Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist Complex Needs Dysphagia

NHS; St Albans; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust is seeking a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join their Children and Young People's Therapies Service. This role involves providing clinical support for children with complex communication needs, conducting assessments, and working within a multidisciplinary team to enhance care delivery.

Benefits

High Cost Area Supplement

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy with specialist knowledge in paediatric SLCN.
• Continued Professional Development in dysphagia.
• Experience in carrying out complex dysphagia assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical support for children with complex communication needs.
• Conduct specialist assessments for eating and drinking management.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Communication

Clinical Reasoning

Organisational Skills

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC Licence to Practice

Job description

Job summary

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust's Children and Young People's Therapies (CYPT) Service is excited to be offering a new Band 7 opportunity within it's Speech and Language Therapy Team. We are looking to recruit to an experienced SLT with specialist skills in dysphagia, and who has experience working with children and young people (CYP) with complex communication needs associated with a range of medical conditions, including those who require Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC).

This permanent post is 1.0 WTE. The postholder will:

• provide clinical support for CYP across West Herts (St Albans/Hemel Hempstead) andundertake specialist feeding and swallowing difficulties assessments to identify and manage risk for infants and children within this locality.
• provide sessions within a specialist school for pupils with a wide range of complex and profound learning difficulties in St Albans.
• provide professional support to less experienced SLT/SLT Assistants in the locality.
• work autonomously and as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team.

If you are looking to extend your leadership skills and continue to develop your specialist clinical skills, this opportunity could be just right for you.

*Proposed interview date: 11-June-2025*

Main duties of the job

As a band 7 you will:

• Work within a multidisciplinary team in community and specialist provisions, working with other health, education, and social care professionals, to carry out specialist assessments of CYP with complex communication needs, including AAC and eating and drinking needs.
• Triage and prioritise referrals based on identified risk and ensure assessments are completed within required timeframes.
• Provide eating and drinking management plans to minimise aspiration risk and optimise safe and efficient eating and drinking, including referrals onto other services as required / indicated.
• To establish and support the delivery of dysphagia service offer for specialist provisions across universal, targeted and specialist levels in the locality.
• Complete communication assessments as part of the EHCP process.
• Provide second opinions for children with complex needs and/or eating and drinking needs attending mainstream schools and other specialist provisions.
• Work collaboratively with highly specialist SLT colleagues to develop the service and ensure best practice and delivery of high-quality care systems.
• Provide professional support and supervision to less experienced colleagues and support the development of dysphagia competencies within the teams as indicated/appropriate.

About us

• If you are looking for somewhere to make a real difference and are passionate about helping CYP access the right support at the right time to help them stay safe, and thrive in their development, a career with us may be just what you're looking for. At HCT we strive to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of our communities.
• We are proud to be an organisation which focuses on our people, and we welcome people who share our values to come and work with us.
• Our shared values support the development of a strong working culture, guiding and inspiring all of our actions and decisions. They enable us to be better at what we do ensuring we provide the highest quality of care to our patients.
• Our patients, their families and carers are at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities.
• Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision.
• We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages.
• You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.

Details Date posted

21 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

812-25-KWCYP24

Job locations

Sandridge Gate

St Albans

AL4 9XR

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

You will be joining an innovative and agile CYP Therapies service committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.

Successful candidates will be enthusiastic and motivated. Advanced communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of children and young people through upskilling the wider workforce. As a highly specialist SLT, there will be opportunities for you to facilitate professional supervision groups and provide managerial supervision to less experienced colleagues.

You will be joining a well-established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride ourselves on the support we provide to staff. Please see below comments from a current member of the team:

I love working in CYPT/HCT - everyone in the team is super dedicated. There is strong management support, but also space for being flexible and creative to meet childrens needs; innovation & good practice is valued and encouraged. I enjoy & appreciate the robust supervision structures, training in supervision & coaching, and the many opportunities for personal development and learning, including for example in-house training days and tutorials. I have worked in many teams across Hertfordshire, all without exception friendly and welcoming. There is an ethos of peer support and encouragement & sharing learning; everyone works hard but there is a sense of belonging and always time for a quick chat and plenty of laughs. I feel valued here and I value my lovely colleagues and the fabulous children & young people we work with.

If you have any questions at all or you would like to come and visit us, please do contact us - we are only too happy to help and would love to tell you more about our Service.

Applications for full time and part time work will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,192 and a maximum payment of £2,011 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

If you would like to contact us for further information about this post, please contact Katie Tucker, Operational Manager, on 07833 237273.

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

You will be joining an innovative and agile CYP Therapies service committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.

Successful candidates will be enthusiastic and motivated. Advanced communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of children and young people through upskilling the wider workforce. As a highly specialist SLT, there will be opportunities for you to facilitate professional supervision groups and provide managerial supervision to less experienced colleagues.

You will be joining a well-established, supportive team of therapists and assistants. CYP Therapies at HCT pride ourselves on the support we provide to staff. Please see below comments from a current member of the team:

I love working in CYPT/HCT - everyone in the team is super dedicated. There is strong management support, but also space for being flexible and creative to meet childrens needs; innovation & good practice is valued and encouraged. I enjoy & appreciate the robust supervision structures, training in supervision & coaching, and the many opportunities for personal development and learning, including for example in-house training days and tutorials. I have worked in many teams across Hertfordshire, all without exception friendly and welcoming. There is an ethos of peer support and encouragement & sharing learning; everyone works hard but there is a sense of belonging and always time for a quick chat and plenty of laughs. I feel valued here and I value my lovely colleagues and the fabulous children & young people we work with.

If you have any questions at all or you would like to come and visit us, please do contact us - we are only too happy to help and would love to tell you more about our Service.

Applications for full time and part time work will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,192 and a maximum payment of £2,011 per annum (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

If you would like to contact us for further information about this post, please contact Katie Tucker, Operational Manager, on 07833 237273.

Person Specification Qualifications and Training Essential

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy with experience and highly specialist knowledge in paediatric speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) acquired through further theoretical training, and experience to Master's level or equivalent relevant to complex communication needs and Paediatric dysphagia.
• Continued Professional Development in the area of dysphagia as evidenced by attendance at specialist postgraduate courses and/or completion of Dysphagia Practitioner competencies (RCSLT eating, drinking and swallowing competency framework) and membership of relevant CENs to maintain and develop specialist knowledge and expertise.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent (post graduate diploma or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy leading to registration with HCPC)
• HCPC Licence to Practice, Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Membership of relevant CEN.

Experience and Knowledge Essential

• Experience of carrying out complex dysphagia assessments and differential diagnosis in identifying aspiration risk to provide comprehensive management plan to effectively optimise safe and efficient eating and drinking, including referrals into other service professionals as required
• Experience of delivering specialist training to peers and other professionals in the area of eating and drinking/dysphagia.
• In depth and expert knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to the service, and high level clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and intervention.
• Working knowledge of electronic patient record system.
• Evidence of involvement in service policy development in area of specialism.
• Knowledge of NHS, Education Policy and directives including Tribunals where these impact on area of specialism or service delivery.
• Experience of supervising students and less experienced staff.

Desirable

• To demonstrate some knowledge of power-based AAC including hardware, software and access methods and have experience of supporting CYP with complex needs who require a range of AAC.

Skills and abilities Essential

• Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels across organisations and with a range of audiences.
• Knowledge of barriers to understanding and ability to explain complex issues simply.
• Able to analyse and interpret complex data
• Excellent group presentation skills both written and verbal, as well as computer literate including use of Excel spreadsheets, databases and PowerPoint, Word.
• Knowledge of barriers to understanding & ability to explain complex issues simply.

Other Essential

• Hold a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Person Specification Qualifications and Training Essential

• Degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy with experience and highly specialist knowledge in paediatric speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) acquired through further theoretical training, and experience to Master's level or equivalent relevant to complex communication needs and Paediatric dysphagia.
• Continued Professional Development in the area of dysphagia as evidenced by attendance at specialist postgraduate courses and/or completion of Dysphagia Practitioner competencies (RCSLT eating, drinking and swallowing competency framework) and membership of relevant CENs to maintain and develop specialist knowledge and expertise.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent (post graduate diploma or MSc in Speech and Language Therapy leading to registration with HCPC)
• HCPC Licence to Practice, Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Membership of relevant CEN.

Experience and Knowledge Essential

• Experience of carrying out complex dysphagia assessments and differential diagnosis in identifying aspiration risk to provide comprehensive management plan to effectively optimise safe and efficient eating and drinking, including referrals into other service professionals as required
• Experience of delivering specialist training to peers and other professionals in the area of eating and drinking/dysphagia.
• In depth and expert knowledge of a range of appropriate assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to the service, and high level clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and intervention.
• Working knowledge of electronic patient record system.
• Evidence of involvement in service policy development in area of specialism.
• Knowledge of NHS, Education Policy and directives including Tribunals where these impact on area of specialism or service delivery.
• Experience of supervising students and less experienced staff.

Desirable

• To demonstrate some knowledge of power-based AAC including hardware, software and access methods and have experience of supporting CYP with complex needs who require a range of AAC.

Skills and abilities Essential

• Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels across organisations and with a range of audiences.
• Knowledge of barriers to understanding and ability to explain complex issues simply.
• Able to analyse and interpret complex data
• Excellent group presentation skills both written and verbal, as well as computer literate including use of Excel spreadsheets, databases and PowerPoint, Word.
• Knowledge of barriers to understanding & ability to explain complex issues simply.

Other Essential

• Hold a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

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.

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 the 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).

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.

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 the 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).

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

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address

Sandridge Gate

St Albans

AL4 9XR

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address

Sandridge Gate

St Albans

AL4 9XR

Employer's website

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