Join Our Team

Words First is growing and we’re in search of therapists from all over the world to join our amazing team

We are experienced and passionate about recruiting and training international therapists.

Words First is an approved visa sponsor. Through the Skilled Worker visa sponsorship programme, we can employ HCPC registered therapists or those eligible for HCPC registration.

We recruit throughout the year, and you do not have to wait for an advertised position to get in touch.

All therapists undergo an extensive onboarding process to help you understand the UK education system and special educational needs provision.

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Interested in joining our team?

We can make these promises:
  • If successful, you will have a permanent contract of employment, following a six-month probationary period.
  • We have rigorous clinical supervision, mentoring and continuing professional development for all our team members so you feel ready and able to support our schools and students.
  • If you need to apply for HCPC registration, your supervisor will provide the guidance you need, including reviewing and signing off reports, until you’re fully registered.
  • We believe in building a team around every therapist and regularly have team building opportunities and social meet ups so you can feel part of the Words First family.

It’s never too early to start the conversation!

Contact recruitment@wordsfirst.uk for an informal chat or send your CV for an advertised role and have a more detailed discussion with us.

Send Us Your CV

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Equity

As a Words First employee, we want you to be engaged in your professional development and build your career with us. We take care to create a culture that is fair and motivating, with every employee having the same level of access and opportunity for success and professional growth.

Diversity

Words First actively seeks to employ skilled and talented professionals from diverse backgrounds who can bring with them different perspectives and new ideas to better support the various communities we partner with. We provide an equal opportunity to be hired whatever your race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and religion.

Inclusion

We want you to feel valued, welcomed, respected and heard. Every member of the Words First family has an equal voice and can contribute to the success of the company.

We understand the drawbacks of siloed ways of working and combat this with regular get togethers in teams, as a whole company, and organise social meet ups for those who wish to develop friendships further.

Don’t just take our word for it, have a ​ ​sneak peek at some of the Words First’s fun happening after school hours!

You’re right for us if:

  • You are HCPC registered or eligible for HCPC UK registration.
  • You want to work in mainstream and special needs schools.
  • You are open to receiving clinical supervision and constructive feedback.
  • You choose Words First over and above all other options available to you
  • You agree with and adhere to our ​​values.
WHY CHOOSE US

Frequently Asked Questions

You will be assigned a school or small group of schools that you will look after for the year ahead. These may be mainstream, Additional Resource Provisions, or specialist provisions. Your timetable will be consistent and will not involve moving between different schools in one day. We aim to keep the commute to under one hour for you.
All employed professionals undertake a rigorous on-boarding process and induction training before you begin working in schools. This includes training regarding the Words First interdisciplinary therapeutic approach as well as information about the UK educational system and special educational needs provision. If you are newly qualified, you will focus on the transition from student to professional and will receive the necessary support to achieve competencies. More experienced therapists of more than one year qualified will complete Professional Development Plans designed around your developing areas of clinical interest. You will then receive a CPD budget to spend on courses and training in line with your PDP.
You will work with a wide range of children with diverse needs including neurodivergence, literacy difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, developmental language delay, learning difficulties, as well as students who use Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and those that have complex needs.

Our clinical supervision has been refined over many years into what we believe is an outstanding offer for all professionals. We tailor the support depending on your needs and experience. For example, as a newly qualified therapist, you will receive half a day a week from your Clinical Lead Therapist. If you’re a more experienced therapist, you may only need half-termly supervision sessions.

At any given moment, help is just an email, call or Teams message away. Over and above our clinical supervision, each new professional is assigned a Words First mentor and attends a structured course on peer supervision.

You will have protected admin sessions built into your timetable and the amount of time set aside for this will depend on your level of experience. If you’re newly qualified, you may have one fully paid day per week for admin and planning. As you progress, your ability to plan and organise your work will change, and you won’t require as much time for admin.

We encourage all our therapists to seek support as soon as possible if they feel they are not coping with their administrative load. Your Clinical Leader will be able to support you, advise on streamlining your processes, and ensure there is a clear way of managing expectations from your schools.

Words First is a warm, supportive and understanding employer with policies and procedures in place to help look after your mental and emotional wellbeing. A huge part of this is by feeling valued, respected and listened to – this rings true no matter what level you’re at in the company. Every team meeting incorporates elements of our Mental Health Toolkit, and you will always find a listening ear and supportive team when you need them most

At Words First we value a healthy work-life balance and endeavour to ensure that all our professionals can manage their workload and sometimes the stress that comes with working in schools and with children with multiple needs.

Career progression opportunities are numerous at Words First. We take a special interest in your career goals and actively support you to meet these through your unique Professional Development Plan.

We use pay scales that mirror NHS Agenda for Change banding and provide opportunities for further development via research, leadership and other additional responsibilities.

Words First is a dynamic, innovative company that continuously seeks to improve and expand its service and outcomes for schools and students. We celebrate differences in our staff and look to make the best of each individual’s unique strengths and talents. If you consider yourself to be a forward-thinking therapist, eager to learn and develop new skills, there are plenty of projects, additional roles and opportunities to allow you to thrive. We want you to be able to progress within the company and therefore have a structure in place to support this.