Job Summary
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 and 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

• 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.

About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation. Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m. The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'. The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Details
Date posted: 15 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £55,524 to £62,652 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 222-HCH-010-A
Job locations: Heart of Hounslow Health Centre, Hounslow, TW3 3LN

Person Specification
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

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

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

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

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: 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.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).