Job overview
Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking for your next leadership opportunity? Join West London NHS Trust's Hounslow Children's Therapies Service as our Lead for Complex Needs and Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) and play a key role in shaping specialist services for babies, children and young people.
This is an exciting opportunity to combine clinical expertise, leadership and innovation within a highly respected multidisciplinary team. You'll lead the development of our Complex Needs pathway, provide expert support to colleagues, influence service improvement and hold a small clinical caseload working closely with Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Community Paediatrics, Education and partner organisations to deliver outstanding, family-centred care.
Post graduate dysphagia training is desirable, and a small clinical caseload could be included in the role.
Main duties of the job
As our Lead for Complex Needs, you'll have the opportunity to:
Provide highly specialist assessment, intervention and expert clinical advice, including supporting children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Supervise, mentor and develop Speech and Language Therapists, assistants and students through clinical supervision, teaching and coaching.
Drive service improvement, quality initiatives and innovation, helping shape the future of Children's Therapies across Hounslow.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Community Paediatrics, Education, Health Visiting and wider partner organisations to deliver joined-up care.
Continue developing your own specialist practice through protected CPD, leadership opportunities and participation in research, audit and evidence-based practice.
Join a friendly, supportive and ambitious team committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate highly complex or sensitive advice and information to others
- Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills
- Able to manage competing demands/ priorities. Be flexible and organised.
- Highly developed analytical, evaluation and reflection skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of assessing and using paper based and power based AAC
- Fully embedded understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
- Leadership skills, including self-leadership
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as a Speech and Language Therapist working within specialist field (e.g. complex needs / AAC)
- Experience of carrying out specialist assessments and intervention relevant to the client group
- Extensive experience of assessing and implementing the use of AAC (A total communication approach)
- Extensive experience of supervising less experienced SLTs
- Experience of training others including parents/ caregivers in specialist area
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree / diploma or other professional Speech and Language Therapy qualification
- Registered with HCPC
- MSc or equivalent post graduate study and training in specialist area (e.g. complex needs / AAC)
Desirable
- Post graduate training in dysphagia
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Lead Paediatric Speech & Language Therapist (AAC) with West London NHS Trust in Southall, London, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £55,524 - £62,652 Per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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