Job summary
- 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
- 06/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Dev Specialist Speech & Language Therapist, dypshagia & complex needs
NHS AfC: Band 6
Covid-19 Vaccination
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 3rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of Whittington Health NHS Trust.
For our current apprenticeship vacancies, please go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship and use Keyword ‘Whittington’
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 a high 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
Essential criteria
- 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
Essential criteria
- 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.
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of a range of experience working with children with dysphagia.
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- To take the majority of leave in school holidays
Desirable criteria
- An ability to speak a non-European language – especially Turkish or an African language.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Christine Hennigan
- Job title
- Clinical Lead Specialist SLT for complex needs
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07469 647 386
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
WHT
- Telephone
- If you have any queries, please contact NLPSS Recruitment Helpdesk tel. 020 3758 2060
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