Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job summary
Full Time 37.5 hours per week

Devons Wellbeing Service is transforming how we support children and families, and we're looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join us on this journey.

Main duties of the job
You will join a multidisciplinary team providing assessment, intervention and consultation to children, young people and the adults who support them.

This is an opportunity to be part of a restorative, relational and trauma-informed service working with children and young people who are on the edge of care, returning home, in care or leaving care. Working alongside practitioners from a range of professional backgrounds, you will help ensure children receive the right support at the right time.

We recognise the vital role communication plays in children's relationships, wellbeing and life chances. Your expertise will help ensure communication needs are identified, understood and responded to effectively, particularly for children experiencing adversity and complex family circumstances. This is a unique opportunity to bring speech and language therapy into the heart of children's social care, influencing practice across the workforce and helping shape an innovative approach to supporting children and families across Devon.

About us

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages.
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Councils use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice.
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page.
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time. UK Right to Work is required. For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• This role requires a DBS disclosure.

Details
Date posted: 26 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: F0011-26-10848
Job locations: County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4QD, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent.
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses relating to paediatric communication disorders including Learning Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Desirable

• Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs).

Experience
Essential

• Highly developed specialist knowledge and skills on the links between SLCN, SEMH and trauma.
• Highly developed specialist knowledge of independent management of complex and highly specialised caseloads.
• Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment and therapeutic tools with the ability to be flexible and adapt when young people are not always able to engage in formal assessment.
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal, ability to plan workshops and teaching sessions appropriately for a variety of personnel or groups.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working across a range of contexts, e.g. education, social care and other specialist settings.

Desirable

• Competence in delivering language development training to both professional and untrained staff in the community.
• Experience supervising speech and language therapy programme implementation by early years and mainstream school staff.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and 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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Devon County Council
Address: County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4QD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Emma Black, Emma.Black@devon.gov.uk

Supporting links
Please apply on Devon Jobs

Devon County Council's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)