Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic SLT to join the Paediatric Audiovestibular Medicine (AVM) Developmental Speech Disorders Team, based at the Royal National ENT Hospital in Huntley Street, London. Formally the Nuffield Centre, the service has particular expertise in Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). The clinical lead was a member of the project team that developed the RCSLT's position paper on CAS. The specialist hospital is recognized as a centre of excellence, where we take pride in delivering outstanding, person-centred care that places individuals and their families at the heart of everything we do.

The successful candidate will have robust specialist clinical experience in speech sound disorders (including CAS) and intervention tools (including the Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme) and will be able to work independently with patients with complex presentations. The post holder will demonstrate excellent communication skills and will liaise closely with the wider multidisciplinary paediatric AVM team, and with the referring SLTs. Professional support and regular supervision will be provided by the senior SLT.

As part of the interview process, the candidates will be asked to give a 10-minute presentation to the interview panel on a topic related to speech sound disorders. The title will be given upon invite to interview.

Main duties of the job
As a member of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder plays an important role in providing a tertiary level, highly specialist speech assessment, differential diagnosis, and therapy of complex speech disorder cases. This includes undertaking comprehensive evaluations, making highly specialist clinical decisions, and formulating accurate differential diagnoses based on assessment findings. The role requires the application of expert clinical knowledge to develop evidence-based management plans tailored to each child's individual needs. Assessment will involve multidisciplinary and/or individual SLT- led clinics. Assessment and therapy will take place either face-to-face or via the remote video platform. The service supports children who are typically receiving local speech and language therapy but are making insufficient progress despite intervention.

A key responsibility is providing second opinions and specialist consultations for children with severe speech disorders, including cases where previous assessments have produced conflicting conclusions or where sensitive and potentially contentious clinical opinions are required. The post holder offers expert advice and support to speech and language therapists and other professionals involved in the child's care.

About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities
The role also involves communicating complex clinical information clearly and sensitively to children, parents, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team. Effective communication skills are essential to ensure understanding, particularly when discussing complex diagnose and treatment recommendations. The post holder will work collaboratively with families, carers and local SLTs to agree appropriate management plans and adapt interventions to meet the childs needs.

In addition to direct clinical work, the post holder will be encouraged to contribute to the development of professional knowledge and practice through teaching and training. This includes delivering specialist education to qualified SLTs and other professionals. The post holder may also supervise students and support their clinical learning and development.

The position includes responsibility for maintaining accurate clinical records, undertaking research and audit activities within the specialist area, and contributing to service development. Through clinical expertise, leadership, education, and research, the post holder will support the delivery of a high-quality specialist service for children with severe developmental speech disorders.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• Health and Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
• Post Registration Masters or higher degree in relevant field
• Relevant advanced short courses (e.g. dyspraxia training, psycholinguistics, phonological assessment and management, oro-motor skills assessment and management, Cued articulation, advanced phonetic description)
• Membership of relevant RCSLT Clinical Excellence Networks (CEN) and relevant organisations

Knowledge
Essential

• Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to children with severe developmental speech and language disorders, including CAS
• Well established knowledge of the key characteristics leading to a highly specialist differential diagnosis of CAS
• Well established knowledge of a highly specialist range of therapeutic interventions relevant to children with severe speech disorders (including CAS), demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches, including the Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme 2004.
• Knowledge of audio and video recording
• Well established knowledge of selecting, setting and evaluating highly specialist treatment goals
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping and ability to audit this in own team
• Knowledge and application of professional standards and code of conduct
• In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the specialist client group
• In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance / audit.

Experience
Essential

• Significant post qualification experience in providing a SLT service to children with severe speech disorders
• Significant relevant experience post-qualification in providing an SLT service to a general paediatric population

Desirable

• Relevant SLT experience post qualification using the NDP

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Well developed concentration skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills and robust ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Excellent analytical and reflection skills
• Ability to produce well written, detailed and timely SLT reports.
• Good IT skills for assessment procedures, report writing, hospital administration procedures.
• Good video skills for assessment and therapy procedures.
• Understanding or the principles of clinical governance/audit

Desirable

• Basic understanding and familiarity with AI technologies and their potential within the workplace

Communication
Essential

• Fluent spoken and written English
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations.

Personal and People Development
Essential

• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member
• Demonstrate reflective practice
• Good time keeping skills
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership-working with key stakeholders in the service area
• Prioritisation skills

Specific Requirements
Essential

• To demonstrate skills in handling clients with disabilities
• To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patient's communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived patient needs
• To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:
Essential

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.