Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 289-CS-203
- Employer
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Cross Site -- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital/West Middlesex Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £64,156 - £71,148 per annum incl. HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/11/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 24/11/2025
Employer heading
Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Neonates
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Band 8a - 37.5 hours per week
Cross site - Chelsea and Westminster Hospital / West Middlesex Hospital
We have an exciting opportunity for a neonatal clinical specialist speech and language therapist to work at the Trust in our neonatal units. The postholder will lead on the neonatal speech and language therapy service and be the clinical expert in neonatal SLT for the MDT.
There is a strong emphasis on working with the MDT to support and drive family integrated care principles and support the units with the baby friendly initiative. You will work with the supportive and friendly neonatal MDT which will include a small team of dietitians, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Our level 3 unit at the Chelsea site is the surgical centre for North West London. We are looking for someone with expert skills and knowledge in infant dysphagia management, feeding and swallowing development, early communication. The post holder will also provide input and be an expert resource for the level 2 SCBU at West Middlesex University Hospital.
This is a new clinical specialist role for the Trust and would be an excellent opportunity for someone wishing to work in the neonatal environment, particularly if you're keen on service development and design.
Main duties of the job
- To work as a clinical expert in the field of neonatal speech and language therapy.
- To support and advocate for family integrated care as part of best practice for the unit.
- To lead on the identification of and implementation of early intervention for at risk infants.
- To maintain good communication and relationships with London neonatal operational delivery network leads and maintain a profile within the network.
- To work with neonatology consultants and the wider MDT to ensure a high quality, effective and efficient service to support the infant’s feeding and early communication journey.
- To manage complex and vulnerable infants and any challenging family situations.
- To ensure speech and language clinical guidelines and referral criteria are in-line with latest evidence for acute dysphagia management and early communication.
- To benchmark service provision against national recommendations and develop/advise on any service improvement projects.
- To provide clinical supervision and peer support to teams within the Trust and within local network.
- To be an expert resource for speech and language opinion to the neonatal MDT.
- To be a source of expert opinion both in the Trust and externally.
- To have a high level of understanding of own role and other roles in the neonatal MDT.
- To be involved in family integrated care drivers and new practices.
- To demonstrate motivational leadership and influence change.
- To engage with national neonatal groups.
Working for our organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To be a clinical expert in the field of neonatal speech and language therapy, providing high standard and autonomous specialist assessment, differential diagnosis, advice, goal setting, therapeutic intervention and discharge planning.
- To use advanced clinical assessment, clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based knowledge to assess infants with highly complex conditions and to formulate prognoses and recommendations for best form of clinical management.
- To have expert skills in the areas of complex neonatal dysphagia management, high risk infants, development of feeding and swallowing, early communication and interaction.
- To have expert skills in mnaging neonatal infants with respiratory, gastro-surgical, ENT, and neurological conditions.
- To be able to administer and interpret videofluoroscopy swallow assessment and findings, competent to level 4.
- To have expert skills in supporting lactation and breastfeeding including knowledge of the baby friendly initiative.
- To have expert skills and knowledge in developmental care and family integrated care.
Please see attached JD for more details
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant infant dysphagia experience
- Experience of working in a neonatal unit
- Knowledge of neonatal specific models e.g. FIC, BFI
- Experience of teaching variety of audiences
- Experience of MDT working
- Dysphagia competencies
Desirable criteria
- Experience of establishing new services or managing service change
- Experience in quality improvement and service development
- Experience in research and /or audit
- Experience of a gastro-surgical neonatal unit
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- Speech and Language Therapy degree
- HCPC and RCSLT registration
- MSc or level 7 courses relevant to speciality
- RCSLT level 4 videofluoroscopy competencies
- Leadership course
Desirable criteria
- Membership of clinical interest group
Skills and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Able to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Excellent communication skills
- Advanced clinical reasoning skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Ability to influence and facilitate MDT working
- Effective problem solving skills
- Expert knowledge of evidence based practice
- Excellent teaching and presentation skills
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Excellent communicator and interpersonal skills
- Ability to build strong working relationships
- Enthusiastic/passionate about neonatal care
- Team player
- Self- motivated
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
- Francesca Crosby
- Job title
- Children's Therapy Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07812387632
- Additional information
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