Speech & Language Therapist Early Years Complex Needs (& Dysphagia)
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
- Posted
- 11/09/2026
- Closes
- 10/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role is for an experienced Speech and Language Therapist to manage a caseload of 0-5 year olds with complex needs, focusing on communication development and potentially eating, drinking, and swallowing skills if dysphagia qualified. You will work within a complex needs team, supporting pre-school children and their families across South Gloucestershire and Bristol. The position involves uni-professional appointments and multi-disciplinary child-centred assessments. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave.
Key responsibilities
- Carry a specialist/highly specialist clinical caseload, dependent on experience.
- If Band 7, provide support, supervision, teaching, advice, and consultation across BNSSG.
- If Band 7, offer highly specialist clinical expertise within complex needs (and dysphagia).
- If Band 7, triage new referrals to the team alongside other Band 7 practitioners.
- If Band 7, be responsible for line managing junior colleagues.
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with children with complex needs
- 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 criteria
- Experience working with dysphagia
- Previous experience in clinical specialist role
- Experience of line management
- Experience working with under 1s with dysphagia
- 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
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 29d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Sirona care & health CIC
Speech & Language Therapist Early Years Complex Needs (& Dysphagia)
The closing date is 10 October 2026
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
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