Paediatric SLT Dysphagia LeadNHS

Job summary

Are you an experienced Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist with a passion for Eating, Drinking and Swallowing (EDS) and a drive to lead and inspire others?

Join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's Children and Young People's Therapy Service (CYPTS) and play a pivotal role in shaping and developing specialist EDS services for children and young people across Somerset. This is an opportunity to combine highly specialist clinical practice with leadership, service development and workforce support, helping ensure children and their families receive the best possible care and outcomes.

Alongside leading our growing EDS service, you'll have the unique opportunity to spend one day each week supporting babies and families within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital, working as part of a specialist multidisciplinary team.

You'll be joining a supportive and collaborative therapy service made up of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Therapy Support Practitioners and Administrators. Together, we work across clinics, schools, early years settings and family homes, making a meaningful difference to children and young people aged 0-19 and their families across Somerset.

Based in either Taunton or Yeovil, this is an ideal role for a clinician who wants to influence practice, lead innovation and help shape the future of paediatric EDS services.

Main duties of the job

As Clinical Lead for EDS, you will:

• Provide expert clinical leadership and specialist advice for children and young people with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
• Lead and clinically supervise Speech and Language Therapists working within the EDS pathway, supporting high-quality, evidence-based practice across Somerset.
• Manage a complex specialist caseload and contribute expert assessment, diagnosis and intervention for children with feeding and swallowing needs.
• Work closely with colleagues across health, education and social care to deliver joined-up, family-centred care.
• Drive service improvement projects, develop clinical pathways and contribute to policy and guideline development.
• Deliver training, mentoring and support to therapists, multidisciplinary colleagues and families.
• Provide specialist support to babies and families within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and support transitions into community services.

Job description

The Children and Young People's Therapy Service provides integrated Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy services to children and young people across Somerset. Our teams work closely with families, schools, health services and community partners to help children achieve their full potential and reach the goals that matter most to them.

In this senior specialist role, you will act as the clinical expert for eating, drinking and swallowing across the service. You will provide leadership to therapists working within the pathway, represent the service at multi-agency forums and help shape the future development of EDS provision across the county.

You will be confident managing highly complex clinical presentations, providing second opinions and supporting multidisciplinary decision-making. You'll also play a key role in developing colleagues through supervision, training and mentoring, while contributing to quality improvement, audit and service evaluation activities.

We are looking for someone who brings extensive paediatric Speech and Language Therapy experience, including significant expertise in eating, drinking and swallowing disorders. You will hold HCPC registration, be a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and have completed specialist postgraduate training in EDS practice. Strong leadership skills, experience of supervision and a passion for service development are essential.

In return, you'll benefit from working within a supportive leadership team that values innovation, collaboration and professional growth. You'll have opportunities to contribute to service development, lead projects, participate in specialist interest groups, shape training programmes and further develop your leadership career.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.