Speech and Language Therapy Team Lead – Early Years Complex Needs

Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's healthcare provider in Doncaster offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to take on the Team Lead role, focusing on delivering specialist support for pre-school aged children with communication difficulties. The role includes working with families and contributing to team development. A competitive salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum is offered, alongside extensive benefits.

Benefits

NHS Pension Scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Comprehensive health and wellbeing support

Extensive range of learning opportunities

Discounts through external providers

Qualifications

• Significant relevant experience post qualification as a Speech & Language Therapist.
• Experience in assessment and treatment of children with communication needs.
• Advanced understanding of clinical practice related to speech therapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist support for children with communication difficulties.
• Contribute to development and organization of the therapy team.
• Assess pre-school children on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder pathway.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Highly developed negotiation skills

Experience with children with complex communication difficulties

Education

Professional specific degree (BSc speech sciences or equivalent)

Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Job description

Speech and Language Therapy Team Lead – Early Years Complex Needs

The closing date is 21 November 2025

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join one of our innovative and enthusiastic paediatric teams serving the Doncaster and Bassetlaw communities.

The Doncaster and Bassetlaw Children’s Speech and Language Therapy service is currently looking to recruit an enthusiastic Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist who is passionate about working with pre-school aged children with complex needs, working across patients' homes, clinic, nursery and school settings.

The successful candidate will also be involved in supporting the Doncaster under 5s Autistic Spectrum Disorder assessment pathway.

A Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist with experience who wants to develop into a Band 7 Specialist role would be considered and very much encouraged to apply for this position.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to:

• Provide highly specialist support for pre-school aged children with communication difficulties, and their families
• Contribute to the delivery, development and organisation of the Early Years Complex Needs team
• Contribute to assessment and advice for pre-school aged children on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder assessment pathway

About us

DBTH is one of Yorkshire’s Leading acute trusts, serving a population of more than 440,000. Our services are based over three main hospital sites and several additional services employing over 7,000 colleagues. At DBTH we have a comprehensive framework of behaviours that guide us in our daily working lives, these form the DBTH Way. We pride ourselves on our commitment to the values of We Care and now the DBTH Way builds upon these foundations, providing further clarity on what it means to embody these values in our everyday interactions. As an organisation that supports flexible working, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applicants from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including those with disabilities, members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities.

We offer a range of benefits to support our people include:

• Extensive range of learning opportunities
• NHS Pension Scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement in line with Terms & Conditions
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing support
• NHS Car Lease schemes and a range of salary sacrifice scheme
• Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping and finance through external providers

Job responsibilities

Please see attached to the advert a job description and person specification for further details. Please ensure you read this document carefully. Please note, if your application is successful you will be required to present original certificates of qualifications that are listed in the person specification under essential.

Certificate of sponsorship

Applications from individuals who require a Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applicants. For further information and to check your eligibility for this post please following the link UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK. Please note that from April 9th 2025, band 2 & 3 entry roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Professional specific degree i.e. BSc speech sciences or Masters in medical sciences
• Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Member of the Health and Care Professions Council
• Recognised informal/formal training in specialist area
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses up to Master's degree equivalent
• Evidence of completion of dysphagia competencies
• Member of Clinical Excellence network, regionally or nationally
• Member of specialist interest group/network, regionally or nationally
• Prepared to undertake or hold an accredited leadership qualification

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant relevant experience post qualification, including demonstrable evidence working as a Speech & Language Therapist with children with complex communication difficulties
• Experienced in the assessment and treatment of children with speech, language, and communication needs who have an associated medical diagnosis
• Experience of research and/or project management/service development
• Experience of supporting children with Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Experience of managing change
• Experienced in providing student placements
• Advanced understanding of relevant clinical practice, standards and protocols within identified clinical area
• Experience of developing others through education, mentorship, coaching, teaching, assessing, presentations
• Experience of clinical audit and service evaluation
• Experience of working with children with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Experience of working with children with eating and drinking difficulties

Personal Attributes & Skills

• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with other non-health agencies
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Good organisation and prioritisation skills
• Ability to lead, motivate and inspire others
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit

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.

Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Pro Rata Per Annum