Newly Qualified / Senior Speech & Language Therapist

Would you like to make positive difference to the life of our students and families every day?

Would you like the time to focus on your clinical work, with enough space for reflection, supervision and administration?

Would you like to join a Speech and Language Therapy pathway led by young people and the neurodiversity paradigm?

Then we have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and dynamic Occupational Therapist to join our Multidisciplinary Team!

Historically we have employed a senior and newly qualified OT. Applications are therefore welcome from professionals at all stages of their career. Whilst skills and experience are important, we are most interested in finding someone who would thrive in a multi-disciplinary team and enjoy the creativity and sense of community that comes from working in a school.

Who we are:

Vanguard School is part of Liberty Academy Trust was established in 2022 to enhance the secondary school experience of autistic pupils.

We are seeking either Lead/ Senior or Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) to work with our dedicated multidisciplinary team to support Autistic students from Year 7 - 6th Form. You will work alongside a Senior Speech and Language Therapist, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, the Lead Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Psychologist, Social Worker, two Occupational Therapists and the Pastoral team to provide a universal offer (environment and classroom interventions), targeted (therapies delivered to students by teaching staff under clinical supervision) and specialist interventions (a small clinical caseload) based on Education Health and Care Plans and social, emotional and mental health needs.

The post holder will contribute to the development of the SALT pathway, in collaboration with the school, students and families. You will be involved in choosing an independent SALT supervisor and will be supported to develop in your career, both in terms of progression and continuing professional development.

The school includes a Sensory Room and Sensory Integration Room. There may be opportunities to train in this model in the future. You will also have opportunities to develop in trainings aligned to your own and the school's interest.

Vanguard School opened before the pandemic and following a period of change, leadership positions are filled and we are excited about Vanguard School's future direction. We are keen to attract candidates who are seeking a good work life balance. Caseloads will be manageable, supported by reflective practice and you will have the time to develop areas of your own interest in your practice.

Clinically you will be responsible for supporting education staff to implement EHCP recommendations, as well as providing some universal, targeted and specialist group and individual therapy. There will be some independent work in this role, so it may suit a senior therapist. However we are most interested in candidates who are passionate about working with Autistic young people in an neurodiversity affirming way. We are looking to appoint a confident and skilled professional who is committed to developing their expertise and specialism within the field.

You will be actively involved in staff training and there will also be the opportunity to increase your knowledge and skills through participation in team and wider Vanguard School continuing professional development programmes with regular individual and group supervision opportunities.

You will be expected to work largely on your own initiative and be confident in representing SALT within annual reviews and team meetings.

You must hold a recognised SALT qualification and be registered with the HCPC.

We need you to be resilient, supportive and sensitive towards the needs of Autistic people.

Along with a host of benefits - flexible working, local authority pension (comparable to the NHS pension) and payment to match NHS Agenda for Change- we'll make sure you get excellent Autism-specific training to help further your career.

Historically we have employed a senior and newly qualified OT. Applications are therefore welcome from professionals at all stages of their career. Whilst skills and experience are important, we are most interested in finding someone who would thrive in a multi-disciplinary team and enjoy the creativity and sense of community that comes from working in a school.

Vanguard School is part of Liberty Academy Trust was established in 2022 to enhance the secondary school experience of autistic pupils.