Highly Specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist

Fixed-term 12 months Bart's Health - Royal London Hospital (0.5) & Newham Hospital (0.5)

We're offering an exciting opportunity for a Highly Specialist Neonatal SLT to join our expanding neonatal MDT across two neonatal units. This 12-month maternity-cover post is ideal for an SLT passionate about infant feeding, dysphagia, early communication, neurodevelopment, Family Integrated Care, and surgical pathways.

You'll work within a supportive neonatal workforce and receive ongoing mentoring and leadership from the Clinical Lead Neonatal and Highly specialist SLTs at the Royal London Hospital, alongside close collaboration with the wider MDT on both sites

If you're committed to integrated working, developmental care, and Baby Friendly principles, we'd love to hear from you.

Role Summary

The post holder will work as an autonomous Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist within the Acute Children's Therapies and Play Service across Barts Neonatal units. They will provide highly specialist neonatal expertise in Neonatal developmental feeding, early communication, developmental care, and neonatal dysphagia.

Embedded within the neonatal unit at RLH level 3 centre and Newham University Hospital LNU the post holder will work collaboratively with families and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) including medical and nursing staff, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Respiratory colleagues, Infant Feeding Leads, and other specialist services to deliver Universal, Targeted, and Specialist interventions. They will contribute actively to the Baby Friendly Initiative and Family Integrated Care, supporting high-quality, family-centred neonatal practice.

The post holder will receive regular peer support from the Barts Health Neonatal SLT team, the wider neonatal network, and clinical supervision from the Clinical Neonatal Lead for Speech and Language Therapy. While they will hold independent responsibility for managing the neonatal SLT caseload, they will have access to second opinions and joint working opportunities with the Neonatal Clinical Lead SLT and other specialist MDT colleagues (e.g., Paeds SLT OT, Physiotherapy, Respiratory, ENT) to ensure safe, evidence-based care.

• .Degree/Equivalent in Speech and Language Therapy
• .HCPC Registration
• .Evidence of continuing professional development in the area
• .Training/short course in neonatal/ infant feeding and dysphagia
• . Proven Neonatal interest and CPD, training
• .HEE modules in neonatal care
• .Breast feeding knowledge and skills in at risk infants
• .Knowledge of developmental care, FICARE and BFI frameworks
• .Understanding of neonatal care and network
• .Member RCSLT
• .Member of Neonatal special clinical interest groups
• .Supervision training
• .FINE 1
• .NBO
• .Lactation training
• .BFI training

• .Post-qualification experience working within infant feeding, communication and infant dysphagia (including infant feeding)
• .Experience of working within a paediactic acute multidisciplinary team
• .Experience of working within an acute hospital setting
• .Experience of working within Neonatal MDT
• .Embedded ways of working
• .MDT ward rounds
• .Family integrated care, developmental care and BFI

• .The ability to prioritize, organize and delegate USING Neonatal frameworks, prioritization tools and pathways
• .Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills.
• .Assessment and intervention of early feeding, early communication and dysphagia in ICU
• .Coaching parents in early feeding and early interaction for infants
• .Teaching early communication and feeding for parents and staff
• .Skills for problem solving
• .The ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
• .To have competent IT skills
• .Good auditory discrimination skills and.
• .To have participated in audit or research
• .To have worked independently in managing an neonatal caseload with distance supervision

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.

Royal London and Newham University Hospitals