Central London Community Health Trust

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist – Complex Needs & Dysphagia

The closing date is 22 June 2025

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced, innovative, and passionate Speech and Language Therapist to join our Paediatric Dysphagia team and Early Years Communication team working within the Inner London boroughs of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. This role offers the opportunity to work in partnership with parents/carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, and schools to deliver a high-quality service. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and skills in paediatric dysphagia, preferably equivalent to level C or above of the RCSLT dysphagia competencies.

For further information about working in our team, please take a look at our recruitment video:CLCH S&L Recruitment - YouTube

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for:

  • Providing specialist assessment, diagnosis and intervention to children and young people with dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing disorders). The role will include supporting parents, clients and other professionals in all issues related to client management. Liaison with the MDT is an integral part of the role.
  • You will provide assessment, diagnosis and intervention for pre-school children with complex needs on the Early Years caseload within Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.
  • Contributing to developments within the Early Years and Dysphagia team including the development of policies and procedures relating to clinical care, evidence-based practice, care pathways and outcome development. You will contribute to Trust, service and professional wide initiatives.
  • Providing support to other speech and language therapists and support in the training and development of SLT students.
  • Delivering training/courses to staff as relevant to the post to a variety of audiences e.g. parents and staff in school settings.

About us

Just as we care about our patients' well-being, we care about yours!

We can offer you:

  • A comprehensive induction into the community service followed by a local induction to introduce you to the role
  • Car lease scheme(only available for Band 5 and up)
  • Flexible working options
  • Annual travel card loan
  • Training, support and development in your career

To have a full look at our benefits and what it's like working for us please go here: https://www.clch.nhs.uk/job/pay-and-benefits

Details

Date posted

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year per annum, inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

824-INNER-7248566

Job locations

Woodfield Road Medical Centre

7e Woodfield Road

London

W9 3XZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to Job Description and Person Specification for outline of skills, knowledge and experience required.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to Job Description and Person Specification for outline of skills, knowledge and experience required.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

  • Recognised SLT degree or equivalent
  • Health Care Professionals Council Licence to Practice
  • Current registered membership of HCPC and RCSLT

Desirable

  • Evidence of competency level C of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework
  • Advanced dysphagia qualification /post graduate paediatric dysphagia training e.g. Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course
  • Evidence of completion of highly specialist short courses in dysphagia management
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Masters degree or equivalent
  • Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs)

Experience

Essential

  • Post graduate paediatric dysphagia experience including non-oral feeding
  • In-depth experience within specialist area/area of service delivery and dysphagia
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working
  • Experience of providing a range of care planning necessary to address the dysphagia and complex needs of children and young people
  • Experience of assessment to identify the communication needs of children and young people on the caseload
  • Experience of planning, organising and delivering training programmes
  • Experience of supporting children, families and schools in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 including contribution to statutory assessments (Education Health and Care Plan Needs Assessments), contribution to the annual review process and delivery of SALT provision as specified in Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Desirable

  • Experience working as a specialist speech & language therapist in relevant clinical specialism in last 12 months

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrates analytical and reflection skills
  • Able to synthesise and present complex information at a service level
  • Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance relevant to care setting and its application across health care services
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
  • Knowledge of National Policies and Procedures relevant to Health, Social Services and Education
  • Knowledge of standards of record keeping and ability to audit this in own team
  • Excellent organisational, prioritisation skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others
  • Well established knowledge of a broad range assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
  • Knowledge of general developmental and SLT specific milestones
  • Religious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management
  • Knowledge of and adherence to professional standards as set out by HCPC

Key Attributes

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
  • Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and ability to facilitate these skills in others
  • Demonstrates the ability to be a good team member
  • Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area
  • Responsive to change and ideas and adaptive and creative within new systems
  • Pro-active in identifying change to progress service delivery, negotiating with others for an action plan and completion
  • Ability to deal with and resolve conflict
  • Sensitivity to others' differing needs
  • Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
  • Well-developed concentration skills
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
  • Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
  • Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
  • Manual dexterity sufficient to carry out physical swallowing assessment, use high- and low-tech assessment equipment and signing
  • IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes
Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

  • Recognised SLT degree or equivalent
  • Health Care Professionals Council Licence to Practice
  • Current registered membership of HCPC and RCSLT

Desirable

  • Evidence of competency level C of the RCSLT Dysphagia Competency Framework
  • Advanced dysphagia qualification /post graduate paediatric dysphagia training e.g. Manchester Post Basic Dysphagia Course
  • Evidence of completion of highly specialist short courses in dysphagia management
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Masters degree or equivalent
  • Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks (CENs)

Experience

Essential

  • Post graduate paediatric dysphagia experience including non-oral feeding
  • In-depth experience within specialist area/area of service delivery and dysphagia
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter agency working
  • Experience of providing a range of care planning necessary to address the dysphagia and complex needs of children and young people
  • Experience of assessment to identify the communication needs of children and young people on the caseload
  • Experience of planning, organising and delivering training programmes
  • Experience of supporting children, families and schools in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 including contribution to statutory assessments (Education Health and Care Plan Needs Assessments), contribution to the annual review process and delivery of SALT provision as specified in Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Desirable

  • Experience working as a specialist speech & language therapist in relevant clinical specialism in last 12 months

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Demonstrates analytical and reflection skills
  • Able to synthesise and present complex information at a service level
  • Understanding of National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance relevant to care setting and its application across health care services
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
  • Knowledge of National Policies and Procedures relevant to Health, Social Services and Education
  • Knowledge of standards of record keeping and ability to audit this in own team
  • Excellent organisational, prioritisation skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others
  • Well established knowledge of a broad range assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group
  • Knowledge of general developmental and SLT specific milestones
  • Religious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management
  • Knowledge of and adherence to professional standards as set out by HCPC

Key Attributes

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
  • Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations and ability to facilitate these skills in others
  • Demonstrates the ability to be a good team member
  • Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working with key stakeholders in the service area
  • Responsive to change and ideas and adaptive and creative within new systems
  • Pro-active in identifying change to progress service delivery, negotiating with others for an action plan and completion
  • Ability to deal with and resolve conflict
  • Sensitivity to others' differing needs
  • Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
  • Well-developed concentration skills
  • Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
  • Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
  • Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
  • Manual dexterity sufficient to carry out physical swallowing assessment, use high- and low-tech assessment equipment and signing
  • IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Central London Community Health Trust

Address

Woodfield Road Medical Centre

7e Woodfield Road

London

W9 3XZ


Employer's website

https://clch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Central London Community Health Trust

Address

Woodfield Road Medical Centre

7e Woodfield Road

London

W9 3XZ


Employer's website

https://clch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead for Dysphagia and Complex Needs

Sarah O'Mara

sarah.o'mara1@nhs.net

07776685383

Details

Date posted

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year per annum, inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

824-INNER-7248566

Job locations

Woodfield Road Medical Centre

7e Woodfield Road

London

W9 3XZ


Supporting documents

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