Job summary
- Main area
- Neonatal and Paediatric Dysphagia
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 31.87 hours per week (Working week to include Fridays)
- Job ref
- 333-G-HCS-1130
- Employer
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Northwick Park Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £51,883 - £58,544 per annum pro rata in HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Highly Specialist SLT: Paediatric and NNU Acute
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to work on the Paediatric Ward and Neonatal Unit, providing expert care to babies, children, and young people (BCYP) and their families at Northwick Park Hospital.
You will join a diverse and skilled team of therapists working in hospital settings with BCYP. You will collaborate with Physiotherapists, Dietitians, Psychologists, as well as the Medical and Nursing teams. Additionally, you will maintain strong links with Speech and Language Therapists in Harrow community services.
You will be responsible for providing highly specialist SLT assessment, management, and treatment to BCYP with communication and swallowing difficulties. You will bring highly specialist clinical expertise, with experience of working across a range of conditions and specialisms.
Main duties of the job
- Provide highly specialist assessment, differential diagnosis, and intervention for BCYP with complex communication and swallowing needs in the acute setting.
- Demonstrate flexibility and independently prioritise clinical needs and manage time effectively to ensure a timely and responsive service, including attendance at ward rounds.
- Provide information and highly specialist advice to BCYP, their families, and other professionals involved in their care.
- Participate in multidisciplinary planning and management to achieve BCYP’s goals
- Handle complex issues skilfully, negotiating when necessary, and generating informed, evidence-based solutions to support the best outcomes for BCYP and their families.
- Adapt practice to meet individual BCYP’s circumstances, with due consideration for cultural and linguistic differences.
- Apply highly specialist skills in the assessment and management of BCYP with feeding and swallowing difficulties.
- Maintain a strong commitment to developing expertise in acute paediatric and neonatal dysphagia, ensuring practice is underpinned by the latest evidence-based research.
- Take a leading role in service development within the acute setting and contribute to the design and delivery of specialist training
- Maintain your own CPD and actively contribute to in-service and multidisciplinary training by attending and delivering training sessions for the wider Harrow SLT team.
Working for our organisation
CNWL's Harrow Speech and Language Therapy Team:
- CNWL’s Team of the Year (2023-24)
- A large, supportive, and sociable MDT team with over 35 Paediatric Therapists
- Committed to staff well-being
- Easily accessible via public transport from central London and neighbouring counties
- Providing services across both community and acute settings
We offer:
- A warm welcome
- Flexible working arrangements
- A structured induction programme
- Excellent levels of support and supervision
- A wide range of CPD opportunities
- Easy access to clinical specialists across all areas
- Opportunities to participate in innovative project work across acute and community settings
- We especially welcome applications from individuals who identify as Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we strive to improve representation.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Education & Qualifications (Essential)
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
- Evidence Neonatal SLT competencies
- Postgraduate training in Paediatric Dysphagia (Level 5/C Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Competency Framework)
- Health and Care Professions Council registration – License to Practice
- Registered Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Membership in relevant CEN groups
- Evidence of CPD and relevant short courses in paediatric/infant feeding and children with complex communication needs, special needs, or disabilities
Experience
- Proven postgraduate training and experience with BCYP’s and their families managing dysphagia within an acute setting.
- Experience working within a multidisciplinary team
- Assessment, treatment, and management of BCYP with complex communication difficulties and swallowing needs
- Collaborating with parents, carers, and families
- Clinical documentation: Writing clinical notes and reports
- Experience managing own caseload, teaching professionals and parents, conducting clinical audits, supervising SLTs and SLTAs, training SLT students, and leading audit/research projects
Knowledge & Skills
- Knowledge of relevant assessment tools for premature neonates, infants, and children with complex medical conditions
- Expertise in therapeutic interventions relevant to this client group
- Strong interpersonal skills, including observation, listening, and empathy, ensuring effective communication with BCYP and families
- Excellent written and spoken English with strong verbal and written presentation skills
- Competent IT skills
- Problem-solving and negotiation skills
- Strong analytical and reflective skills
- Organisational skills, with the ability to work in an unpredictable environment and prioritise workload independently
- Understanding of multidisciplinary team roles in an acute setting
- Cultural awareness when working with non-English-speaking service users and diverse backgrounds
- Knowledge of national policies and procedures, particularly safeguarding children, SEN and Disability Act for children, the Children and Families Act 2014, UNICEF BFI, and FIC
- Understanding of clinical governance and audit principles
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy
- Degree Qualification or equivalent
- Neonatal SLT competencies
- Postgraduate training in Paediatric Dysphagia
- (Level 5/C Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Competency Framework)
- Completion of relevant courses relating to the clinical area of specialism e.g. infant feeding, Soffi / FIC Level 1 /Trauma informed care.
- Health and Care Professions Council registration – License to Practice
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Membership of relevant CEN groups
- Evidence of relevant short courses and continuing professional development in paediatric/infant feeding and children with complex communication difficulties, special needs/disability
Desirable criteria
- Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent
Knowledge/ Skills
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to premature neonates and infants with complex medical difficulties.
- Well-established knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the above client groups
- Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills and ability to communicate with CYP and families
- Good written and spoken English with excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal.
- Competent IT skills
- Good negotiation and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills
- Good organisational skills with the ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own workload
- Working knowledge of the roles: • of other professionals in the multidisciplinary team Involved in acute setting.
- Understanding of differences of working with non English-speaking service users and those from diverse cultures.
- Established knowledge of national policies and procedures, in particular safeguarding children, SEN and Disability Act for children, the Children and Families Act 2014 and foundation stage and National Curriculum.
- Understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven post graduate training and experience with premature babies, BCYP’s and their families managing dysphagia and communication within an Acute setting
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Extensive specialist clinical experience of: Assessment, treatment and management of preterm babies and BCYP’s with dysphagia, communication difficulties across arrange of conditions and needs.
- Collaborative with parents/carers and families.
- Effective clinical note and report writing
- Managing own caseload
- Teaching other professionals/parents
- Clinical audits
- Clinical supervision of SLTs and SLTAs
- Teaching and Supervising SLT students
- Lead audit/research projects
- Managing complex conversations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Melanie Terris
- Job title
- Principal Speech and Language Therapist
- Email address
- m.terris@nhs.net
- Telephone number
- 0203 911 6988
List jobs with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors