Clinical Specialist Speech and Language TherapistNHS

Job summary

Join Chatterbug as a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and play a key role in improving outcomes for children and young people with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) across Sheffield.

This is an opportunity to combine advanced clinical practice with leadership, supervision and service development. You will support colleagues with complex cases, strengthen multidisciplinary working and help ensure children and families receive high-quality, evidence-based and needs-led support.

Working closely with the Clinical Service Manager and local partners, you will contribute to improving clinical pathways, developing workforce skills and driving continuous improvement across the service.

If you are an experienced Speech and Language Therapist who enjoys supporting others, tackling complex clinical challenges and shaping service delivery, we would welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

You will deliver specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people with a wide range of SLCN, including complex needs, while providing clinical guidance and second opinions to colleagues.

You will supervise, mentor and develop therapists and other team members, support multidisciplinary decision-making and ensure complex cases are escalated appropriately. You will also contribute to clinical governance, quality assurance, pathway development and service improvement.

The role includes delivering training to colleagues, schools, parents and external professionals; reviewing outcomes and feedback to identify improvements; and working with senior leaders and local partners to strengthen service delivery.

You will maintain accurate clinical records, uphold professional and safeguarding standards, engage in continuing professional development and contribute specialist expertise to reports, tenders and service development initiatives.

The postholder must be able to travel independently across the geographical area, hold a valid driving licence, have access to their own vehicle and work flexibly according to service needs.

Job description

Job Advertisement: Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - SheffieldSalary: £54,000-£56,515 FTE, pro rated (depending on experience)

Working pattern: Full time, term time plus 12 additional days

Approximately 12 weeks across the year when you are not required to work

Location: Sheffield

Chatterbug Speech & Language TherapyChatterbug is an innovative Social Enterprise providing high-quality, evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy services across the UK.

Our mission is to create a positive, lasting impact for children, families, and communities. We pride ourselves on delivering results that truly make a difference, regardless of a client's background. Our passionate team consists of highly skilled Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and assistants who put the child at the heart of everything they do.

As a social enterprise, we invest in our people and our community, ensuring that we not only deliver excellent service but also advocate for the needs of those with speech, language, and communication difficulties (SLCN).

Job PurposeThe postholder will provide senior clinical leadership within Chatterbug's new Sheffield service while remaining clinically productive. The role combines advanced practice, supervision, complex clinical decision making, multidisciplinary partnership working, governance and service development.

At Chatterbug, you will work with clinicians who are actively pushing standards and raising the bar for Speech and Language Therapy. You will have access to innovative tools, evidence-informed frameworks and emerging approaches that support high-quality practice and measurable outcomes. We expect our therapists to think critically, stay curious and contribute to the ongoing development of the profession and we provide the environment to do exactly that.

Brief Job DescriptionYou will provide senior clinical leadership within a locality, maintain an appropriate clinical caseload and provide supervision, consultation and support for complex assessment, formulation and clinical decision making.

You will lead appropriate escalation and interfaces with specialist services, contribute to multidisciplinary decision making and build effective relationships across education, health, SEND and other partners. You will also contribute to clinical governance, audit, quality assurance, workforce development and continued service improvement.

4. About YouExperience:

• Substantial experience working with children and young people with Speech, Language, and Communication Needs, including complex presentations
• Experience providing clinical supervision, multidisciplinary leadership and contributing to service development or quality improvement

Skills:

• Advanced clinical reasoning, assessment, formulation and caseload management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence across professional and organisational boundaries
• Confidence managing complex clinical decisions, risk and escalation while supporting the development of others

Qualifications:

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy (or equivalent)
• HCPC registration
• Membership of RCSLT (or willingness to maintain)

Attributes:You are a confident senior clinician who combines advanced practice with calm, supportive leadership. You take ownership, communicate clearly and use evidence, reflection and collaboration to improve outcomes for children, families, clinicians and services.

Our ValuesAt Chatterbug, our values guide how we work with each other and our clients. We are looking for individuals who embody our Constitution:

• Open: We are honest, transparent, and welcome new ideas.
• Connected: We work as a community, sharing knowledge and supporting one another.
• Dependable: We build relationships based on trust and consistency.
• Fortitude: We are resilient, brave, and committed to overcoming challenges to achieve the best results.

Our BehavioursTo live our values, we demonstrate four core behaviours in everything we do. We look for team members who:

• Take Ownership: We take responsibility for our actions and their outcomes. We dont wait to be told what to do; we see a need, and we act. We are accountable to ourselves, our colleagues, and our clients.
• Are Solution-Focused: We dont just identify problems; we bring ideas on how to fix them. We approach challenges with a positive mindset, seeking creative and effective ways to overcome obstacles.
• Communicate with Clarity: Communication is at the heart of what we do. We share information openly, listen actively, and ensure our messages are understood. We are honest, respectful, and transparent.
• Have a Growth Mindset: We are committed to continuous improvement. We embrace learning opportunities, seek feedback to help us grow, and remain adaptable to ensure we provide the best possible service.

7. What We OfferWe care about our team's wellbeing and development. When you join Chatterbug, you receive:

• NEST pension scheme: 5% employee + 3% employer contribution (8% total)
• Blue Light Card and employee discount platforms
• Healthcare cash plan and wellbeing support (including 24/7 confidential support line)
• Enhanced maternity provision (subject to length of service)
• Long term sickness and death in service cover (subject to eligibility)

8. Diversity & SafeguardingSafeguarding: Chatterbug is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check.

Inclusion: We are an inclusive organisation that values diversity. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those who are neurodivergent, disabled, from minority ethnic communities, or from LGBTQIA+ communities.

If this role aligns with your experience and values, wed love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and Cover Letter clearly stating which role you are applying for to [email protected]

About us

Chatterbug Limited is a national social enterprise providing Speech and Language Therapy services. We are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based support that makes a meaningful difference to children, young people and their families.

Our work is guided by four core values: Open, Connected, Dependable and Fortitude. These values shape how we work together, build relationships with families and partners, and approach challenges across our services.

At Chatterbug, we recognise the importance of collaboration, professional development and continuous improvement. Our teams work across settings and alongside partners to support consistent, needs-led practice and positive outcomes.

Joining Chatterbug offers the opportunity to contribute to clinical leadership, support colleagues' development and help shape the future of our services in Sheffield while making a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.