Speech and Language Therapist - Bedford Community Team
| Posting date: | 23 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | per annum, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 23 May 2026 |
| Location: | Bedford, MK42 7PN |
| Company: | East of England Community Health & Care NHS Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 7906481/448-BCHS-7906481 |
Summary
A Vacancy at East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge).
Are you a newly qualified Speech and Language Therapist looking for a supportive start to your career?
We are recruiting Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists to join our Bedfordshire Children’s Community Service. This is an exciting time to join us as we grow our service in line with national SEND reforms and local investment.
We are expanding our mainstream schools team and strengthening our Team Around the School model. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills in an education-focused role with real impact.
You will:
• Build confidence working in mainstream school settings
• Support children with a range of speech, language and communication needs
• Work collaboratively with schools to embed strategies in everyday practice
You will contribute to a universal, targeted and specialist offer, helping to create sustainable outcomes for children and young people.
What we offer
• A supportive, experienced and friendly team
• Regular supervision and peer support
• Structured Band 5 preceptorship programme
• Opportunities for joint working and shadowing
• Access to CPD and clinical forums
• Opportunities to contribute to service development
• Flexible working where possible
We provide a structured and well-supported transition into practice, helping you build confidence at your own pace, with clear opportunities for progression.
Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 03-05-2026
You will work within our mainstream schools team, supporting children and young people aged 5–18 with a range of speech, language and communication needs.
This includes:
• working directly with children and young people
• supporting school staff to embed strategies into everyday practice
• contributing to assessment and intervention planning
• being part of a collaborativeteam around the schoolmodel
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff - who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
To undertake a range of assessments, both standardised and non-standardised, taking account of medical, social and educational factors, in order to make a differential diagnosis.
To plan, deliver and evaluate intervention following professional guidelines and agreed service standards
As part of that process, to be able to plan appropriate long term and short term goals, empowering families and settings to embed advice and support across the day and work towards closing the package of support
To undertake administrative duties connected with the caseload including maintenance of case notes and provision of written reports, following service standards
To ensure that all work is carried out in close collaboration with all those involved in children’s care so that the approach to intervention and support is co-ordinated and comprehensive
To identify when there is a need for a second opinion, referring to senior colleagues or SLT specialists as appropriate
To make onward referral as appropriate
To deliver training to enhance the skills of the wider workforce around speech, language and communication
To develop clinical skills and professional knowledge through experience, training and supervision
To take part in the supervision of students with support
To take part in supervision of the work of SLT Assistants and volunteers when required
This advert closes on Monday 11 May 2026
Are you a newly qualified Speech and Language Therapist looking for a supportive start to your career?
We are recruiting Band 5 Speech and Language Therapists to join our Bedfordshire Children’s Community Service. This is an exciting time to join us as we grow our service in line with national SEND reforms and local investment.
We are expanding our mainstream schools team and strengthening our Team Around the School model. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills in an education-focused role with real impact.
You will:
• Build confidence working in mainstream school settings
• Support children with a range of speech, language and communication needs
• Work collaboratively with schools to embed strategies in everyday practice
You will contribute to a universal, targeted and specialist offer, helping to create sustainable outcomes for children and young people.
What we offer
• A supportive, experienced and friendly team
• Regular supervision and peer support
• Structured Band 5 preceptorship programme
• Opportunities for joint working and shadowing
• Access to CPD and clinical forums
• Opportunities to contribute to service development
• Flexible working where possible
We provide a structured and well-supported transition into practice, helping you build confidence at your own pace, with clear opportunities for progression.
Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 03-05-2026
You will work within our mainstream schools team, supporting children and young people aged 5–18 with a range of speech, language and communication needs.
This includes:
• working directly with children and young people
• supporting school staff to embed strategies into everyday practice
• contributing to assessment and intervention planning
• being part of a collaborativeteam around the schoolmodel
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff - who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
To undertake a range of assessments, both standardised and non-standardised, taking account of medical, social and educational factors, in order to make a differential diagnosis.
To plan, deliver and evaluate intervention following professional guidelines and agreed service standards
As part of that process, to be able to plan appropriate long term and short term goals, empowering families and settings to embed advice and support across the day and work towards closing the package of support
To undertake administrative duties connected with the caseload including maintenance of case notes and provision of written reports, following service standards
To ensure that all work is carried out in close collaboration with all those involved in children’s care so that the approach to intervention and support is co-ordinated and comprehensive
To identify when there is a need for a second opinion, referring to senior colleagues or SLT specialists as appropriate
To make onward referral as appropriate
To deliver training to enhance the skills of the wider workforce around speech, language and communication
To develop clinical skills and professional knowledge through experience, training and supervision
To take part in the supervision of students with support
To take part in supervision of the work of SLT Assistants and volunteers when required
This advert closes on Monday 11 May 2026