Job summary
This post is only open for applications for individuals employed within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Care System
Organisations within scope are as follows:
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board
- Southern Health Foundation Trust
- Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
- University Hospital Southampton
- Solent NHS Trust
- South Central Ambulance Service
- Isle of Wight NHS Trust
- Hampshire Hospitals
Are you a skilled, proactive Speech and Language Therapist with excellent communication skills and a passion for neonatal and paediatric care? We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity to join our Neonatal and Acute Paediatric SLT service at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Main duties of the job
This post offers the chance to shape and deliver a highquality, familycentred service across our Neonatal Unit and acute paediatric wards. We welcome applications for a minimum of 0.3 WTE worked on the NICU, with flexibility to tailor the remaining hours within our evolving paediatric inpatient service. Part-time and jobshare arrangements are warmly welcomed.
As the sole SLT for both Neonatal and Acute Paediatrics, the successful candidate will need to be resourceful, confident, and able to work autonomously, drawing on strong communication skills and a proactive approach to managing a varied and complex caseload. Our paediatric service is entering a period of growth and transformation, and this role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to scoping, shaping, and developing the future model of care.
For a full list of roles and responsibilities, please see the attached job description
We would love to hear from you. Informal enquiries and visits are warmly encouraged. Please contact the Therapy Pathway Lead (kerry.herriott2@nhs.net).
About us
Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.
Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide highly specialist clinical expertise in
the assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment, and management dysphagia in
neonates, infants, and children with eating, drinking and swallowing
difficulties.
To work as part of the Neonatal
multi-disciplinary team to develop an embedded Neonatal Speech and Language
Therapy service.
To support and advocate best practice models of
neonatal care including UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, Bliss Baby charter
Family Integrated Care and Developmental Care and other quality markers of
neonatal care as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Assist conducting the proceedings for paediatric
videofluoroscopy, in close collaboration with Consultant Radiologist attending
the exam, and provide written reports and recommendations to community SLTs.
Provide peer SLT support to the Isle of Wight
Neonatal Unit, St Marys Hospital.
Supervise and support junior staff as
appropriate.
Work collaboratively with MDT members, AHPs,
operational leads, team leads, and clinical specialists to deliver a recently
funded neonatal and paediatric inpatient service.
Ensure high-quality, family-centred care and a
positive experience for babies, children, young people (BCYP) and their parents
or carers.
Deliver high-quality, evidence-based training to
staff, parents, and other professionals.
Report to the Band 8a Lead regarding
performance, service delivery, operational issues, and contingency planning.
Support and implement service development,
innovation, and transformation aligned with Trust strategic aims.
May require occasional Bank Holiday working.
For a full list of roles and responsibilities, please see the attached job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide highly specialist clinical expertise in
the assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment, and management dysphagia in
neonates, infants, and children with eating, drinking and swallowing
difficulties.
To work as part of the Neonatal
multi-disciplinary team to develop an embedded Neonatal Speech and Language
Therapy service.
To support and advocate best practice models of
neonatal care including UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, Bliss Baby charter
Family Integrated Care and Developmental Care and other quality markers of
neonatal care as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Assist conducting the proceedings for paediatric
videofluoroscopy, in close collaboration with Consultant Radiologist attending
the exam, and provide written reports and recommendations to community SLTs.
Provide peer SLT support to the Isle of Wight
Neonatal Unit, St Marys Hospital.
Supervise and support junior staff as
appropriate.
Work collaboratively with MDT members, AHPs,
operational leads, team leads, and clinical specialists to deliver a recently
funded neonatal and paediatric inpatient service.
Ensure high-quality, family-centred care and a
positive experience for babies, children, young people (BCYP) and their parents
or carers.
Deliver high-quality, evidence-based training to
staff, parents, and other professionals.
Report to the Band 8a Lead regarding
performance, service delivery, operational issues, and contingency planning.
Support and implement service development,
innovation, and transformation aligned with Trust strategic aims.
May require occasional Bank Holiday working.
For a full list of roles and responsibilities, please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registered SLT with RCSLT membership
Desirable
- Advanced competencies in neonatal and paediatric feeding (RCSLT EDS frameworks)
- FICare, FINE, NBO, IBCLC or recognised infant feeding training.
Experience
Essential
- Strong clinical experience in neonatal and/or paediatric feeding and swallowing.
- Evidencebased specialist skills in infant and child feeding, including premature and medically complex babies.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and clinical reasoning skills.
- Ability to work autonomously within demanding and emotionally sensitive environments.
- Commitment to MDT working and inclusive, familycentred practice.
- Experience supporting junior staff/students and leading training.
Desirable
- Experience participating in/or leading VFSS (training can be supported).
- Experience in neonatal or acute paediatric inpatient settings.
- Involvement in service development, audit, or research.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registered SLT with RCSLT membership
Desirable
- Advanced competencies in neonatal and paediatric feeding (RCSLT EDS frameworks)
- FICare, FINE, NBO, IBCLC or recognised infant feeding training.
Experience
Essential
- Strong clinical experience in neonatal and/or paediatric feeding and swallowing.
- Evidencebased specialist skills in infant and child feeding, including premature and medically complex babies.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and clinical reasoning skills.
- Ability to work autonomously within demanding and emotionally sensitive environments.
- Commitment to MDT working and inclusive, familycentred practice.
- Experience supporting junior staff/students and leading training.
Desirable
- Experience participating in/or leading VFSS (training can be supported).
- Experience in neonatal or acute paediatric inpatient settings.
- Involvement in service development, audit, or research.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
