Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with certificate of sponsorship to the UK
Visa Information
Important visa information: This employer is offering a certificate of sponsorship for international candidates. However, applicants must verify their eligibility for UK work permits directly with the employer before applying. The certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee a visa, and candidates should ensure they meet all UK Visas and Immigration requirements.
Join Our Team as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and passionate Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our mainstream school team based in East Berkshire. This is an exciting opportunity to work with children and young people in a supportive environment that values your professional development.
As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, you will have the opportunity to work as part of an experienced team of therapists, enjoying independence and autonomy to manage your own caseload. You will be expected to deliver a high standard of speech and language therapy care to children and young people with a range of needs.
This position is ideal for candidates who have a real passion for seeing children and young people reach their full potential. We are committed to the development of our staff and offer flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.
About Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust, rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We are committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire and offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people can flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are centered on caring for and about our service users, being committed to providing good quality, safe services, and working together to develop innovative solutions. As an employer, we are dedicated to creating a sense of belonging and supporting our staff to thrive.
Main Duties of the Job
As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, your key responsibilities will include providing high quality assessment and interventions for children and young people. You will function as a specialist autonomous clinician, supporting the delivery of the CYPIT model and providing support to more junior staff and students.
You will contribute to defined projects and service development initiatives as requested, maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records, and provide written therapy plans and reports. This includes contributing to the EHCAssessment process and tribunals as required.
Using needs-led, impact-based clinical decision making and associated outcome measures, you will provide specialist clinical care including assessment, diagnosis and intervention. You will also play a key role in evaluating and managing a range of developmental speech, language and communication conditions.
Person Specification: Education and Qualifications
To be considered for this position, you must possess a professional qualification as a Speech and Language Therapist and have professional knowledge acquired through a degree. You should have postgraduate clinical experience in a relevant professional background and be able to demonstrate required clinical knowledge of up to date speech and language interventions and service issues.
Essential to this role is having an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people. While not essential, having completed a Clinical Educators course would be advantageous. All candidates must have current UK professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Recognised Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in relevant Children’s therapy interventions is also essential for this position. We are looking for candidates who demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development in their field.
Person Specification: Experience
Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience as a Speech and Language Therapist, with experience in assessing and treating children and young people across a range of settings. You should also have experience of working with families from a wide variety of backgrounds including different ages and ethnicities.
Experience with developing and delivering training programmes to support service delivery is essential. You should be able to demonstrate familiarity with a range of standardised and non-standardised assessment tools relevant to speech and language therapy interventions.
Experienced candidates should be able to demonstrate a commitment to integrated working and close partnership working with external partners. This experience is crucial for ensuring seamless care for the children and young people we support.
Person Specification: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Candidates must evidence a value system which puts the child at the heart of their actions. You should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people and show evidence of understanding and application of impact-based Care Planning approaches.
Proficiency in using IT to support and innovate clinical development is essential. You should have excellent, succinct written and verbal communication skills and be able to work in a calm and confident manner in stressful situations.
The ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team is crucial. You should demonstrate knowledge of current professional and statutory issues and show the ability to work across professional boundaries to effect seamless family care.
Self-motivation and the ability to act as a role model to others in adopting change are important qualities we are looking for in our Specialist Speech and Language Therapists.
Person Specification: Additional Requirements
Candidates must be a car driver with access to their own vehicle and willingness to work across Berkshire as required. This is essential for the role as it involves travel between different locations to provide services.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential. You should be able to deliver presentations to a high standard, as this may be required when working with families, schools, and other professionals.
The ability to maintain professional boundaries and demonstrate a commitment to confidentiality is paramount in this role. You should be able to work independently while also collaborating effectively within a team environment.
Salary and Benefits
This position offers a competitive salary ranging from £40,617 to £48,778 per annum, pro rata (including HCAS). The salary is based on the Agenda for Change pay scale, and your exact salary will depend on your experience and qualifications.
As an NHS employee, you will have access to a comprehensive benefits package including 27 days’ annual leave (rising with length of service), with the opportunity to buy and sell additional leave. You will also be eligible for a generous NHS pension scheme.
Other benefits include flexible working options to support work-life balance, access to a range of wellbeing tools and services, and discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants. We also offer staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment, and armed forces community to support equality.
Working Pattern and Contract
This is a part-time position with a fixed-term contract of 1 year. Our core working hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 – 17:00, but we can offer some flexibility around this. The role will involve some travel but also offers opportunities for flexible working arrangements.
We understand the importance of work-life balance and strive to accommodate reasonable requests for flexible working where possible. This includes options for compressed hours, term-time working, and job sharing, subject to service needs.
All employees are entitled to generous maternity, paternity, adoption, and special leave. We also offer free parking across Trust sites and access to a ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme and car leasing options, including electric vehicles.
Location
The position is based at CYPIT East Berkshire in Bracknell, with postcode RG12 7FR. The Children’s and Young People’s Integrated Therapy (CYPIT) service works across mainstream and special schools, early years settings, and children’s centers in East Berkshire.
While the base is in Bracknell, the role will require traveling to various locations across East Berkshire to provide services to children and young people in different settings. This is why a full UK driving license and access to a vehicle are essential requirements for this position.
The East Berkshire area offers excellent transport links, good schools, and a high quality of life. It is conveniently located with easy access to London, Reading, and other major towns and cities in the South East of England.
How to Apply
Application Process
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and search for reference number 371-TAP-CFS6241. You will need to complete an online application form and provide a supporting statement that demonstrates how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. Your supporting statement should highlight your relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
For international applicants, please ensure you include information about your eligibility to work in the UK and any previous experience working within the UK healthcare system, if applicable. You should also mention any specific experience you have working with diverse populations and children with complex needs.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, please contact Jamie Poole, Talent Acquisition Partner, at jamie.poole@berkshire.nhs.uk. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments you may require during the application process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We welcome conversations about flexibility and any other questions you may have about the role. For additional inquiries, you may also contact Nicki Thorpe on 07866003162 or email nicki.thorpe@berkshire.nhs.uk.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may only be able to contact shortlisted candidates. If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of the application deadline, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 09 February 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high number of applications.
Late applications will not be considered, so we recommend ensuring your application is submitted well before the deadline. You will receive an automated email confirmation once your application has been successfully submitted.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, which may be conducted in person or via video conferencing depending on circumstances. The interview process may include a practical assessment as well as formal interview questions.
Privacy Notice
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is committed to protecting your data and privacy. For information about how we handle your personal information during the recruitment process, please refer to our privacy notice available on our website: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/about-us/about-us/protecting-your-data-privacy-notice/
Your personal information will be used solely for the purpose of processing your job application and will be held securely in accordance with data protection legislation. We will not share your information with third parties without your consent, except where required by law.
UK Registration Requirement
Applicants must have current UK professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to be eligible for this position. For overseas qualified therapists seeking registration with the HCPC, please visit the NHS Careers website for further information: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/overseas-health-professionals
The process of obtaining HCPC registration can take several months, so we recommend starting this process as early as possible if you are not currently registered. The certificate of sponsorship for this role is dependent on you obtaining your HCPC registration.
Once you have been offered the position and your certificate of sponsorship has been issued, you will need to apply to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for the appropriate visa to work in the UK. This may require additional documentation and fees.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. As such, it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
All offers of employment are conditional upon the satisfactory completion of a DBS check. The nature of any information revealed on the check will be considered in relation to the requirements of the role.
For international applicants, you may also be required to provide certificates of good conduct from countries where you have lived. This is particularly important for those who have resided outside of the UK for significant periods.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is able to offer a certificate of sponsorship to international candidates who are successful in their application for this position. This certificate will allow you to apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK.
Please note that the certificate of sponsorship does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa. You must still meet all the requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration, including English language requirements and financial maintenance requirements.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
Why Choose Berkshire Healthcare?
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), reflecting our commitment to providing high-quality care to the communities we serve. As an employer, we are proud to offer an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people can flourish.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations, including Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are centered on caring for and about our service users, being committed to providing good quality, safe services, and working together to develop innovative solutions. We believe in supporting our staff to reach their full potential through ongoing learning and development opportunities.
Career Development Opportunities
As a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Berkshire Healthcare, you will have access to excellent learning and career development opportunities. We are committed to the development of our staff and offer various training programs, mentorship schemes, and continuing education opportunities.
Our service has strong links with local universities and provides opportunities for clinical supervision, peer support, and professional networking. We also encourage participation in service development projects and research initiatives to enhance your professional skills and knowledge.
We support staff pursuing advanced clinical practice and offer opportunities to develop specialist skills in areas such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), dysphagia management, and complex communication needs. Our aim is to help you build a rewarding and successful career within our organization.