Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

If you have postgraduate experience in the specialist assessment and management of both speech sound disorders and communication difficulties in paediatrics as well as an enthusiasm for cutting-edge evidence-based practice, patient and family focused care, collaborative team working, quality improvement and innovation and digital transformation, we would very much like to hear from you!

The Cleft Lip and Palate SLT Team is part of the wider Outpatient Surgical Speech and Hearing Service (SSH) which also includes Craniofacial, Cochlear Implant, Complex Airway/Voice SLT Teams. The team is part of a multi-disciplinary service that delivers tertiary level care to children, young people and adults within the North Thames Region who have cleft lip and palate/ a variety of conditions associated with cleft/VPD.

You would join our innovative and supportive team of 6 Cleft SLTs who work across a number of sites (Great Ormond Street Hospital, Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, expansion to North London anticipated). The post is based primarily at Great Ormond Street Hospital with meetings and cross cover provided to the multi-site service, as required.

The Speech and Language Therapy Service has a Professional Lead and additional leadership from the Head of Therapies and the Trust’s Chief AHP. We work jointly with our AHP colleagues to support Research, Education, Quality Assurance, Outcomes and Workforce agendas.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for the provision of a highly specialist speech and language therapy service involving the assessment, complex differential diagnosis, diagnostic management of and therapy to patients with Cleft Lip and Palate/VPD and related conditions. You will be expected to also work across the SSH Team where required and develop your skillset in the assessment and management of speech and communication difficulties in these conditions also.

You will provide high level specialist advice in assessing, devising and demonstrating therapy programmes and recommendations to community personnel, including teachers, SENCOs and particularly the speech and language therapy profession. You will contribute to the auditing of children with cleft lip and palate and the national reporting of outcomes to the Cleft CRANE Registry, undergoing pre-requisite training.

You will be supported by senior clinicians and join a dynamic team of therapists with a range of specialist skills. Joint assessments of complex cases is encouraged across all specialties.

You should have experience in managing patients with speech sound disorders with excellent transcription skills or a desire to hone these. Experience with patients with cleft lip and palate is desirable.

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.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.