Speech and Language Therapy Band 6

SL2 is a new setting being developed by the organisation with students coming onboard new to the setting. Similar range of needs. In short it’s a specialist post-16 setting for young people aged approximately 16–25 with SEND . The caseload is therefore likely to be quite different from a mainstream school caseload, with therapy needing to be functional, age-appropriate and closely linked to independence, adulthood and preparation for life beyond education . Therapists should expect young people with a range of communication profiles and levels of need , potentially including autism, learning disabilities, receptive and expressive language difficulties, social communication needs, speech difficulties and young people who use or benefit from AAC/visual communication approaches. SLT input is likely to focus particularly on functional communication : understanding and expressing needs, self-advocacy, social interaction, emotional vocabulary, accessing learning, communicating in the community and workplace, and developing independence. Some learners may require individualised communication systems or environmental adaptations, while others may need higher-level language and social communication support. Because this is a 16–25 provision , therapists should ensure resources and approaches are developmentally appropriate without appearing childish . Intervention should wherever possible relate to real-life situations such as college routines, friendships and relationships, travel, work experience, employment, community access and communicating choices. Therapists should also expect to work collaboratively with education staff , embedding strategies into the learner’s everyday programme. In short: this would suit a therapist who is confident working with post-16 SEND, autism/learning needs, functional communication and potentially AAC , and who enjoys a practical, collaborative and independence-focused model of therapy.