Paediatric SLT Dysphagia Lead

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.

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:

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.

Qualifications

Desirable: - Leadership qualification; - Membership of relevant SIG

Experience

Desirable: - Previous experience of training /teaching/ SLT student supervision.

Additional Criteria

Essential: - Up to date theoretical knowledge relating to eating, drinking and swallowing and SLT; - Car driver or otherwise mobile with appropriate business insurance