Highly Specialist SLT: Paediatric and NNU Acute

CNWL; London; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 59,000; Part time

Job summary

CNWL seeks a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for the Paediatric Ward and Neonatal Unit at Northwick Park Hospital. This role offers the opportunity to provide expert care to children and young people with communication and swallowing difficulties, while working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment. The ideal candidate will have specialized training and experience in managing dysphagia and a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Structured induction programme

Support and supervision

Wide range of CPD opportunities

Opportunities for innovative project work

Qualifications

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent.
• Evidence of Neonatal SLT competencies.
• Demonstrated experience with BCYP in managing dysphagia.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment and treatment for BCYP with communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead service development and contribute to training.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Problem-solving

Negotiation

Organisational skills

Education

Speech and Language Therapy Degree

Postgraduate training in Paediatric Dysphagia

Health and Care Professions Council registration

Job description

Search here to find a new job, a new career, an opportunity
to up skill or to simply change your career direction.

Become part of our team.
We care for you as much as you care for others.

There’s a place for you at CNWL.

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.
We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

Highly Specialist SLT: Paediatric and NNU Acute

NHS AfC: Band 7

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

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

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
• 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

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy
• Degree Qualification or equivalent
• 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
• Advanced training up to Masters level equivalent

Knowledge/ Skills

• 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.
• 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

• 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
• Managing complex conversations

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.

If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.