Speech and Language Therapy Neonate/Dysphagia Lead

The closing date is 29 April 2026

Provide a specialist Speech and Language Therapy service for Neonates and Dysphagia in line with the guidance of the Operational Lead for Children's Therapy, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

• Provide specialist assessment, support and advice for Neonates within the Grimsby and Scunthorpe units.
• Provide specialist assessment, support and advice for inpatients and community children and young people with dysphagia (feeding and swallowing difficulties).
• Support and develop the service, including development of pathways, audits, training and resources.
• Support the wider MDT, including taking a lead in meetings.
• Support and develop Speech and Language colleagues regarding dysphagia and neonate competencies.
• Provide specialist second opinions and advice.

• Communicate effectively, via verbal or written means, with patients, their families/carers, members of the multidisciplinary team, volunteer agencies and Speech & Language Therapy colleagues.
• Receive and provide highly complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a range of critically unwell patients and/or their carers.
• Demonstrate an ability to prepare and give presentations to colleagues, members of the multidisciplinary team, service users or interested agencies.
• Lead the MDT ensuring collaborative working with Medical, Nursing, GPs, Health visitors and Allied Health Professionals, leading ward rounds, case conferences, clinics and community settings as appropriate.

• Demonstrate proven skills in the assessment and management of neonatal and acute/community paediatric swallowing and communication disorders.
• Develop and maintain skills and professional knowledge specific to neonatal care / Paediatric Dysphagia and generally within paediatric Speech & Language Therapy.
• Demonstrate skills in videofluoroscopy (VFS) to support the service for the acute paediatric/neonatal population.
• Keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in tracheostomy management and videofluoroscopy.
• Demonstrate established skills in working in critical care settings including with infants who may require tracheostomy and/or mechanical ventilation.
• Design and provide goal based intensive therapy programmes for swallowing and/or communication disorders.
• Actively seek continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and record these as agreed.
• Adhere to all Trust and departmental policies, procedures and guidelines and attend mandatory training.

• Obtain and analyse relevant information from different sources to make a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition, prognosis and treatment plans.
• Use appropriate tools to assess and analyse disorders and formulate treatment plans independently.

• Prioritise patient contact independently, with overall scheduling guidance in conjunction with other Clinical Leads and the MDT.
• Demonstrate effective time management skills, prioritising both clinical and non clinical responsibilities appropriately.

Keyboard and writing skills beneficial for digital documentation and transcription.

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy (or equivalent)
• HCPC registration
• RCSLT competencies in Neonates
• Qualification in Videofluoroscopy and/or tracheostomy

• Significant experience of working in paediatric and neonatal critical care settings.
• Proven experience of multi disciplinary working.
• Experience in supporting and leading Videofluoroscopy clinics.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Member of appropriate Clinical Excellence Networks (e.g. BAPM, RCSLT Neonatal CEN, BLISS).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

We strongly value the different perspectives and ideas a diverse workforce brings to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity and expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances.

In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Recruitment & Workforce team will use and hold your personal data for the intended purpose and in line with the Recruitment & Workforce Privacy Statement.

We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect the same commitment from all staff and volunteers.

Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check if it is required for the role.