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Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Highly Specialist SLT - Band 8a EDS and CSN Lead

The closing date is 18 April 2026

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Job summary

Highly Specialist SLT - Band 8a EDS and CSN Lead

Bank Hours - 37.50 hours per week,

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Highly Specialist SLT to join our friendly and supportive speech and language therapy team as the lead for the Team's Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Service.

Proposed interview date: tbc. If you are unable to make this date but are interested in this role, please contact us to discuss.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have experience of working with children and young people with eating and drinking needs. Experience of working with babies (under the age of 6 months), is essential.

You will take the lead for the eating, drinking and swallowing team, overseeing the caseload and providing clinical support and direction for team members including bank staff.

The Eating, drinking and swallowing service is currently piloting a number of exciting service improvement projects along with MDT hospital and community colleagues. These include a tube weaning pathway, looking at different management pathways for children on the caseload and supporting ex premature babies when they are discharged into the community. You would take the lead in continuing these pilots and have opportunities to support succession planning and training.

About us

You will have access tothe following support with your role and development:

  • Regular meetings with your line manager.
  • Half termly group and 1:1 clinical supervision with a highly experienced external supervisor.
  • An identified mentor / buddy who will be available to support you with any questions you may have and to help you settle in.
  • Regular dysphagia team meetings with opportunities for case discussions, CPD and working on service development projects
  • Opportunities to extend your leadership skills through taking the lead in team projects and service developments.
  • The advantage of strong links between tertiary centres, local hospital teams and community teams - including physio, OT, dietitians and children's nursing and paediatricians.

Details

Date posted

07 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£31.61 to £55.86 an hour ph incl. HCAS (Outer)

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

199-7727581-NP-TA

Job locations

Lennard Road

12-18 Lennard Road

Croydon,

CR9 2RS


Job description

Job responsibilities

At a highly specialist level, to assess, diagnose, treat and discharge chilldren/young people referred with speech, language, communication and eating and drinking problems.

To work as a member of the Early Years, Primary and Secondary Teams to provide an efficient, effective and co-ordinated Speech and Language Therapy Service

To take a lead role for the EDS/CSN team, overseeing the caseload and providing clinical support for team members.

Please see attached Job Description/Person Specification for more information on the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

At a highly specialist level, to assess, diagnose, treat and discharge chilldren/young people referred with speech, language, communication and eating and drinking problems.

To work as a member of the Early Years, Primary and Secondary Teams to provide an efficient, effective and co-ordinated Speech and Language Therapy Service

To take a lead role for the EDS/CSN team, overseeing the caseload and providing clinical support for team members.

Please see attached Job Description/Person Specification for more information on the role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • At least 5 years post qualification experience including significant, relevant post qualification experience of managing children with dysphagia and/or complex needs
  • Competencies in assessment and management of neonatal dysphagia and complex special needs

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting junior therapists, SLTAs and students
  • Experience of working in a range of paediatric settings

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification and Postgraduate dysphagia training

Desirable

  • Post graduate training in communication approaches relevant to complex needs e.g. makaton/AAC
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • At least 5 years post qualification experience including significant, relevant post qualification experience of managing children with dysphagia and/or complex needs
  • Competencies in assessment and management of neonatal dysphagia and complex special needs

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting junior therapists, SLTAs and students
  • Experience of working in a range of paediatric settings

Qualifications

Essential

  • Recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification and Postgraduate dysphagia training

Desirable

  • Post graduate training in communication approaches relevant to complex needs e.g. makaton/AAC

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Address

Lennard Road

12-18 Lennard Road

Croydon,

CR9 2RS


Employer's website

https://www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/recruitment/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Address

Lennard Road

12-18 Lennard Road

Croydon,

CR9 2RS


Employer's website

https://www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/recruitment/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

SLT Manager

Liz Brewer

liz.brewer@nhs.net

02087142594

Details

Date posted

07 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£31.61 to £55.86 an hour ph incl. HCAS (Outer)

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

199-7727581-NP-TA

Job locations

Lennard Road

12-18 Lennard Road

Croydon,

CR9 2RS


Supporting documents

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