Acute Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

The Acute Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team are excited to be advertising this role to join our team of 7 SLTs working at Southampton Children's Hospital. This post is ideal for a team-focussed, enthusiastic and experienced SLT who is passionate about working with babies, children and their families in a tertiary setting., The department of dietetics and speech and language therapy employs approximately 130 staff, with clinical experts working across the range of specialties, providing acute services in both adults and paediatrics. As a tertiary hospital, we have senior SLTs in a wide range of specialist areas. There is access to regular CPD sessions, and opportunities to engage in service development and research.
The onsite Wellbeing Hub is an excellent resource for staff complete with a café, various meeting spaces, a free gym and changing facilities.
If you are the successful candidate, you will:

• Work as part of the Acute Paediatric SLT team, across a range of specialist areas e.g. general paediatrics, neurology, complex feeding, respiratory, ENT, instrumental assessment, etc (can be flexible depending on candidate's experience),


• Provide regular communication and swallowing assessment and therapy to babies and children with complex needs,


• Continually represent the SLT service within Paediatrics,


• Be innovative in your approach to patient care and service delivery, whilst being part of MDT service initiatives,


• Work closely with the team of paediatric SLTs and wider MDT,


• Support patients to have instrumental assessment of their swallowing, and


• Offer training and support to less experienced SLTs and other staff.

What experience/skills are needed
If you are:

• Experienced in working with babies and children with complex communication and swallowing difficulties,


• Experienced in working in an acute setting,


• Skilled in using instrumental assessments e.g. FEES and/or VF,


• Experienced in supervising and educating others,


• Experienced in representing SLT in an MDT setting, and effectively advocating for patients' needs,


• Experienced in carrying out clinical audits, service evaluations and/or research, we would love to hear from you.'

We would consider applicants with acute adult experience as well as those experienced in paediatrics in a community setting. If you are interested but not sure you have all the desired experience, please don't hesitate to get in touch., Equality remains at the centre of our policymaking, service delivery, and employment practice, giving all employees equal opportunity to develop, apply for promotions, and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.
UHS actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development, and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.