Speech & Language Therapist Complex Needs & Dysphagia (including ABI): Sponsorship Available

Sirona care & health CIC

Job summary

Are you passionate about working with children with complex needs? We are looking for an experienced, dysphagia qualified Speech and Language Therapist to manage a caseload of children aged 0-18 with complex eating, drinking, swallowing and communication needs, including those resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI). You will be supported by the Clinical Lead for Dysphagia and the School Age Complex Needs Team Lead. You will also have support from the neurorehabilitation Speech and Language Therapy Lead at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

The Children’s Therapy Services identify, assess, support and manage the health needs of children and young people aged 0-18 years, working closely with children and their families in health settings and family homes; and with education colleagues in early years and school settings.

You will work across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire supporting pre-school children with complex needs and their families in the community, as well as children of all ages with ABI. Strong dysphagia competencies and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) knowledge are required. You will see children for uni-professional appointments and as part of our multi-disciplinary child centred assessments.

Main duties of the job

  • A highly specialist clinical practitioner, being a source of expertise, providing support, supervision, teaching, advice and consultation across BNSSG. You will offer highly specialist clinical expertise within complex needs and dysphagia and carry your own highly specialist caseload.
  • You will triage new referrals to the team alongside other band 7 practitioners, according to agreed referral criteria.
  • You will be responsible for line managing junior colleagues
  • You will independently manage the small ABI caseload across BNSSG, liaising with the hospital neurorehabilitation team as required.

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience working with children with complex needs
  • Experience working in paediatric dysphagia
  • Experience of line management
  • Experience as a Children’s Therapist with significant experience of working in a community setting
  • Ability to implement treatment of children and young people with highly complex developmental, neurological and/or sensory conditions

Desirable

  • Experience working with children with ABI
  • Under 1s dysphagia competencies
  • Experience of working with children/ young people who require adapted / alternative methods of communication (e.g. Makaton)

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Post-graduate dysphagia qualification
  • HCPC Registration
  • Degree level qualifications recognised by RCSLT

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).

Closing Date: 26 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.