Job summary
Looking
for a role with real variety, strong MDT collaboration and the chance to grow
specialist clinical skills?
Leeds
Childrens Hospital is offering an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and
forward thinking Band 7 Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist to join our
acute team.
Youll
play a key role in delivering high quality care for children with complex
feeding and communication needs, with the chance to develop expertise in
specialist areas including respiratory, oncology and surgery. Working within a
supportive, well established MDT, youll help guide children and families
through their hospital journey while contributing to the highest standards of
care.
This
post offers excellent scope for professional development, including
opportunities in research, service improvement and advanced clinical practice
within a stimulating and collaborative environment.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
13/03/2026
Planned Interview
Date
18/03/2026
Main duties of the job
This
cross site role spans Leeds Childrens Hospital and St James University
Hospital, offering the chance to work at an advanced level as a Highly
Specialist Paediatric Acute SLT. Youll bring expertise in assessing,
diagnosing and managing Eating, Drinking and Swallowing difficulties,
alongside supporting children with complex communication needs.
As
a key member of a well established MDTincluding Physiotherapy, Occupational
Therapy, Dietetics, Nursing and Therapy Assistantsyoull contribute to high
quality, collaborative care. Strong communication, organisation and teamwork
are essential, along with a clear commitment to ongoing professional
development.
The
post provides scope to develop specialist skills in key clinical areas
(related to clinical demand), deliver training, complete pre and post operative assessments, and support
safe, effective transfer of care across local and regional pathways. Youll
work closely with patients, families and wider Health and Social Care teams
to ensure practice aligns with current clinical standards and drivers
About us
This
vibrant cross site role spans Leeds Childrens Hospital and St James
University Hospital, placing you at the heart of acute paediatric care. As a
Highly Specialist Paediatric SLT, youll use your advanced skills in
assessing and managing Eating, Drinking and Swallowing needs, as well as
supporting children with complex communication challenges.
Youll
be a core part of a supportive, well established MDT, working closely with
Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians and Nurses. Together,
youll shape meaningful, child centred care that supports families through
some of their most important moments.
Were
looking for someone who thrives on collaboration, communicates with
confidence and compassion, and brings strong organisational skills to a fast
paced environment. A commitment to ongoing development is essential, and
youll have opportunities to grow specialist expertise in key clinical areas
and deliver training
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE
To
assess differentially diagnose and manage complex communication and
swallowing breakdown relating to a wide range of conditions. Utilise highly
specialist knowledge in line with local policies/protocols and professional
guidelines. Provide specialist second opinions on request to other health and
social care professionals. Build links with allied agencies across primary
and secondary care improving local and regional care pathways across
in/outpatient settings.
Diagnose,
assess, treat and manage complex communication, swallowing, cognitive and
emotional impairments. Ensure all patients have opportunities to improve
their swallowing/communication function and decrease reliance on enteral
feeds and communication aids.
Develop
a rehabilitation care pathway focussing on education, enablement and
empowerment of service users and their carers.
The
post holder will:
3.1 Manage Highly Specialist caseloads
ensuring their complex communication and swallowing needs are met safely.
3.2 Provide seamless pathway of care with
locality services ensuring equitable citywide provision.
3.3 Manage local and regional complex
caseloads.
3.4 Plan, coordinate and deliver medical
education and training programs for health/social staff, patients, care
providers, regional SLTs and students.
3.5 Act as patient advocate facilitating
communication in order to secure compliance with Mental Capacity Act.
3.6 Audit caseloads and provision to measure
value of input across this care pathway and evaluate alternative models of
provision.
3.7
Optimise service provision by balancing provision between specialist Acute
and Outpatient clinics.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE
To
assess differentially diagnose and manage complex communication and
swallowing breakdown relating to a wide range of conditions. Utilise highly
specialist knowledge in line with local policies/protocols and professional
guidelines. Provide specialist second opinions on request to other health and
social care professionals. Build links with allied agencies across primary
and secondary care improving local and regional care pathways across
in/outpatient settings.
Diagnose,
assess, treat and manage complex communication, swallowing, cognitive and
emotional impairments. Ensure all patients have opportunities to improve
their swallowing/communication function and decrease reliance on enteral
feeds and communication aids.
Develop
a rehabilitation care pathway focussing on education, enablement and
empowerment of service users and their carers.
The
post holder will:
3.1 Manage Highly Specialist caseloads
ensuring their complex communication and swallowing needs are met safely.
3.2 Provide seamless pathway of care with
locality services ensuring equitable citywide provision.
3.3 Manage local and regional complex
caseloads.
3.4 Plan, coordinate and deliver medical
education and training programs for health/social staff, patients, care
providers, regional SLTs and students.
3.5 Act as patient advocate facilitating
communication in order to secure compliance with Mental Capacity Act.
3.6 Audit caseloads and provision to measure
value of input across this care pathway and evaluate alternative models of
provision.
3.7
Optimise service provision by balancing provision between specialist Acute
and Outpatient clinics.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree accredited by RCSLT
- Health Professions Council license to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Post Graduate training in and maintenance of: RCSLT Proficient / Level C or Enhanced Dysphagia Training & Competency Framework and Post Graduate Qualification in Paediatric Dysphagia
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses related to the specialism
Desirable
- EKSF / Appraisal training
- Post Graduate training in: Neonatal feeding difficulties VFSS Tracheostomy Advanced communication skills FEES competencies
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills. Active and empathetic listening/ counselling skills. Able to communicate complex, sensitive condition-related information from assessment to patients/carer
- Sensitive to the needs of others and has an awareness and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs.Values differences; regards people as individuals and appreciates value of diversity
- Able to work as part of a team, establishing and maintaining positive relationships with others.
- Collaborative working with both internal and external colleagues and willingness to help and assist wherever possible and appropriate.
- Highly motivated and able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload
- Positive attitude to dealing with change; flexible and adaptable, willing to change and accept change and to explore new ways of doing things and approaches
- Has a strong degree of personal integrity and reliability; able to adhere to standards of conduct based on a sense of right and wrong and be dependable and reliable
- Ability to formulate independent clinical decisions following assessment.
- Able to negotiate with client / carer and medical / AHP teams around individual case management
- Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to complex communication/ swallowing disorders
- Highly developed analytical, reflective, negotiation and problem solving skills.
- Excellent time management , organizational and prioritisation skills
- Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
Desirable
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office
Experience
Essential
- Specialist Knowledge of relevant client groups
- Well established knowledge of RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines/ policies both locally and nationally in the specialism as well as relevant national strategy and drivers.
- Experience in conducting a range of assessments (VF preferred) to support diagnosis and management of patients presenting with complex dysphagia
- Substantial SLT experience post qualification with significant experience working in the specialism of complex paediatric feeding difficulties and communication.
- Experience working at advanced level in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of the highly specialist clinical expertise relevant to the acute paediatric specialism.
- Experience in supporting competencies with less experienced Speech and Language Therapists.
- Experience in the provision of second opinions and advice to internal and external professional colleagues.
- Experience in delivering Communication and Swallowing training to SLT colleagues and other members of the MDT
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
Desirable
- Has attended Clinical Supervisory Skills Course, or equivalent
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including audit cycle, continuous quality improvement and user involvement. Experience in research/audit
- Line Management experience and experience in conducting appraisals
- Experience of working in Specialist MDTs and acting as a specialist SLT resource.
- VF Competency
- Tracheostomy Competency
- Experience of working with AAC
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree accredited by RCSLT
- Health Professions Council license to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
- Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Post Graduate training in and maintenance of: RCSLT Proficient / Level C or Enhanced Dysphagia Training & Competency Framework and Post Graduate Qualification in Paediatric Dysphagia
- Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses related to the specialism
Desirable
- EKSF / Appraisal training
- Post Graduate training in: Neonatal feeding difficulties VFSS Tracheostomy Advanced communication skills FEES competencies
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills. Active and empathetic listening/ counselling skills. Able to communicate complex, sensitive condition-related information from assessment to patients/carer
- Sensitive to the needs of others and has an awareness and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs.Values differences; regards people as individuals and appreciates value of diversity
- Able to work as part of a team, establishing and maintaining positive relationships with others.
- Collaborative working with both internal and external colleagues and willingness to help and assist wherever possible and appropriate.
- Highly motivated and able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload
- Positive attitude to dealing with change; flexible and adaptable, willing to change and accept change and to explore new ways of doing things and approaches
- Has a strong degree of personal integrity and reliability; able to adhere to standards of conduct based on a sense of right and wrong and be dependable and reliable
- Ability to formulate independent clinical decisions following assessment.
- Able to negotiate with client / carer and medical / AHP teams around individual case management
- Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to complex communication/ swallowing disorders
- Highly developed analytical, reflective, negotiation and problem solving skills.
- Excellent time management , organizational and prioritisation skills
- Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
Desirable
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office
Experience
Essential
- Specialist Knowledge of relevant client groups
- Well established knowledge of RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines/ policies both locally and nationally in the specialism as well as relevant national strategy and drivers.
- Experience in conducting a range of assessments (VF preferred) to support diagnosis and management of patients presenting with complex dysphagia
- Substantial SLT experience post qualification with significant experience working in the specialism of complex paediatric feeding difficulties and communication.
- Experience working at advanced level in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of the highly specialist clinical expertise relevant to the acute paediatric specialism.
- Experience in supporting competencies with less experienced Speech and Language Therapists.
- Experience in the provision of second opinions and advice to internal and external professional colleagues.
- Experience in delivering Communication and Swallowing training to SLT colleagues and other members of the MDT
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
Desirable
- Has attended Clinical Supervisory Skills Course, or equivalent
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including audit cycle, continuous quality improvement and user involvement. Experience in research/audit
- Line Management experience and experience in conducting appraisals
- Experience of working in Specialist MDTs and acting as a specialist SLT resource.
- VF Competency
- Tracheostomy Competency
- Experience of working with 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).
