Principle Practitioner Dysphagia Speech and Language Therapist

Lancashire Care Foundation Trust; Accrington; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an experienced Principal Practitioner Dysphagia Speech and Language Therapist to lead clinical services within the Children’s Therapy Service. The ideal candidate should possess specialized knowledge in dysphagia and demonstrate strong leadership skills. This part-time, permanent position offers opportunities for professional development and flexible working arrangements. Join us to make a significant impact on children's communication needs.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Motivated individual with specialist knowledge in speech and language.
• Ability to provide clinical supervision and identify training needs.
• Experience in managing continuous improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to SLT staff.
• Manage day-to-day duties of the team and support training.
• Engage in service development and partnership with system partners.

Skills

Experience in paediatric dysphagia

Leadership skills

Expertise in speech and language therapy

Commitment to improving communication skills

Education

Relevant clinical qualifications in Speech and Language Therapy

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

Principal Practitioner Dysphagia Speech and Language Therapist

Permanent - Part Time - 22.50 hours per week

Role and service context

Are you an experienced Speech & Language Therapist with specialist skills in Eating, drinking and swallowing, who is looking to develop your clinical and leadership skills? The service is recruiting to this highly specialist community role within our Children’s Therapy Service as part of our current service redesign.

The Children’s Therapy Service operates across the Pennine area comprising of Occupational Therapists and Speech & Language Therapists and Assistants who offer services to children and their families. The service works in a variety of locations and in collaboration with other partner agencies.

An exciting clinical leadership opportunity now awaits a suitably qualified, registered and experienced speech and language therapist who wants to continue to develop their specific clinical skills and knowledge in the specialist areas of paediatric dysphagia, particularly within early years.

This post will provide clinical leadership to SLT staff undertaking an EDS role in Pennine, supporting with developing expertise within early years feeding. The postholder will work with the Clinical Lead for EDS in a shared responsibility for clinical care pathway. Researching evidence practice and current treatment approaches will form a part of this responsibility as well as working on referral and system pathways.

Strategic and service development

The service is currently working with Commissioners and System Partners to develop a system wide model to support speech, language and communication needs in Pennine Lancashire. Your specialist skills will be integral to current programmes of change, so experience in managing continuous improvement projects would be a benefit.

Person specification

We are looking for a motivated person to join our team who has a personal interest, specialist knowledge and relevant skill base in improving speech, language and communication skills for children and young people. We require commitment and drive for promoting exceptional care and excellent leadership skills to engage and support the system in providing coordinated services to meet a range of communication needs.

Delivery and leadership responsibilities

You will work in partnership with the Team Coordinator to support the day to day management of Speech and Language Therapy staff as well as the wider leadership team including the AHP Consultants.

You will be able to provide effective clinical and professional supervision, identify training needs of individuals and lead on the delivery of suitable training, demonstrating high level, expert speech and language therapy skills and knowledge within EDS.

You will be required to support student placements and be required to meet the travel requirements of the post.

Application and information

For further information about the post please contact us using the details provided.

Within Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust we are passionate about providing the best possible care and continuing to improve and develop the services we provide.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care. The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Additional information

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

This advert closes on Tuesday 7 Oct 2025