Specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist - Complex Needs

East London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in East London seeks an experienced Band 6 Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist. The ideal candidate will manage a complex caseload of children with communication needs. Responsibilities include providing therapy, training others, and participating in service audits. This role offers a competitive salary, NHS benefits, and opportunities for professional development within a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Full NHS benefits package

Opportunities for training and development

Supportive multidisciplinary team

Qualifications

• Experience working with children with complex medical and communication needs.
• Knowledge and experience of AAC and dysphagia management.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a caseload of children with communication difficulties.
• Work jointly with senior colleagues to plan therapy.
• Coordinate joint planning and set up therapy groups.
• Participate in the training of colleagues through teaching.

Skills

Computer skills

Communication skills

Collaborative teamwork

Therapy management

Education

Qualified speech and language therapist with NHS registration

Job description

Band 6 – Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist: Paediatric Complex Needs Communication and Dysphagia Service

Paediatric Community Services – Newham, East London Foundation Trust

Are you an experienced, innovative, creative speech and language therapist? Would you like to bring your skills and ideas to help us deliver change and new services? Are you already working in a complex needs team and would like to further develop your skills?

We have a very exciting opportunity in our Complex Needs Speech and Language Therapy team. We are looking for an experienced Band 6 therapist to join our team and manage a complex caseload of children with communication needs while building clinical skills in the area of AAC and eventually dysphagia. We also have areas of service development that require more supporting therapists and we provide training opportunities around Quality Improvement so that staff feel confident with developing ideas and potential projects. There is also the opportunity to participate in service audits.

To provide specialist assessment and management to children with speech, language and communication difficulties secondary to their complex medical needs including use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). This may include home visits, nurseries, schools and buy‑ins as required by the service.

To provide specialist assessment and management of children with dysphagia and feeding difficulties, in line with current level of competencies and seeking supervision and support from Senior colleagues as needed.

As well as a role in providing specialist intervention for CYP, the post holder will contribute to raising awareness of SLCN and training of the wider workforce to enable partner agencies to effectively support all CYP with SLCN.

Once the post holder has built up sufficient experience in the role they will be expected to contribute to SLT student placements and support assistants and volunteers.

The post holder will access a comprehensive and on‑going CPD program and receive robust clinical supervision to support them to deliver a high quality service to the CYP of Newham.

Mission and Values

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Responsibilities

• To independently manage a caseload of children who have a diverse range of complex communication difficulties including need for AAC. This includes screening, assessing, providing therapy, training others and reviewing progress.
• To work jointly with more senior colleagues and other professionals to take account of the specific complex communication needs of these children and plan therapy.
• To co‑ordinate and take a lead in the joint planning and working including, setting up therapy groups where appropriate and to support more junior colleagues through joint working.
• To participate in specialist training of colleagues through teaching and in‑services.
• To liaise with relevant professional staff in Health, Education and Social Services within the wider MDT.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualified speech and language therapist with a current NHS registration.

Experience working with children with complex medical and communication needs.

Knowledge and experience of AAC and dysphagia management.

Strong computer and communication skills.

Commitment to continuous professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and band 6 standard.

Full NHS benefits package.

Opportunities for training and professional development.

Access to a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Join a team that values inclusion and excellence.

This advert closes on Friday 23 Jan 2026.