Advanced Speech and Language Therapist- Acute Service

NHS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's healthcare provider is seeking a Speech & Language Therapist for a 12-month fixed-term position, focusing on dysphagia in young patients at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The role involves developing an outpatient service, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and supporting patient care in a dynamic environment. Candidates should be HCPC registered with relevant post-registration qualifications. This is an exciting opportunity to improve the quality of life for children during critical feeding periods.

Qualifications

• Post-registration qualification in paediatric dysphagia is essential.
• Experience of a range of post graduate paediatric experience working as a SLT.
• Evidence of ability to provide support and supervision to others.

Responsibilities

• Develop a highly specialist service for children with complex needs.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for coordinated care.
• Demonstrate clinical effectiveness and engage in research.

Skills

Professional registration as a Speech & Language Therapist

Post-registration qualification in paediatric dysphagia

Experience with complex communication and eating issues

Experience in training professionals

Education

HCPC and Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists registration

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity, made possible through generous BCH charitable funding, has arisen to join the Acute Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) Team based at Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH)! The posts are fixed term for a 12-month period and we are happy to offer the roles as a secondment. We welcome applications from suitably trained dysphagia SLTs who are looking to progress their career, either at a Band 6 or Band 7.

In addition to working with patients with acute feeding, swallowing and acquired communication needs across the wards, there will be the opportunity to work with dysphagic outpatients. We have recently been awarded charitable funding for 1.2 wte dysphagia trained SLTs to help develop and deliver an outpatient service for patients and their families who, during their critical feeding period following discharge and whilst awaiting support from their community SLT, would benefit from assessment and advice to maximise their oral feeding potential and quality of life.

We are looking for compassionate, resilient, and innovative SLTs with some experience and knowledge of working with children with complex dysphagia and communication needs. We are a friendly, sociable and welcoming team who are committed to offering new colleagues support to develop their skills and their ability to provide high quality care to patients within our acute paediatric setting.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the provision and development of a highly specialist service to infants, children and young people with complex dysphagia and acquired communication needs, underpinned by current evidence informed practice.

To work closely and in collaboration with the wider Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT), other professionals including local Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), parents/carers and community teams; to ensure well-coordinated integrated SLT care in an identified specialist clinical area.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness through use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures, own professional development and research activity.

To develop and deliver under the supervision of the Clinical Lead/Inpatient Team Coordinator, a highly specialist out-patient service for dysphagic patients and their families at the point of discharge, to maximise feeding potential and quality of life during the young person's critical period for oral feeding and whilst awaiting ongoing support from their community SLT team.

To undertake and present research and/or audit in specialist clinical area to evaluate the effectiveness of the out-patient dysphagia service in terms of enhancing patient care, and empowering parents/carers to safely and confidently transition their child to oral feeding.

About us

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.

Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.

Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Details

Date posted: 19 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £54,710 a year pro rata (Dependent on experience)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share

Reference number

284-25-7565579-DMRG-A

Job location

Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH

Job description

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.

When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Person Specification

Shortlisting Essential

• Professional registration as a Speech & Language Therapist with the HCPC and the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
• Post-registration qualification in paediatric dysphagia.
• Experience of a range of post graduate paediatric experience working as a SLT with complex communication and eating, drinking and swallowing problems.
• Experience of working as a key member in specialist multi-disciplinary teams.
• Evidence of ability to provide support and supervision to others.
• Experience in training and educating other professionals and carers in the role of Speech and Language Therapy.
• Highly motivated to work with children and young people at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Desirable

• Experience of leading projects in audit and/or research.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Employer details

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH

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