Dev Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, dypshagia & complex needs

  • Whittington Health
  • Jun 28, 2025
Full time Healthcare & Medical

Job Description

Dev Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, dypshagia & complex needs NHS AfC: Band 6 Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent: This is a part time post with possibilities of additional hours in other teams. Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week Job ref 220-WHT-3188

Employer Whittington Health NHS Trust Employer type NHS Site Tynemouth Road Health Centre Town Tottenham Salary £42,939 - £50,697 pro-rata per annum inclusive of HCAs (dependant on experience) Salary period Yearly Closing 06/07/:59

Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.

Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3 rd party recruitment providers - North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of Whittington Health NHS Trust.

By applying for this role, you accept in the event you are successful that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which is aimed at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Job overview This is a wonderful opportunity to progress in complex needs and dysphagia. The post holder will be part of our rich peer supported network in the Haringey Early Years SLT team and will have an interest in developing a specialism with a caseload of children with dysphagia, SLCN and autism. You will provide assessment and treatment on an individual and group basis. Your caseload will consist of neonates to 5 yrs. You will advise and give training on AAC and autism to parents and EY Practitioners. You will work alongside the specialists in this area and be part of a skilled MDT including PTs, OTs, dietitians, HVs, paediatricians, portage visitors and infant feeding specialists, with opportunities for joint working and interdisciplinary learning. You will also work with and support more junior staff including therapists, assistants and students.

Your caseload of children will have SLCN and/or dysphagia and will include clinic, home and/or nursery visits. You will advise/train carers and multi-agency staff on issues related to both individual cases and effective communication strategies/good communication environments. The postholder will demonstrate a high level of clinical expertise and participate in CPD to maintain and further develop specialist knowledge and clinical practice. This is an opportunity for development in dysphagia competencies.

Main duties of the job
  • To provide specialist input into assessment and therapy for children with SLCN (including autism) and dysphagia and their families (age under 5 years).
  • The postholder will demonstrate ahigh level of clinical expertise and participate in continuing professional development to maintain and further develop specialist knowledge and clinical practice.
  • To be involved in clinical governance issues by keeping up to date with developments in paediatrics, undertaking audits to evaluate practice and participating in research projects.
  • To have a support role with junior colleagues, therapy assistants and students.
  • To advise and train carers and multi-agency staff on issues related to both individual cases and effective communication and language strategies.
Working for our organisation Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
  • To take a specialist role in developing the SLT service to children with complex needs & dysphagia, including contributing to developing care pathways and packages, assessment, therapy and training materials specific to this client group.
  • To assess, differentially diagnose, plan and implement therapy for children with speech, language and/or communication difficulties on own caseload.
  • To carry out home, school and nursery observations as part of the assessment where necessary.
  • To be able to gather information that may be sensitive or complex and analyse it as part of a full assessment of a client's strengths and difficulties.
  • To work closely with clients/carers and MDT using empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to complete assessments, discuss results, and involve them in forward plans and any onward referrals.
  • To reflect on clinical practice; adequately identifying strengths & needs of clients, reviewing their response to therapy and providing evidence of sound clinical judgement.
  • To routinely overcome barriers to communication during assessment. This includes the use of sign, symbols or other AAC strategies with communication disordered clients/carers, as well as the use of interpreters for clients and carers who do not have English as a first language. Making sure to take into account cultural and linguistic backgrounds and disabilities.
  • To seek second opinions from senior colleagues in complex cases.
  • To produce accurate and detailed notes, reports, therapy programmes, advice and information as necessary in a timely manner.
  • To provide advice/supervision to junior staff and students on a range of issues related to neurodiversity and assessment.
  • To demonstrate highly effective personal coordination of day-to-day activities including prioritising caseloads, decision-making and problem so lving.
  • Liaise with other agencies involved in the child's care, including relatives/carers and education staff, as appropriate to the individual child's needs.
  • To adhere to and apply the Health and Care Professions Council's (HCPC) standards of proficiency and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) code of ethics and professional conduct and all other relevant guidance from Whittington Health NHS Trust.
Person specification Education/ Qualifications/ Training
  • Diploma, Degree or MSC in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Registered Member of the RCSLT and HCPC Registration to Practice
  • Evidence of successful completion of short courses and other CPD in clinical area
Skills/Abilities/Experience
  • Evidence of a range of experience working with children with complex needs
  • Experience of carrying out assessment and intervention for children with complex needs including children with Down syndrome, Autism and general developmental delay
  • Experience of prioritisation of therapy/ own workload. Experience working collaboratively with colleagues in health and other agencies including education.
  • Evidence of a range of experience working with children with dysphagia.
Other Requirements
  • To take the majority of leave in school holidays
  • An ability to speak a non-European language - especially Turkish or an African language.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust's Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
  • Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
  • Ensure you are familiar and comply with theLondon Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
  • Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
  • Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
  • Participate in required training and supervision.
  • Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Your application form -
  • Provide only business email address for your referees - we are unable to request references from yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail accounts.
  • Make sure you to include all evidence of where you meet the essential requirement on the jobs description as this forms the base of our shortlisting criteria.
Our processes -
  • Closing dates are given as a guide; we are within our right to close adverts early so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid delay.
  • If you do not hear from us up to 3 weeks after the closing date of the job unfortunatelythis means you have not been successfullyshortlisted for interview. If your require feedback on your application please contact the appointing manager detailed in the body of the advert.
  • Please check your emails regularly as all correspondence from us will be via trac . click apply for full job details