Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Job Summary: We are looking for a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work with children and young people who have dysphagia and complex needs. You will see children and families in our Child Development Centre, in local clinics, nurseries, schools, special schools and in their homes.
About Us: Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. We have over 125 sites across the South of England, including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children’s centres, schools and people’s homes.
Values:
* We’re Kind
* We’re Fair
* We Listen
* We Care
Details:
* Posted: 06 October 2025
* Band: 7
* Salary: £53,751 to £60,651 a year (p.a.)
* Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
* Working Pattern: Full‑time
* Reference: 277-7503455-CYP
* Location: Acorns, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Frognal Avenue, Sidcup, DA14 6LT
Job Description:
* Manage and supervise the team of therapists and assistants providing communication and dysphagia support within the Child Development Centre and special/mainstream schools.
* Provide highly specialist second opinions to other speech and language therapists and external professionals.
* Plan and organise outreach support to therapists working in early years and mainstream settings to support children’s transition, and ongoing dysphagia management.
* Contribute to multidisciplinary diagnostic assessments as part of the Child Development Centre and the multidisciplinary Paediatric Dysphagia pathway.
* Lead developments within the Dysphagia and Complex Needs team and contribute to the broader service, including policy and procedure development, evidence‑based practice, care pathways and outcome development.
* Provide second opinions to other Speech and Language Therapists / external professionals.
* Serve on the services senior leadership team and contribute to Trust and professional‑wide initiatives.
Qualifications:
* Recognised Speech & Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent.
* Evidence of post‑graduate paediatric dysphagia training.
* Registered member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
Desirable Qualifications:
* 4 years post‑graduate experience working with children and young people who have complex needs.
Experience:
* Essential: 4 years post‑graduate experience working with children and young people who have complex needs.
* Desirable: Experience of multidisciplinary and inter‑agency working.
* Essential: Experience of assessing and implementing a variety of low‑tech AAC support strategies.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure check will be required 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.
Employer Details:
* Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
* Address: Acorns, Queen Mary’s Hospital, Frognal Avenue, Sidcup, DA14 6LT
* Website: http://oxleas.nhs.uk/
Seniority Level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type: Contract
Job Function: Health Care Provider
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