Speech & Language Clinical Lead for Dysphagia

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust; Coxheath; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Kent is seeking a Dysphagia Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for a mid-senior level position. In this full-time role, you will provide leadership in dysphagia care for children aged 0-19. Responsibilities include managing a clinical caseload, supervising team members, and ensuring effective assessment and intervention strategies. The position offers a hybrid working model and opportunities for ongoing professional development.

Benefits

Regular supervision

Access to training

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in leading dysphagia pathways.
• Background in providing Speech and Language Therapy.
• Strong clinical skills with children aged 0-19 years.

Responsibilities

• Support and lead Dysphagia pathways across Kent.
• Lead on clinical care pathways for dysphagia.
• Provide supervision and training to SLTs.
• Manage a complex clinical caseload.

Skills

Leadership in dysphagia care

Clinical supervision

Community engagement

Education

Relevant healthcare degree

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a Dysphagia Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join the Children’s Therapies Team in North West Kent. This Band 7 role encompasses both leadership and clinical work in the community with children and families aged 0-19 years. The Children’s Therapies Team is an integrated therapies team providing Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Specialist Nurse Advisors and Care Co-ordinators to children and families within KCHFT. You will be part of an innovative, cohesive and enthusiastic team of dysphagia therapists who have reimagined KCHFT’s dysphagia service. You will offer virtual appointments to families across Kent, as well as locality-based face-to-face sessions. You will provide support and supervision to other clinicians in the team managing children with dysphagia and support competencies for therapists completing Dysphagia specialist training. You will access and lead on fortnightly group supervision and CPD sessions, whilst building links with external stakeholders. You will work with the other Dysphagia leads to monitor, review and develop pathways to ensure the service offers safe, efficient and effective assessment and intervention in a timely way.

Responsibilities

• Supporting and leading on the Dysphagia pathways across Kent
• Leading on service policy and clinical care pathways across KCHFT for dysphagia
• Ensuring team members are working to agreed care pathway within dysphagia
• Providing effective supervision, training and support to SLTs to enhance their CPD
• Reporting and advising on development requirements in dysphagia to colleagues, Professional Leads, Team Leads, Locality Clinical Manager and Head of Service
• Participating in reflective practice and ongoing learning within these clinical fields
• Carrying out delegated line management of staff
• Managing a complex / specialist clinical caseload across 0-19 years

Working pattern

The role will be a hybrid model of working (virtual and face to face).

Support and development

We offer regular supervision, access to line management, in-house and external training, and regular clinical governance days where all localities share knowledge, skills and CPD experiences.

About the Trust

Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we are dedicated to delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services. We value equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. We collect information about protected characteristics on our application forms to support a Great Place to Work. Short listers will see two ticks to ensure the scheme is applied. Data collection helps us attract diverse applicants and ensure equitable access to career opportunities.

Flexible working

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we support flexible arrangements that suit staff and patients. We encourage discussions to find arrangements that work for both sides.

How to apply / contact

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Lindsey Tilley, Job title: Locality Clinical Manager, Email: [e-mail]

Staffing and roles

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Health Care Provider
• Industries: Hospitals and Health Care

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Note: This description includes standard job posting information and related notices; it does not imply any guarantees of a position or its availability beyond current posting status.