents/carers and other professionals to promote language and communication development across the curriculum.

You will need to have:

• Experience of working with children with a range of communication needs.
• Knowledge of core assessment and intervention approaches for children.
• The ability to work closely and effectively in partnership with school staff, parents and others in order to support children.
• The ability to devise, implement and review therapy plans.
• Knowledge of current intervention policies, practice and national drivers.
• The ability to work within a team, flexibly and under sometimes challenging conditions
• Enthusiasm, imagination and initiative.

The school will provide all necessary training to fulfil the job description, time allowance to attend relevant training and special interest groups (SIG). There will also be regular supervision as part of your ongoing CPD requirements.

This is a permanent post. Salary will depend on qualifications and experience. The full time equivalent salary range will be £31,170 SCP21 - £43,599 SCP37 (equivalent to NHS band 6/7). 

For further details/informal visits contact: Judy Lamprecht (Head of Language, Therapy and Audiology) on 020 8673 3453 or email on jlamprecht@oaklodge.wandsworth.sch.uk. 

An Application Form and supported documents can be downloaded below or from the school’s website at www.oaklodge.wandsworth.sch.uk

Completed applications should be returned to the school by email jlamprecht@oaklodge.wandsworth.sch.uk or by post.

Closing date: Sunday 11th July 2021
Interviews proposed for week commencing: Monday 12th July 2021

The school is committed to safeguarding & promoting the welfare of children and young adults; if successful, you will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Oak Lodge School
101 Nightingale Lane,
London SW12 8NA

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils