Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible and innovative therapist to work in a dynamic multidisciplinary community clinic setting with infants and children (aged 0–5 years) with a range of eating, drinking and swallowing (EDS) and communication needs.
The Harrow Speech and Language Therapy Service is an innovative team who strive to provide family‑centred services to the diverse population of the London Borough of Harrow.
This post will require proficient skills in the assessment and management of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties for infants and children in the community within NHS experience
Main duties of the job
The post will involve
1. Working in a community clinic setting
2. Detailed assessment and management of infant feeding and children with eating, drinking and swallowing needs.
3. Risk management of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties for 0–5‑year‑olds.
4. Provide second opinions for feeding assessments within the service.
5. Working in collaboration with parents/carers, health and education professionals involved with the infant/child and other partner organisations.
6. Offer training and workshops to parents/carers/education settings where appropriate.
7. Work in joint clinics with the Enteral Feeding Dietitian.
8. Demonstrate a broad range of practical skills to work with these client groups and have up‑to‑date knowledge of professional/national guidelines and related research.
9. Take an active role in service development alongside the Clinical Service Lead.
10. Head of Service/Clinical Service Leads to develop the service as a whole.
Working for our organisation
You will be joining and welcomed into a diverse therapy team who actively promote and advocate for equality and diversity. We can provide:
11. Highly structured induction.
12. Excellent levels of support and supervision which includes regular clinical and management supervision every 8 weeks and an annual appraisal.
13. Termly peer supervision meetings where you can discuss cases, read articles together and share your experiences.
14. Clearly defined caseloads.
15. A wide range of opportunities for continuing professional development.
16. Easy access to clinical specialists in all clinical areas.
17. Easy access to an established Multidisciplinary Team including Paediatricians.
18. Designated admin and planning time.
19. Involvement in innovative project
20. Memberships at relevant CENs are supported and encouraged.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification on this advert for further info.
Band 7 Paediatric Dysphagia (0.4 WTE / 2 days per week)
Community Dysphagia Team 0-5 years
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to work within the Community Dysphagia Team, providing specialist assessment and intervention for infants and children with eating, drinking and swallowing needs. This 0.4 WTE role offers the opportunity to lead within a highly specialist area while contributing to service development and supporting colleagues across the department.
Main Responsibilities
21. Manage a complex and highly specialist caseload independently, demonstrating sound clinical judgement and effective use of outcome measures, with access to support and supervision as required.
22. Demonstrate highly specialist clinical knowledge within paediatric dysphagia, underpinned by current evidence‑based practice.
23. Reflect on practice with peers and identify professional strengths and development needs.
24. Apply highly specialist clinical reasoning and utilise evidence‑based practice and outcome measures to inform assessment and intervention.
25. Act as a lead Speech and Language Therapist within the relevant clinical specialism, providing expert guidance to the wider team.
26. Provide support and supervision to junior colleagues as directed by the Team Leader.
27. Offer specialist second opinions, advice and training to less experienced colleagues and other professionals involved in the care of children with eating, drinking and swallowing needs.
28. Produce high‑quality reports and case notes that reflect specialist knowledge and clinical reasoning.
29. Communicate effectively—both verbally and in writing—with parents, carers, and clients regarding assessment findings, diagnoses, and therapy plans, including delivering sensitive or difficult information when required.
30. Negotiate effectively with parents, clients and other professionals around case management, recognising and managing potential conflict or breakdown in communication.
31. Use negotiation and problem‑solving skills in the management of conflict across a range of clinical and professional situations.
32. Address initial complaints sensitively, working to resolve concerns before escalation.
33. Attend and contribute to Speech and Language Therapy team meetings, participating in projects, audits and service development initiatives.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.
Vaccination
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
34. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
35. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
36. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.