Job overview

We have a permanent Band 6 Speech and Language therapy post available at Paddock School.  We are a large NHS  team  of 16 therapy staff ( SLTs, OTs, therapy assistants and and  an administrator) based at the school. This is an exciting time for Paddock , with a new build secondary school opening in September 2025  as part of the Paddock expansion programme with  a significant increase in pupil numbers.

This is a great opportunity to develop your skills in working with autistic pupils with learning difficulties, all of whom have EHCPs.  Our team are highly skilled  in  the use of AAC and a wide  range of language and social communication interventions.  We are currently focusing on developing our offer for our pre-formal learners using play based approaches such as DIR Floortime, Intensive Interaction and the Curiosity programme. 

Working at Paddock is also a great opportunity for MDT working, as the the SLTs and OTs work together as a single team, liaising daily with our teaching colleagues. We also  work closely  with CAMHS and the  LA Educational Psychologists.

In addition , we have an excellent  team of highly skilled therapy assistants  who support us in delivering 1:1 and group  interventions. 

The school has a primary site in Putney and a secondary site in Tooting.. This role will initially be based in the primary school, but there may be some opportunity to also work in the secondary school.

Main duties of the job

To undertake specialist paediatric assessment of each pupil on your caseload, and from this assessment to formulate an intervention plan  and deliver related therapy provision in partnership with the teaching  team.

 To deliver training and in class support to the teaching team

To deliver other indirect provision, as appropriate, through the teaching team and also the family, for each pupil.

 To supervise and support junior therapists, therapy assistants and students and be involved in teaching MDT staff as well as those from other agencies

Opportunities to join working parties to develop your skills in service development.

You will need:

• Experience  and skills relevant to  working with a diverse paediatric caseload 
• Experience  and skills relevant to working in  a multi-disciplinary team
• Clinical skills  related to  ASD  and learning disability and/or enthusiasm for developing your skills in  these areas
• Ability to work flexibly and independently where necessary
• Enthusiasm, imagination and initiative

Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document, which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification

We would welcome the opportunity for you to talk to us about the role or arrange an informal visit with one of the team – please contact Delma McDermott ([email protected]) to arrange.

Working for our organisation

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, St George’s Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital, and many health clinics across the Wandsworth borough. 

The Children’s Therapy team consists of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. Therapists work in multi-disciplinary/multi agency teams across the borough of Wandsworth.

We have a range of working parties to ensure we are utilising best practice including:

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Developmental Language Disorder
• Gestalt Language Processing
• Neurodiversity
• Bilingualism

We are very proud of our inclusive and proactive team of therapists and assistants providing evidence based and informed intervention to Wandsworth’s children.

We will provide:

• The opportunity to work within a highly skilled and experienced team of Speech & Language Therapists. Occupational Therapists and therapy assistants
• Access to a structured and supportive professional development process
• Access to regular line management and clinical supervision
• Wellbeing initiatives including craft and book clubs, team days and a newly started running club
• A fully inclusive therapy team with an award winning Diversity and Inclusion working party