Principal Speech and Language Therapist

GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pediatric hospital in the UK is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist to lead and optimize care in the Cleft Lip and Palate service. This position requires a high level of experience in speech sound disorders, with responsibilities including managing a multidisciplinary team and overseeing service improvement initiatives. The hospital emphasizes diversity and inclusion, striving to create a workforce as varied as the communities it serves. This role is predominantly on-site during the initial months to ensure training and support.

Qualifications

• High level of experience in speech sound disorders and cleft palate speech is essential.
• Proven track record of supervising staff.
• Experience working collaboratively in a clinical environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-level specialist assessment and management of speech sound disorders.
• Oversee the operational management of the Cleft SLT service.
• Lead dashboard outcome analysis and contribute to service improvement projects.

Job description

Ready to lead, inspire and thrive? An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within the Cleft Lip and Palate/Velopharyngeal Dysfunction service, which is part of the Surgical Speech and Hearing Services. You will join a dynamic Multi‑Disciplinary Team with a broad range of specialist skills that delivers tertiary level care to children with complex medical conditions. A high level of experience in speech sound disorders and cleft palate speech is essential for this post. The caseload is predominantly CYP from birth‑22 years with the opportunity to work in transition clinics. Your job plan incorporates 75% patient‑related activity and will work Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri. The team works predominantly on site; the first three months of this post will be onsite to facilitate upskilling and familiarisation with Trust systems and processes. The Speech and Language Therapy Service has a professional lead and additional leadership from a Head of Therapies and the Trust's Chief AHP. We work jointly with our AHP colleagues to support Research, Education, Quality Assurance, Outcomes and Workforce agendas and are embedding Clinical Academic pathways and Apprenticeships. We are keen to attract those with previous experience of working with CYP. You will have a proven track record of supervising staff. You will work collaboratively to coordinate expert and efficient clinical care across the surgical speech specialities with direct management support from the Team Lead for Surgical Speech Services.

Responsibilities

• High level specialist assessment, management and treatment of complex cases of speech sound disorder (SSDs) arising from velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) and differential diagnosis from other SSDs
• To take lead responsibility for the operational management of the Cleft SLT service, liaising with other SLT clinical experts to coordinate and optimise the use of resources across the SSH service
• To oversee the prioritisation and operational delivery of the VPD caseload for the VP Investigations Clinic, working closely the Team Lead for SSH
• To lead the CRANE/dashboard outcome analysis through consensus listening coordination, registry reporting, outcome analysis and collaboration with the Team lead, Clinical Director and wider Cleft MDT
• To undertake a leadership role for Cleft SLT service within SSH, supporting the team lead to provide a high quality, cohesive service
• To delegate responsibilities within the Cleft SLT team, reporting into the Team Lead in regular meetings to aid service development and change implementation
• To contribute to coordinated and efficient care pathways within the Cleft specialty and SSH service
• To keep the SSH Team Lead informed of significant service issues, including shortfall, service pressures, complaints and plaudits, and to support them in the transformation of the wider SSH service, providing reports of highly specialist caseload when requested
• To undertake service improvement projects in collaboration with SLT and MDT colleague

Diversity and Inclusion

We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we'll have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care.

Our hospital is committed to creating an environment that is open and inclusive. Our staff are encouraged to engage with colleagues through the following networks: REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities & Leveraging Disabilities Network), PRIDE and Women's networks; all of which are sponsored by a member of our Executive Management Team. We want to ensure that all of our people, regardless of their background, are seen and heard. We want to attract applicants that share our commitment to inclusion and that understand diversity is a strength that is embraced and valued.