Highly Specialist Neonatal and Acute Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist - Band 7

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust invites applications for a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) with neonatal and acute paediatric experience, and a special interest in neonatal care, looking to further develop neonatal skills. The post is based in a Level 2 local neonatal unit with ad-hoc support to a Level 1 special care baby unit. There may be opportunities to lead on a Quality Improvement project within neonates to further develop the Neonatal SLT service. Informal clinical support is available via a local Clinical Lead Neonatal SLT and external clinical supervision can be arranged.

The role requires holistic and developmentally supportive care to babies, children and families, and independent management of an acute in-patient neonatal and paediatric dysphagia caseload across paediatric ward and outpatient clinic settings.

• Manage and provide highly specialist assessment, differential diagnosis and therapeutic management of infants with dysphagia or developmental feeding and communication difficulties on the neonatal unit and acute paediatric in-patients and outpatient settings.
• Independently manage a designated caseload of neonatal and acute paediatric inpatients and outpatients, producing high standard case notes and reports reflecting specialist neonatal knowledge.
• Lead specialist skills in: complex neonatal dysphagia management; high-risk infants; development of feeding and swallowing; early communication and interaction.
• Demonstrate understanding of neonatal best practice models of care such as Family Integrated Care, Developmental care and the Baby Friendly Initiative.
• Identify potential physiological compromise and risk for aspiration and advise on precautions to minimise risks.
• Lead the Videofluoroscopy clinic, identifying appropriate patients and coordinating the VFSS process for inpatient and community patients.
• Provide expertise and specialist SLT advice and consultation to other professionals regarding patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and care within the specialist area, including participation in the MDT feeding clinic.
• Offer support, guidance and information to parents and other professionals regarding the specialist area.
• Work as part of the MDT to undertake comprehensive assessment of the specialist caseload, discuss treatment options and develop an agreed individualised, outcome-focused treatment plan with parents/carers using clinical knowledge and reasoning.
• Communicate information in accessible formats to parents/carers and other professionals and agencies.
• Be aware of systems and processes of other agencies to enable collaboration and refer families to appropriate agencies as required.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills and convey complex or sensitive information understandably to parents/carers.
• Work with partner agencies and professionals in health, social services, education and the voluntary sector to ensure the protection of vulnerable children, including handling sensitive information as required.
• Use IT to communicate via email, obtain information from the internet/intranet and input data on information systems.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust provides a range of medical services to approximately 490,000 people in southwest London and northeast Surrey. It offers specialist renal and neonatal intensive care services to a wider area, including parts of Sussex and Hampshire. The Trust employs around 5,000 staff and is supported by over 500 volunteers.