Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist Dysphagia&Complex Needs

Job summary

Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist Dysphagia & Complex Needs

The post is being offered as 1 WTE

37.5 Hours Per Week

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated band 7 Speech and Language Therapist in Barnet Children’s Integrated Therapies Complex Needs and Dysphagia team in our early years complex needs and dysphagia team. The post is being offered as 1 WTE to join our wonderful team.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be based within the Barnet Complex Needs and Dysphagia SLT Team which delivers services to children aged 0 – 5 years in their homes, health clinics and in early years settings.

The postholder will hold a clinical caseload of complex children including babies / young children with dysphagia and provide both assessment and intervention. This will involve a high level of MDT working and regular liaison with specialist and tertiary services. You will work alongside SLT colleagues who carry similar caseloads and work closely together. The post holder will be expected to support the communication development and where necessary the swallowing /feeding needs of children on their caseload.

Working as a specialist in early years, the post holder will also provide training, second opinions and supervision to other therapists within the team and the wider workforce.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
• Degree or equivalent and Licence to Practice
• Membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC
• Further study to master’s or equivalent level in clinical field, including completion of short courses
• Member of relevant clinical excellence network

Experience

Essential

• oWork with babies and children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties including those associated with complex needs and/ or feeding difficulties
• oCollaborative work with parents and other professionals, across settings
• oTraining others, supervising and/or supporting others
• oKnowledge of the evidence base of area of speciality (feeding difficulties of babies and children)
• oExperience of working in the community
• oWork with the Clinical team lead in the day to day management of other team members including annual leave, and sickness monitoring and carrying out appraisals.
• oExperience of clinical governance framework to monitor and improve patient care
• oExperience of organising and implement training programmes for colleagues and other professionals
• oUse of outcome measures
• o Involvement in audit and research

Desirable

• Clinical educator training
• Minimum 5 yrs post Postgraduate experience of working with children in a paediatric setting
• Dysphagia experience at the highly specialist level including a minimum of 2 years experience working with babies and infants with complex needs

Knowledge/skills

Essential

• An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance
• Sound understanding of confidentiality
• Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community
• oNormal Child Development of Speech & Language and general developmental milestones
• oAdvanced knowledge of appropriate range of assessments and interventions for education and in field of complex physical and cognitive disabilities, utilising a range of approaches and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits to individual children.
• oReligious, Cultural and Linguistic issues impacting upon caseload management principles and models of Adult-Child Interaction
• oIn-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (especially Code of Practice), Education Practice and Policy and Foundation Curriculum
• oUnderstanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to the client group) especially within MDT
• oKnowledge of professional standards of record keeping
• oHolistic view of communication and philosophy to back this
• oAwareness of adapting communication styles with different people
• oAwareness of the need to gain support from supervising clinician
• oKnowledge of the evidence base of area of speciality (feeding difficulties of babies and children)

Desirable

• Previous NHS experience
• Current issues in the delivery of community based services Health needs in a diverse cultural and socio- economic community

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Good organisational skills
• Good verbal communication
• Good written communication
• Good listening skills
• Good problem-solving skills
• Manual dexterity required for Makaton signing and working with a child with physical disabilities including moving and handling
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership
• IT literate and able to use a range of specialist programmes including word processing and use of email
• Able to independently manage own and others’ clinical caseload and prioritise as required
• Clear, concise verbal and written reporting skills and excellent presentation skills of complex information
• Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit individuals’ needs
• Ability to deal with and resolve conflict demonstrating highly developed negotiation and Problem-solving Skills
• Sensitivity to others’ differing needs
• Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
• Well-developed concentration skills

Other

Essential

• oTo be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
• oCommitment to equal opportunities
• oProfessional manner
• oUses initiative
• oCommitment to Continuing Professional Development
• oAble to respond to pressure appropriately

Desirable

• Car driver

Personal qualities

Essential

• Flexibility
• Able to take the initiative
• Awareness of and Demonstration of the Trust values

Closing Date: 2 August 2026