Paediatric SLT Dysphagia Lead

Paediatric SLT Dysphagia Lead Overview

Join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust as a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist Dysphagia Lead and play a crucial role in enhancing the care provided to children and young people with eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. This position offers a unique opportunity to blend specialized clinical practice with leadership and service development, ensuring that families receive optimal care and outcomes.

In this role, you will be part of the Children and Young People’s Therapy Service (CYPTS), where you will lead the growing EDS service and spend one day each week supporting families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Therapy Support Practitioners, to make a significant impact on the lives of children aged 0-19 across Somerset.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide expert clinical leadership and specialist advice for children and young people with eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties.
• Lead and clinically supervise Speech and Language Therapists within the EDS pathway, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based practice across Somerset.
• Manage a complex caseload, conducting expert assessments, diagnoses, and interventions for children with feeding and swallowing needs.
• Collaborate with health, education, and social care colleagues to deliver integrated, family-centered care.
• Drive service improvement initiatives, develop clinical pathways, and contribute to policy and guideline formulation.
• Deliver training, mentoring, and support to therapists, multidisciplinary colleagues, and families.
• Provide specialized support to babies and families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and assist with transitions to community services.

Qualifications and Experience

• Hold HCPC registration and be a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
• Possess a recognized degree or equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Have completed postgraduate specialist training in eating, drinking, and swallowing at a master’s degree level.
• Demonstrate extensive experience in paediatric Speech and Language Therapy, particularly with eating, drinking, and swallowing disorders.
• Exhibit strong leadership skills and experience in staff supervision.
• Possess a passion for service development and the ability to provide non-judgmental support to clients and their families.
• Maintain up-to-date theoretical knowledge regarding eating, drinking, and swallowing, as well as Speech and Language Therapy.

Benefits

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.
• Participation in the NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security.
• Generous annual leave to promote relaxation and recharge.
• Strong emphasis on career development opportunities.
• Access to the Blue Light Card for exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities.

This position is available on a full-time or part-time basis, with a salary range of £49,387 to £56,515 per year. Applications from job seekers requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Degree Requirement: Bachelor’s

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