Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Autism | Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust


Company:	Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Salary:	£49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata + high cost area living allowance
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Watford, WD17 3EW
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	2 Nov 2026
Closing date:	2 Dec 2026

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Summary

Children and Young People’s (CYP) Therapies at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) are delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity for an experienced SLT wishing to take on the role of Highly Specialist SLT for Autism. The role will involve supporting CYP with social communication differences and/or Autism and supporting CYP who are Neurodivergent, in need of assessment. It will also involve working as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT), undertaking specialist diagnostic assessment across a range of settings, including clinic, school and home.

We are looking to recruit to a0.8 WTE (30 hours)Band 7 SLT to join our dynamic team of therapists and assistants, to work with us to provide highly specialist clinical support.The postholder will be based at Peace Children’s Centre, Watford, supporting CYP/families/education settings within the local community. They will bring strong skills and experiences to the Multidisciplinary Assessment Team and to our community service.

· Are you an enthusiastic, energetic SLT with developing specialist clinical skills and leadership experience, committed to providing the best outcomes for children and families?

· Do you have a strong interest in Autism and differential diagnosis, and would you like the opportunity to further develop your specialist skills?

If so, this opportunity could be just right for you.

*Proposed Interview date: 20th November 2026*

• To provide highly specialist speech and language therapy support for CYP with social communication differences and/or Autism.

• To provide assessment and diagnosis to CYP referred for Autism assessment as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and provide supportive information to parents/carers and professionals.

• To work autonomously and provide highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy leadership and clinical expertise.

• To be a specialist resource to support and develop the skills and expertise of community therapists and the wider children’s workforce through training, joint working and providing professional support for less experienced staff.

• To provide evidence-based intervention plans and management programmes as part of child centred service delivery.

• To demonstrate knowledge of SEND reforms and EHCP planning.

• To demonstrate Neuroaffirmitive practices.

We offer:

· Regular group professional supervision and peer support.

· Regular managerial supervision and a well-established appraisal system.

· Internal and external CPD opportunities such as bitesize tutorials, peer review, CENs.

· A 2 week induction period where you will have the opportunity to observe and shadow colleagues across a range of clinical areas/settings.

· Regular meetings with Clinical Quality Leads and Operational Leads to plan and implement service delivery and service development.

We’re delighted that you're exploring a career with HCT. As an organisation, we’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and rewarding work environment — one where you’ll feel valued and empowered to make a real difference.

At HCT, we put patients, their families, and carers at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is simple yet powerful:Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities.Our staff are proud to beCaring,PioneeringandInclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision

Working with us comes with a host of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and work-life balance:

• Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33 with long service)

• Flexible working arrangements to help balance personal and professional life,including up to 5 days of carers leave (pro rata)

• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 confidential support for personal or work-related issues

• Cycle to Work and Car Lease Schemes

• Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts

• Health and wellbeing support, including free flu jabs, Physiotherapy referrals

• Occupational Pension Scheme with competitive benefits

• Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlements

We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and communities to apply.

You’ve taken a fantastic first step by considering HCT. We’re excited about the possibility of welcoming you to our team and taking the next step in your journey with us.

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

You will be joining an innovative and agile CYP Therapies service committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.

Successful candidates will be enthusiastic and motivated. Advanced communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of children and young people through upskilling the wider workforce. As a highly specialist SLT, there will be opportunities for you to facilitate professional supervision groups and provide managerial supervision to less experienced colleagues.

Wehaveworked closely with system partners to redesign and transform the Autism diagnostic pathway. The vision in Hertfordshire is to ensure CYP and their families can access early support, advice, and information with access to the diagnostic pathway where clinically needed in a timely manner. It’s desirable for the postholder to be ADOS-2 trained and/or have experience of Autism Assessment – however, HCT is committed to training the right candidate if needed.

You will be joining a well-established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride ourselves on the support we provide to staff. Please see below comments from a current member of the team:

“I love working in CYPT/HCT - everyone in the team is super dedicated. There is strong management support, but also space for being flexible and creative to meet children’s needs; innovation & good practice is valued and encouraged. I enjoy & appreciate the robust supervision structures, training in supervision & coaching, and the many opportunities for personal development and learning, including for example in-house training days and tutorials. I have worked in many teams across Hertfordshire, all without exception friendly and welcoming. There is an ethos of peer support and encouragement & sharing learning; everyone works hard but there is a sense of belonging and always time for a quick chat… and plenty of laughs. I feel valued here and I value my lovely colleagues and the fabulous children & young people we work with.”

If you have any questions at all or you would like to come and visit us, please do contact us - we are only too happy to help and would love to tell you more about our Service.Please contact Julie Morris, Clinical Quality Lead for SLT:hct.sltcql@nhs.net

Applications for full time and part time work will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,346 and a maximum payment of £2,270 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.

For this role you will need to have a full valid UK driving licence and it is essential to have access to a car to use regularly for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

If there’s high interest in this role, we may close applications earlier than the advertised deadline — so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.

This advert closes on Wednesday 11 Nov 2026

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