Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Dev Specialist SLT complex needs, dypshagia and autism assessment

The closing date is 05 October 2025

Job summary

This is a wonderful opportunity to progress in complex needs, dysphagia and autism assessment. The post holder will be part of our rich peer supported network in the Haringey Early Years SLT team, will have an interest in developing a specialism in dysphagia, SLCN and autism. You will also be part of the MDT autism assessment team 2 days a week assessing children 2-12yrs. Your EYrs 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. Interventions maybe 1-1 or group. 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

It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:

  • Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
  • Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met, and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
  • Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the trust through leading ward and/or department projects, and supporting training
  • Ensure optimum use is made of working time.

About us

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.

Details

Date posted

19 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year Per annum (pro rata) inclusive of Outer HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3399

Job locations

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road,

Tottenham

N15 4RH


Job description

Job responsibilities

  1. To provide specialist input into assessment and therapy for children with SLCN (including autism) and dysphagia and their families (birth to 5 years).
  2. To provide specialist input into autism assessments for children 2-12 years. This could involve detailed development case histories from parents/carers and/or ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule) assessments with the child/young person.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. To have a support role with junior colleagues, therapy assistants and students.
  6. To advise and train carers and multi-agency staff on issues related to both individual cases and effective communication and language strategies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  1. To provide specialist input into assessment and therapy for children with SLCN (including autism) and dysphagia and their families (birth to 5 years).
  2. To provide specialist input into autism assessments for children 2-12 years. This could involve detailed development case histories from parents/carers and/or ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule) assessments with the child/young person.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. To have a support role with junior colleagues, therapy assistants and students.
  6. To advise and train carers and multi-agency staff on issues related to both individual cases and effective communication and language strategies.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications/ Training

Essential

  • 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

  • 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

  • Evidence of a range of experience working with children with dysphagia.
  • Evidence of ADOS training or other autism assessment
  • Evidence of delivering training online or settings to EYPs and parents

Other Requirements

Essential

  • To take the majority of leave in school holidays

Desirable

  • An ability to speak other language e.g. Turkish, Polish, Spanish/ Portuguese, or a non-European language - i.e. an African language.
Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications/ Training

Essential

  • 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

  • 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

  • Evidence of a range of experience working with children with dysphagia.
  • Evidence of ADOS training or other autism assessment
  • Evidence of delivering training online or settings to EYPs and parents

Other Requirements

Essential

  • To take the majority of leave in school holidays

Desirable

  • An ability to speak other language e.g. Turkish, Polish, Spanish/ Portuguese, or a non-European language - i.e. an African language.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road,

Tottenham

N15 4RH


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road,

Tottenham

N15 4RH


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead Specialist SLT for complex needs

Christine Hennigan

christine.hennigan@nhs.net

07469647386

Details

Date posted

19 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year Per annum (pro rata) inclusive of Outer HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

220-WHT-3399

Job locations

Tynemouth Road Health Centre

Tynemouth Road,

Tottenham

N15 4RH


Supporting documents

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