Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

The closing date is 21 April 2026

Job summary

The post holder will provide a highly specialist speech and language therapy service for children and young people with severe and complex learning difficulties in Perseid special schools, in accordance with the Service Level Agreement for Sutton Health and Care Alliance.

They will contribute to the development of the special schools speech and language therapy service for children and young people. They will plan and provide highly specialist speech and language therapy assessment, advice and treatment to a defined caseload of children and young people with severe and complex needs. They will work in partnership with the children and young people, their families and with other professions and agencies, including school staff and the wider health team, to reduce the impact of these difficulties on the children's and young people's social and emotional development, their learning and their ability to participate in daily life.

They will work autonomously and without direct supervision and be accountable for their own actions.

Main duties of the job

General Duties

Be responsible for a clinical caseload of children and young people attending Perseid special schools as identified by the service specification, managing a defined caseload independently and prioritising own workload to ensure effective service provision

Manage the needs of children and young people presenting with eating and drinking difficulties, including assessment, diagnosis and treatment as appropriate

Provide support and training to families and school staff to enable eating and drinking programmes to be implemented as part of clients' therapy packages

To assess, diagnose, treat and manage a defined caseload of Early years children with complex communication needs within the school including the use of AAC devices where identified

Provide training to enable speech and language communication programmes to be implemented as part of the client's therapy package

Be involved in planning the development of the speech and language service in liaison with the school management team, Therapy lead, and Service Manager for Children's Specialist Nursing and Therapies

Act as a resource to the SHC Alliance speech and language service and other agencies.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Details

Date posted

09 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£45,953 to £54,254 a year Term time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Term time hours

Reference number

343-7845843-AG

Job locations

Perseid School

middleton road

Morden

SM4 6RU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification.

The recruiting team reserve the right to close this advertisement early once applications reach maximum limit.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification.

The recruiting team reserve the right to close this advertisement early once applications reach maximum limit.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
  • Postgraduate dysphagia training at foundation level and working towards Proficient level

Desirable

  • Relevant post-registration specialist education
  • Evidence of attendance at short courses to develop specialist skills
  • Evidence of additional training in use of high tech AAC
  • Registration with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Experience

Essential

  • specialist knowledge/experience in paediatric SLT including dysphagia, communication for under 5 and high tech AAC
  • Experience of working with children and young people with eating and drinking difficulties, complex needs and those requiring an AAC approach
  • Knowledge/experience in the use of evidence based assessment and treatment approaches and practices Evidence of effective multi-agency work
  • Evidence of use of prioritisation, clinical risk assessments and outcome measures

Desirable

  • Experience in setting up new projects/initiatives

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Good knowledge of AAC devices appropriate for this population
  • Specialist knowledge and understanding of dysphagia to enable appropriate clinical decision making and management of risk
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills including observation, listening and empathy
  • Good organisation/time management skills

Other Relevant Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Ability to work as a team member and promote collaborative multidisciplinary and multiagency approach
  • Evidence of own self development through appraisal, CPD and portfolio
  • Ability to support and develop other team members

Desirable

  • Membership of relevant specialist groups
Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
  • Postgraduate dysphagia training at foundation level and working towards Proficient level

Desirable

  • Relevant post-registration specialist education
  • Evidence of attendance at short courses to develop specialist skills
  • Evidence of additional training in use of high tech AAC
  • Registration with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Experience

Essential

  • specialist knowledge/experience in paediatric SLT including dysphagia, communication for under 5 and high tech AAC
  • Experience of working with children and young people with eating and drinking difficulties, complex needs and those requiring an AAC approach
  • Knowledge/experience in the use of evidence based assessment and treatment approaches and practices Evidence of effective multi-agency work
  • Evidence of use of prioritisation, clinical risk assessments and outcome measures

Desirable

  • Experience in setting up new projects/initiatives

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Good knowledge of AAC devices appropriate for this population
  • Specialist knowledge and understanding of dysphagia to enable appropriate clinical decision making and management of risk
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills including observation, listening and empathy
  • Good organisation/time management skills

Other Relevant Requirements

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Ability to work as a team member and promote collaborative multidisciplinary and multiagency approach
  • Evidence of own self development through appraisal, CPD and portfolio
  • Ability to support and develop other team members

Desirable

  • Membership of relevant specialist groups

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

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Perseid School

middleton road

Morden

SM4 6RU


Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Perseid School

middleton road

Morden

SM4 6RU


Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Childrens Service Manager

Ellie oneill

e.oneill3@nhs.net

07385553153

Details

Date posted

09 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£45,953 to £54,254 a year Term time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Term time hours

Reference number

343-7845843-AG

Job locations

Perseid School

middleton road

Morden

SM4 6RU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)