Specialist Speech and Language Therapist – Complex Needs Under 5s

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in London, focusing on children with complex needs. This role offers a chance to develop expertise in dysphagia and integrated care, with support from a dedicated team. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience, and will thrive in a dynamic collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy required.
• HPCP registration essential.
• Experience working with children and multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide care for communication and swallowing difficulties.
• Develop skills in dysphagia and AAC.
• Work as part of a transdisciplinary team.

Skills

Good clinical skills across dysphagia and communication difficulties

Ability to convey complex sensitive information

Organisational and prioritisation skills

Ability to work autonomously

Working knowledge of IT

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HPCP Registration and Licence to Practice

Member of RCSLT

Evidence of continuing professional development

Job description

Job summary

Are you looking for an opportunity to enter the field of complex needs and dysphagia or further develop your skills in this area? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to join the Complex Needs SLT team within Barts Health NHS Trust.

The successful applicant will have experience in working with children aged 0 - 5 years with complex needs and will be looking to further develop their knowledge and skills in dysphagia and complex communication / AAC.

The post holder will have the opportunity to be part of a team that delivers transdisciplinary routines-based early intervention services, using a coaching approach, in the management of children with complex developmental difficulties. There may also be an opportunity to work part of the time within our specials schools team (based at Stephen Hawking School).

The post holder will be joining a well-established, and highly supportive and innovative Complex Needs SLT Team, supported by the Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Complex Needs and Dysphagia and will receive regular supervision and access to professional development opportunities. Flexible working will be considered.

The main office base is located at Mile End Hospital, conveniently located between Mile End and Stepney Green tube stations and serviced by a number of local buses.

Main duties of the job

The Children's Therapy Team consist of Community Children's Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), Occupational and Physiotherapy teams and is divided into three sub-teams - under 5s, primary school and transition teams. The Children's Therapy Team sits in Specialist Community Children's Services within the Children and Young People's Division of Barts Health NHS Trust.

Community based service are offered to babies, children and young people in Tower Hamlets and is delivered in schools, pre-school settings, clinics, and service users' homes. The integrated team aims to work in partnership with children, families, and other providers to help babies, children and young people participate in normal daily activities and the Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team specifically addresses communication and eating and drinking needs through the provision of universal, targeted and specialist level services.

The post holder is an autonomous practitioner who will have the opportunity to develop skills and expertise in working with children with complex communication and eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties in a community setting. The post holder will provide care as part of the integrated Primary Service Provider (PSP) team that delivers transdisciplinary routines-based early intervention services.

About us

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.

Details Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,806 to £53,134 a year Per annum inc ***Pay award pending***

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

259-7247164RLH

Job locations

Mile end hospital

London

E1 4DG

Job description Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Please note: When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement) is not included for non-medical roles. This ensures fairness and consistency within our organisation, as some of our sites fall under inner HCAS, while others are classified as outer HCAS.

Job description Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Please note: When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High Cost Area Supplement) is not included for non-medical roles. This ensures fairness and consistency within our organisation, as some of our sites fall under inner HCAS, while others are classified as outer HCAS.

Person Specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• HPCP Registration and Licence to Practice
• Member of RCSLT
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Good understanding of the clinical governance principles
• Demonstrates knowledge of HPCP code of ethics and professional conduct
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of child development and the broad range of communication difficulties and implications and impact on children and families.

Desirable

• Evidence of audit and research activity
• Successful completion of specialist post-graduate dysphagia study relevant to the community setting, (e.g. accredited dysphagia course).
• Knowledge of Signalong Sign system and other Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems

Experience Essential

• At least three years post-qualification experience working within relevant field.
• Experience of assessment and management of communication difficulties both developmental and acquired in the paediatric population.
• Experience in working in a multi and/or transdisciplinary team.
• Clinical experience within the NHS
• Working with children/families from multi-cultural/multi-lingual backgrounds and working with interpreters

Desirable

• Experience in managing children with eating and drinking difficulties.
• Experience in supervision students.
• Carrying out evidence-based research projects/audit projects

Skills Essential

• Good clinical skills/specialist knowledge across a wide range of dysphagia and communication difficulties
• Evidence of use of initiative and ability to maintain judgement under pressure
• Skills in delivering presentations and training including basic adaptations to presentation/training style for a range of audiences.
• The ability to convey complex sensitive information.
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills
• Ability to lone work
• Working knowledge of IT

Desirable

• Experience of working in the community.
• Audit experience
• Virtual assessment and intervention

Person Specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• HPCP Registration and Licence to Practice
• Member of RCSLT
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Good understanding of the clinical governance principles
• Demonstrates knowledge of HPCP code of ethics and professional conduct
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of child development and the broad range of communication difficulties and implications and impact on children and families.

Desirable

• Evidence of audit and research activity
• Successful completion of specialist post-graduate dysphagia study relevant to the community setting, (e.g. accredited dysphagia course).
• Knowledge of Signalong Sign system and other Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems

Experience Essential

• At least three years post-qualification experience working within relevant field.
• Experience of assessment and management of communication difficulties both developmental and acquired in the paediatric population.
• Experience in working in a multi and/or transdisciplinary team.
• Clinical experience within the NHS
• Working with children/families from multi-cultural/multi-lingual backgrounds and working with interpreters

Desirable

• Experience in managing children with eating and drinking difficulties.
• Experience in supervision students.
• Carrying out evidence-based research projects/audit projects

Skills Essential

• Good clinical skills/specialist knowledge across a wide range of dysphagia and communication difficulties
• Evidence of use of initiative and ability to maintain judgement under pressure
• Skills in delivering presentations and training including basic adaptations to presentation/training style for a range of audiences.
• The ability to convey complex sensitive information.
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills
• Ability to lone work
• Working knowledge of IT

Desirable

• Experience of working in the community.
• Audit experience
• Virtual assessment and intervention

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

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Mile end hospital

London

E1 4DG

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Mile end hospital

London

E1 4DG

Employer's website

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