Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Neonates

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare institution in London seeks a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to lead the neonatal SLT service. You will support complex case management and advocate for family-focused care. The ideal candidate will have extensive neonatal experience and demonstrate leadership in clinical practices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care. Flexible working arrangements are supported, and applications are welcomed from all backgrounds.

Qualifications

• To be a clinical expert in neonatal speech and language therapy with high standard assessments.
• Ability to manage newborns with complex health issues.
• Expert skills in lactation support and breastfeeding.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the neonatal speech and language therapy service.
• Support family integrated care practices.
• Provide clinical supervision and peer support.

Skills

Expert skills in complex neonatal dysphagia management

High risk infants assessment

Development of feeding and swallowing

Early communication and interaction

Advanced clinical assessment

Education

Clinical expertise in neonatal speech and language therapy

Job description

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.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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.

Key Qualifications and Experience:

• 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 clinical management.
• Expert skills in complex neonatal dysphagia management, high risk infants, development of feeding and swallowing, early communication and interaction.
• Ability to manage neonatal infants with respiratory, gastro‑surgical, ENT, and neurological conditions.
• Ability to administer and interpret videofluoroscopy swallow assessment (competent to level 4).
• Expert skills in supporting lactation and breastfeeding including knowledge of the baby friendly initiative.
• Expert skills and knowledge in developmental care and family integrated care.

Please see attached JD for more details.

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.

This advert closes on Monday 10 Nov 2025.

Employment is subject to a six‑month probationary period.