Specialist Paediatric SLT

Integrated Care System; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Kingston upon Thames is seeking an experienced Specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist to join their team. You will assess and treat neonatal and paediatric patients with feeding and swallowing difficulties, ensuring evidence-based practices. Candidates should have extensive experience in this area and hold relevant qualifications. The role offers a competitive salary and focuses on staff development and well-being.

Benefits

On-site staff nursery

Wellbeing practitioners

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Ability to manage neonatal and paediatric dysphagia cases.
• Experience in developing quality improvement projects.
• Competence in managing neonatal/paediatric tracheostomy.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess and treat patients with feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• Provide expert clinical advice on complex dysphagia cases.
• Lead service development and staff training initiatives.

Skills

Extensive post qualification experience in paediatric/infant dysphagia

Specialist SLT skills in assessment and management

Current best practice in feeding and swallowing difficulties

Videofluoroscopy or FEES competencies

Education

RCSLT accredited degree in Speech & Language Therapy

Post graduate qualification in Paediatric and Neonatal Dysphagia

Job description

Go back Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Paediatric SLT

The closing date is 17 August 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly team of acute Speech and Language Therapists at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust. Kingston Hospital is the first acute trust in London to be rated Outstandingfor being well-led and caring.

You will be the Speech and Language Therapist for the paediatric department, therefore the ability to work independently is essential but you will also work closely with Dietetics colleagues and other members of the MDT. A comprehensive supervision structure is in place and you will be well supported.

Experience of working with neonates and children with feeding and swallowing problems in an acute or community setting is essential. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and prioritising a caseload of neonatal and paediatric in-patients presenting with a range of feeding / swallowing difficulties as well as providing an out-patients service to follow up acute admission and a monthly joint out-patient feeding clinic run collaboratively with the Dietitian. Opportunities will also be available to help develop the service in collaboration with the Principal SLT and paediatric and neonatal MDT

Main duties of the job

At a highly specialist level, you will independently assess, diagnose, treat, and discharge neonates and paediatric patients with suspected or confirmed feeding, swallowing, eating, drinking and communication difficulties within the neonatal unit and paediatric wards. You will work collaboratively as an integral member of the neonatal and paediatric multidisciplinary team, supporting staff and families to identify babies and children at risk of dysphagia and communication challenges to establish safe, effective, and positive oral feeding and supportive communication practices.

You will provide expert clinical advice and/or interventions for complex neonatal and paediatric dysphagia cases and contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based feeding and communication pathways. As part of the wider neonatal team, you will promote developmental care principles to support optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes for babies and support with advocation of Baby Friendly Initiative principles on the neonatal and paediatric wards.

In addition to clinical duties, you will take a leadership role in service development, audit, education, and training of staff and families, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and family-integrated care. You will also supervise and mentor junior staff and students, ensuring high standards of clinical practice

About us

Developmentand staff wellbeing

Your growthand personal happinessmattersto us.After all, we can't expect the best from you if we don't invest in your development and nurture your wellbeing.From the moment you join us, we're committed to fostering your professional and personal development within a supportive, empowering environment. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to advance further, we provide you with the tools and opportunities you need to succeed.We actively support colleagues to take part in research, quality improvement and innovation, whatever their role or level in the organisation.

To support your wellbeing, we offer an extensive range of resources, including an on-site staff nursery at Kingston Hospital, wellbeing practitioners, regular wellbeing classes, dedicated staff physiotherapist, comprehensive occupational health services, 24/7 employee assistance programme, and a range of other support and activities.

We also take every opportunity to thank and recognise the work our teams do, through weekly 'shoutouts' and patient feedback, monthly and annual awards.

Wherever you work across our organisation, we look forward to welcoming you.

Job responsibilities

***Please see the attached supporting document/s which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification***

Person Specification

• RCSLT accredited degree in Speech & Language Therapy
• Post graduate qualification (e.g. MSc/post graduate diploma or certificate at Intermediate or Advanced level) in Paediatric and Neonatal Dysphagia
• RCSLT Level C in Neonatal Dysphagia
• oExtensive post qualification experience working within paediatric/infant dysphagia
• Post graduate qualification (e.g. MSc/post graduate diploma or certificate) or RCSLT competencies in Videofluoroscopy or FEES
• Ability to carry out videofluoroscopy or FEES independently
• Specialist SLT skills in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of neonatal and paediatric feeding, swallowing, eating and drinking, and communication difficulties using evidence-based practice
• Current best practice in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of neonatal and paediatric feeding, swallowing, eating and drinking, and communication difficulties
• Competent in neonatal / paediatric tracheostomy management
• Experience of developing and running quality improvement projects

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.

Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

£53,751 to £60,651 a yearPro rata pa incl. HCAS