Highly Specialist Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

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.

Main duties of the job

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.