Job summary
8a Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist - Neonatal Services
Fixed term: 4 1/2 years until February 2031
We are excited to welcome a compassionate, skilled and forward-thinking Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist to join our neonatal and paediatric therapy teams across King's College Hospital.
This role offers a unique opportunity to deliver highly specialist neonatal SLT care, lead an established clinical team, and influence the development of family-centred pathways for infants requiring intensive and specialist support.
This is a 5 year fixed term position covering a period secondment for the current post holder to complete a Doctorate which will end in February 2031.
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Lead SLT for Neonatal Services, you will:
- Provide expert neonatal SLT assessment, intervention and leadership across both Denmark Hill and PRUH sites
- Lead and support the acute neonatal SLT team to ensure consistently high-quality care
- Contribute to and help shape outpatient neurodevelopmental clinics, working closely with MDT clinical leads
- Offer clinical leadership across wider paediatric therapy services at Denmark Hill, supporting development, consistency, and innovation
- Champion inclusive, evidence-based practice that supports infants, families and colleagues
We welcome applications from therapists who:
- Are passionate about neonatal and infant feeding practice
- Value teamwork, psychological safety and collaborative problem-solving
- Are committed to compassionate leadership and inclusive practice
- Want to contribute to service development and evidence-based innovation
- Enjoy working across diverse communities and supporting equitable access to care
We especially welcome applicants from under-represented groups and those bringing new perspectives to our team.
About us
King's is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts, with:
- Around 14,000 staff
- 1.5 million patient contacts each year
- A turnover of approximately £1 billion
- Services delivered across five sites in South East London
We provide a full range of local hospital services and internationally recognised specialist care from our Denmark Hill and Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) sites.
Our strategy sets out our ambition to be BOLD:
- Brilliant people
- Outstanding care
- Leaders in research, innovation and education
- Diversity, equality and inclusion at the heart of everything
By putting people first, harnessing digital innovation and committing to environmental sustainability, we continue to shape the future of care for our communities.
At King's, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and supported to thrive. We believe that great care starts with great people, and we are proud to foster a culture built on kindness, respect, curiosity and collaboration.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. If you share our passion for delivering outstanding, compassionate neonatal care -- and you are excited by the opportunity to lead, influence and make a meaningful difference for babies and their families -- we would love to hear from you.
Join us, bring your whole self, and help shape the future of neonatal therapy at King's.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities:
- To work at an advanced level in the field of neonatal speech and language therapy by receiving referrals and independently assessing and treating own caseload of patients, ensuring evaluation and progression of treatment programmes to a high standard, and in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.
- In conjunction with the Neonatologists, Clinical Lead Therapists, and Outpatient Team, organise and manage specialist outpatient clinics for infants referred to the neurodevelopmental follow-up clinic service.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical practice for patients under your management and to support more junior staff to do likewise.
- To have clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex and diverse conditions, and prioritise that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities.
- To use advanced clinical assessment and reasoning skills and evidence based knowledge to assess patients with highly complex conditions, and to formulate prognoses and recommendations for the best form of intervention including e.g. Videofluoroscopy, ENT assessment.
- To formulate and deliver individual speech and language therapy treatment programmes based on advanced clinical knowledge of current practice, evidence based practice and treatment options.
- To analyse and interpret clinical and non-clinical facts which may be conflicting, and to provide expert advice and second opinion to the MDT, including peers and Consultants, and external organisations
- With appropriate training, to request and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. endoscopy, VF) to assist with patient assessment and to plan the most appropriate patient management approach
- To recognise boundaries of own extended practice as it develops and to manage associated clinical risk at all times.
- To make appropriate referrals to other services and clinicians based on assessment and investigation findings, and by having an in-depth understanding of the role of others in the multidisciplinary team.
- To ensure effective discharge planning as part of a patients management, liaising with referrers and other members of the MDT as appropriate.
- To use advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to advise, guide and teach less experienced speech and language therapists, assistants and students in the assessment and management of patients and other aspects of clinical care, including record keeping.
- To liaise with Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Paediatricians, ENT consultants, Radiologists, GPs, Clinical Lead Therapists to formulate protocols/care pathways for the assessment and management of patients attending the specialist clinics.
- To manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload, and provide expert advice to contribute to the effective management of clinical risk within the speech a
- The post requires a flexible approach to working and a 7-day working pattern may be required, also cover of statutory and public holidays, maintaining the competency required to work as the sole speech and Language therapist within this clinical area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities:
- To work at an advanced level in the field of neonatal speech and language therapy by receiving referrals and independently assessing and treating own caseload of patients, ensuring evaluation and progression of treatment programmes to a high standard, and in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.
- In conjunction with the Neonatologists, Clinical Lead Therapists, and Outpatient Team, organise and manage specialist outpatient clinics for infants referred to the neurodevelopmental follow-up clinic service.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical practice for patients under your management and to support more junior staff to do likewise.
- To have clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex and diverse conditions, and prioritise that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities.
- To use advanced clinical assessment and reasoning skills and evidence based knowledge to assess patients with highly complex conditions, and to formulate prognoses and recommendations for the best form of intervention including e.g. Videofluoroscopy, ENT assessment.
- To formulate and deliver individual speech and language therapy treatment programmes based on advanced clinical knowledge of current practice, evidence based practice and treatment options.
- To analyse and interpret clinical and non-clinical facts which may be conflicting, and to provide expert advice and second opinion to the MDT, including peers and Consultants, and external organisations
- With appropriate training, to request and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. endoscopy, VF) to assist with patient assessment and to plan the most appropriate patient management approach
- To recognise boundaries of own extended practice as it develops and to manage associated clinical risk at all times.
- To make appropriate referrals to other services and clinicians based on assessment and investigation findings, and by having an in-depth understanding of the role of others in the multidisciplinary team.
- To ensure effective discharge planning as part of a patients management, liaising with referrers and other members of the MDT as appropriate.
- To use advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to advise, guide and teach less experienced speech and language therapists, assistants and students in the assessment and management of patients and other aspects of clinical care, including record keeping.
- To liaise with Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Paediatricians, ENT consultants, Radiologists, GPs, Clinical Lead Therapists to formulate protocols/care pathways for the assessment and management of patients attending the specialist clinics.
- To manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload, and provide expert advice to contribute to the effective management of clinical risk within the speech a
- The post requires a flexible approach to working and a 7-day working pattern may be required, also cover of statutory and public holidays, maintaining the competency required to work as the sole speech and Language therapist within this clinical area.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working at senior level in acute paediatrics
- Experience of managing complex dysphagia
- Experience of managing videofluoroscopy
- Managed children presenting with acquired language disorders
Communication
Essential
- Demonstrate good spoken communication
- Demonstrate good written communication
Education and Qualification
Essential
- HCPC recognised Diploma, Batchelor's or Masters qualification in Speech & Language Therapy
- Registration with the HCPC as a Speech & Language Therapist
- Post graduate education in the assessment, treatment & management of patients with neurological disorders
- Active member of relevant clinical excellence network(s)
Desirable
- Post-HCPC registration research-focused MSc/MPhil/MRes
- Member of RCSLT
- Formal qualification in leadership and management
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working at senior level in acute paediatrics
- Experience of managing complex dysphagia
- Experience of managing videofluoroscopy
- Managed children presenting with acquired language disorders
Communication
Essential
- Demonstrate good spoken communication
- Demonstrate good written communication
Education and Qualification
Essential
- HCPC recognised Diploma, Batchelor's or Masters qualification in Speech & Language Therapy
- Registration with the HCPC as a Speech & Language Therapist
- Post graduate education in the assessment, treatment & management of patients with neurological disorders
- Active member of relevant clinical excellence network(s)
Desirable
- Post-HCPC registration research-focused MSc/MPhil/MRes
- Member of RCSLT
- Formal qualification in leadership and management
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
