Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist - Complex needs and Dysphagia

A Vacancy at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Are you an experienced Speech & Language Therapist who is passionate about working with children and young people with complex needs? Are you looking to work as part of a supportive and integrated team?

We have an exciting opportunity for a fixed term post for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist covering early years complex needs as part of the Dingley Child Development Centre team and Wokingham special schools.

Within this post you will have the opportunity to work as part of an experienced team of therapists, having independence and autonomy to manage your own caseload.

In your role 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, therefore for this role we are looking for someone with a real passion for seeing children and young people reach their potential.

As a service we are committed to the development of our staff.

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.

• Provide high quality assessment and interventions for children and young people with complex presentations, including paediatric dysphagia.
• Function as a specialist autonomous clinician, supporting delivery of the CYPIT model and providing support to more junior staff and students.
• Contribute to defined projects and service development initiatives as requested.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records and provide written therapy plans and reports including contribution to the EHC Assessment process and tribunals as required.
• Use needs-led, impact-based clinical decision making, and associated outcome measures.
• Provide specialist clinical care including assessment, diagnosis and intervention.

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at

Berkshire Healthcare are

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

The “must haves” for this role

1. Be a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, with experience in assessing and treating children and young people across a range of settings with complex needs including eating and drinking difficulties

2. Excellent communication skills

3. Hold a full UK driving license, with access to using a vehicle for work purposes

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it’s important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have.

Please don’t hesitate to call

Sarah Baker on 0300 365 4000 or email: sarah.baker@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

This advert closes on Tuesday 3 Nov 2026