Speech and Language Therapist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

RCSLT FEES training

Job summary

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a B7 paediatric speech and language therapist specializing in dysphagia and VFSS. You will assess and manage infants and children with complex conditions, run VFSS clinics, and work with ENT, gastro, and respiratory colleagues to improve capacity across sites.

You will have access to supervision and FEES training, with support towards RCSLT competencies, and must hold HCPC and RCSLT registration to apply.

Qualifications

• Qualified speech and language therapist with HCPC and RCSLT registration (required).
• Postgraduate training relevant to paediatric dysphagia and VFSS is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist dysphagia assessments and management plans for infants and children with long-term complex conditions.
• Deliver VFSS assessments for inpatients and outpatients with dysphagia and develop management plans.
• Run VFSS clinics at hospital sites in collaboration with the MDT.
• Engage in regular supervision with the clinical lead and support service development.
• Educate the MDT and families about SLT care and ensure patient-centred planning.

Skills

Advanced clinical reasoning

MDT collaboration

Teaching experience

Organisational skills

VFSS interpretation

Education

Qualified SLT

Postgraduate courses relevant to the specialty

Tools

VFSS

Job description

A new B7 paediatric speech and language therapy post in the acute service at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, with clinics across its sites. The core of the work is specialist dysphagia assessment and management for infants and children, including those with respiratory disease and long-term ventilation needs. Video fluoroscopy is central, so the post suits a therapist who can run VFSS independently and wants FEES training, with support towards RCSLT competencies. HCPC and RCSLT registration are required.

What the job involves

• Provide specialist assessment and management plans for infants and children with long-term complex conditions
• Deliver video fluoroscopy assessments for inpatients and outpatients with dysphagia, with diagnosis and management plans based on results
• Run VFSS clinics at either hospital site
• Assess dysphagia in paediatric long-term ventilation cases and children with respiratory disease
• Support both hospitals to expand VFSS capacity, working closely with SLT colleagues including at St Mary's Hospital
• Engage in regular supervision with the clinical lead
• Support clinical problem solving and provide managerial expertise for colleagues within the Trust and North West London
• Work with the MDT, including ENT, gastro and respiratory consultants, to deliver care to infants, children and families
• Educate the multidisciplinary team on SLT in the designated clinical area and raise the profile of the SLT service
• Involve patients, families and carers in planning and prioritising care where possible
• Take part in CPD and other development activities and encourage the team to do likewise

Qualifications

• Qualified speech and language therapist
• Postgraduate courses relevant to the speciality

Registration & licences

• Current HCPC registration
• Current RCSLT registration

Experience

• Significant assessment and management of dysphagia in infants and children
• Significant MDT working, including providing teaching and training
• Writing complex and sensitive reports
• Working with children with communication difficulties

Skills & knowledge

• Advanced clinical reasoning and advanced dysphagia assessment in children and infants
• Influencing the MDT
• Teaching experience to a variety of audiences
• Excellent organisational skills
• Administering and interpreting VFSS assessments and findings

Other

• Enthusiastic, innovative and personable
• Team player
• Trust values: putting patients first, kindness, honesty and a drive to improve care

Nice to have

• Membership of a clinical interest group relevant to the post
• Experience of managing eating and drinking in children with tracheostomy
• Experience of audit, QI or service development

What’s offered

• Consideration of flexible working arrangements where possible
• Training to achieve RCSLT FEES competencies