Acute paediatric clinical lead

Job overview

We are inviting expressions of interest for a 2-month (August–September 2026) part-time (0.6 WTE) secondment to a Band 8a Clinical Lead Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist position based at Whittington Hospital.

This role provides clinical leadership to the SLT team and specialist clinical input across paediatric acute and neonatal feeding pathways as well as overseeing the paediatric SLT service, which includes outpatient feeding clinics and video fluoroscopy.

The post holder will work closely with multidisciplinary teams across acute paediatrics and neonatal services to support safe and effective care.

We are looking for an experienced clinician with a strong background in preterm neonatal feeding and experience in paediatric VFS. The team is well established and works closely with a range of professionals across the Trust, and the role requires someone who can work reliably within existing systems while supporting service demands. If you are interested, please get in touch to discuss further.

Main duties of the job

Autonomous practitioner responsible for managing and prioritising a specialist caseload of neonates, infants, and young children with feeding and swallowing disorders (inpatient and outpatient) Delivers a highly specialist service for complex conditions including prematurity, congenital syndromes, neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal disorders, anatomical abnormalities, and behavioural/psychological feeding issues Provides assessment, differential diagnosis, and intervention programmes Holds advanced knowledge of objective swallowing assessments (including video fluoroscopy) Demonstrates specialist expertise in tracheostomy management and its impact on swallowing and communication Strong understanding of early speech, language, and communication development Works with physically and emotionally challenging conditions Provides advice, training, and support to parents, carers, and healthcare staff Applies detailed knowledge of positioning and handling, and its impact on feeding and swallowing in children with disabilities

Working for our organisation

This Speech and Language Therapy post is based at the Whittington Hospital, in Islington. The Whittington Hospital is a Teaching Hospital, with links with the Royal Free Hospital, the UCL Medical School and the Middlesex University. The Whittington Hospital is a busy District General Hospital, with Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), Special Care baby unit (SCBU) and Paediatric ward as well as a large outpatient caseload. Islington is a culturally diverse borough with many multi ethnic, bilingual and multi lingual speaking communities. This may impact on the client’s ability to engage in the therapeutic process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Excellent communication and counselling skills

Ability to empathise and support parents/carers to understand child’s disability

Manage high levels of parental anxiety and distress

Communicate complex information effectively across diverse needs

Skilled in multidisciplinary and multi-agency working

Provides reassurance and builds confidence through specialist expertise

Strong negotiation skills with team members, carers, and professionals

Clinical lead for paediatric dysphagia SLT service (hospital and ICO)

Lead development of protocols and programmes locally, regionally, nationally

Collaborate with specialist services to ensure shared care pathways

Ensure effective information transfer between services

Provide supervision, support, and second opinions to colleagues

Contribute to policy development and clinical protocols

Lead project groups across the service

Develop, deliver, and evaluate training (local, regional, national)

Deliver lectures to undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (MSc) students

Provide clinical education and assess students on placement

Coordinate student placements and clinical training

Supervise staff, conduct appraisals, and provide feedback

Support induction, statutory training, and CPD of team members

Identify audit and research opportunities

Initiate research proposals and participate in data collection

Person specification

education and qualifications

Essential criteria

BSc. Speech Path or Equivalent (including Dip. CST)

Successful completion of highly specialist post graduate study relevant to field of paediatric dysphagia, at MSc level or equivalent (dysphagia, paediatric dysphagia/feeding, counselling and management) including videofluoroscopy

Successful completion of highly specialist/expert short courses relevant to field at MSc level or equivalent (Parent/ child interaction, Premature and Neonatal feeding course, accredited paediatric dysphagia courses, cleft lip and palate courses, behavioural feeding)

Behaviour modification programme for parents and children around feeding

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent communication skills - Excellent written skills

Make accurate diagnosis from a paediatric videoflouroscopy assessment

Advanced skills in delivering presentations and training including complex adaptations to presentation / training style for a range of audiences

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Of the key characteristics leading to a highly specialist differential diagnosis of babies and children with swallowing and feeding problems

Of a highly specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate paediatric feeding and swallowing skills

Of developmental care and it’s role and limitations in the neonatal unit.

Highly specialist / complex lifting &/or positioning of babies and children for swallowing /feeding

Of staff management, including elements of the following: Setting and monitoring staff performance targets Appraisal systems Interviewing Mentoring, advising, supporting and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff

personal qualities

Essential criteria

flexibility

Ability to support /deputise for the SLT Clinical Manager for the services to the Whittington Hospital

Able to reflect on practice

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.

Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.

Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.

Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.

Participate in required training and supervision.

Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.