Speech & Language Therapist Early Years Complex Needs (& Dysphagia)

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Sirona care & health CIC Speech & Language Therapist Early Years Complex Needs (& Dysphagia)

The closing date is 10 October 2026

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Job summary

Are you passionate about working with children with complex needs? We are looking for an experienced, ideally dysphagia qualified, Speech and Language Therapist to manage a caseload of 0-5 year olds with complex needs. You will be supporting these children with their communication development and, if appropriately qualified, their eating, drinking and swallowing skills. You will be working as part of a complex needs team with support and supervision from senior therapists.

The Children's Therapy Services identify, assess, support and manage the health needs of children and young people aged 0-18 years, working closely with children and their families in health settings and family homes; and with education colleagues in early years and school settings.

You will work across South Gloucestershire and Bristol supporting pre-school children with complex needs and their families in the community. Knowledge of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is important. Dysphagia competencies would be ideal but are not essential to apply. You will see children for uni-professional appointments and as part of our multi-disciplinary child centred assessments.

This role is offered as a fixed-term contract for 12 months to provide maternity cover.

Main duties of the job

• Dependent on experience, a specialist / highly specialist clinical practitioner, carrying your own (highly) specialist caseload.
• If employed at Band 7 being a source of expertise, providing support, supervision, teaching, advice and consultation across BNSSG. You will offer highly specialist clinical expertise within complex needs (and dysphagia) and carry your own (highly) specialist caseload.
• If employed at Band 7 you will triage new referrals to the team alongside other band 7 practitioners, according to agreed referral criteria.
• If employed at Band 7 you will be responsible for line managing junior colleagues
• This is a fixed term post for maternity leave cover.

About us

Ever dreamt about a career that sparks excitement and fosters your professional growth? Picture yourself waking up eager to make a real difference in our community, surrounded by teams who value your unique ideas. It's time to turn your dream into reality!

We are Sirona care & health - England's largest provider of Adult's and Children's Community Services and we'd love for you to join us in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire.

Agenda for Change Salary, full NHS benefits, 27+ days' annual leave, and participation in the NHS Pension Scheme - just a glimpse of the benefits we offer.

Whether you're starting your journey in healthcare, looking for a fresh challenge within the NHS, or contemplating a career change, don't be daunted by the prospect of something different - we create development opportunities for all our colleagues and apprentices.Interested? View our benefits leaflet which you can find as an attachment on this vacancy.

Details

Date posted

11 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £56,515 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

083-8288019-WW

Job locations

Patchway Hub

125 Rodway Road, Patchway

Bristol

BS34 5PE

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full list of requirements before applying to this position.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full list of requirements before applying to this position.

Person Specification

Experience & Skills

Essential

• Experience of working with children with complex needs

Desirable

• Experience working with dysphagia
• Previous experience in clinical specialist role
• Experience of line management
• Experience working with under 1s with dysphagia

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level qualification recognised by Professional Governing Body (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists/Chartered Society of Physiotherapists/ Royal College of Occupational Therapists)
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Paediatric dysphagia competencies / qualification
• Evidence of Master Level post qualification accredited training and participation in ongoing regular CPD in area of clinical specialism (e.g. Bobath training, Post-grad accredited Dysphagia training)
• Under 1s dysphagia competencies

Person Specification

Experience & Skills

Essential

• Experience of working with children with complex needs

Desirable

• Experience working with dysphagia
• Previous experience in clinical specialist role
• Experience of line management
• Experience working with under 1s with dysphagia

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level qualification recognised by Professional Governing Body (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists/Chartered Society of Physiotherapists/ Royal College of Occupational Therapists)
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Paediatric dysphagia competencies / qualification
• Evidence of Master Level post qualification accredited training and participation in ongoing regular CPD in area of clinical specialism (e.g. Bobath training, Post-grad accredited Dysphagia training)
• Under 1s dysphagia competencies

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Sirona care & health CIC

Address

Patchway Hub

125 Rodway Road, Patchway

Bristol

BS34 5PE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sirona care & health CIC

Address

Patchway Hub

125 Rodway Road, Patchway

Bristol

BS34 5PE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.sirona-cic.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead for Dysphagia

Fran Jones

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

11 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £56,515 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

083-8288019-WW

Job locations

Patchway Hub

125 Rodway Road, Patchway

Bristol

BS34 5PE

United Kingdom

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