Highly Specialist Head & Neck Speech & Language Therapist

NHS; Preston; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for a Highly Specialist Head & Neck Speech & Language Therapist to join their dynamic team. This role offers the chance to work in a fast-paced environment, providing essential care to patients with complex needs. You will lead clinical initiatives, manage specialized caseloads, and collaborate with a dedicated multidisciplinary team. With a commitment to patient-centered care and continuous professional development, this position promises to be rewarding both professionally and personally. If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of patients, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Must have HCPC & RCSLT registration and a relevant SLT qualification.
• Experience in managing complex adult dysphagia and communication impairments.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and develop H&N SLT services.
• Manage complex surgical and oncology clinical caseloads effectively.
• Attend MDT meetings to optimize patient care.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Clinical reasoning skills

Ability to prioritise workload

Highly specialist skills in clinical area

Excellent MDT working skills

Education

Graduate or post-graduate qualification in SLT

HCPC & RCSLT registration

Completion of Specialist Dysphagia Comps

Evidence of CPD in relevant areas

Tools

VFS

FEES

Tracheostomy management

Job description

Job summary

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHTR) is seeking to recruit a Highly Specialist Head & neck (H&N) Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to join our exciting, complex and fast-paced H&N SLT service, with plans to expand regionally across the Lancashire & South Cumbria patch. If you enjoy working within a strong MDT, with a focus on patient-centred care and want to develop or grow your H&N specialist skills - this job is for you!

RPH is a specialist tertiary Cancer Centre, and we provide both Surgical and Oncology treatment for H&N patients on the same site. You will be expected to assess and treat inpatients on our specialist oncology, ENT, maxillofacial and critical care wards, as well as outpatients across the oncology and surgical pathways.

Royal Preston Hospital provides a Laryngectomy service including Surgical Voice Restoration Clinics. Training for voice prosthesis management would be available for the successful candidate dependent on level of experience. We have established Videofluoroscopy and FEES services.

We are ideally looking for an experienced and autonomous individual who has the passion and drive to work in the clinical area of H&N cancer. However, we would consider a Band 6 development post for the right applicant. We have a flexible approach and would consider both part time and flexible working arrangements.

Main duties of the job

• To provide clinical leadership and service development within H&N SLT services under the supervision/direction of the H&N SLT Clinical Lead.
• To use evidence-based, highly specialist skills to manage complex surgical and oncology clinical caseloads (inc. laryngectomy, SVR, tracheostomy & late effects).
• Utilise instrumental assessment (VFS/FEES) as required.
• Provide training / support to staff working with patients and their carers / families
• To attend MDT meetings and Pre/Post treatment clinics to optimise patient care.
• To carry both an inpatient and outpatient caseload.

About us

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is a Cancer Centre and provides tertiary services and comprehensive care to the Lancashire & South Cumbria region. We are unique in that we can treat H&N cancer patients through surgery and/or chemo/radiotherapy, all on the same site.

We are a dedicated SLT service with excellent patient-centred care at the core of our values. We strive to continuously improve our SLT services through service development and innovation and are keen that audit / research are a part of our clinical roles. We have strong clinical leadership within the department and structured clinical supervision is promoted. There is also strong AHP professional leadership across the Trust and therefore excellent AHP communication/presence within the infrastructure of divisions.

You will join a large friendly team of SLTs covering a range of specialist services. The department is rated 'GOLD' on the STAR quality assurance framework. We have a strong commitment to evidence-based practice, CPD and training are supported.

To find out more about us, look at our Twitter/X @SLT_LTHTR and Blue Sky @LTHTR-SLT

Date posted: 04 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year Per annum/Pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 438-PB2631

Job responsibilities

• Effective communication of complex and often distressing information to patients and carers.
• Effective MDT communications
• Undertake highly specialist clinical assessment, differential diagnosis and management of H&N cancer patients.
• VFS / FEES / SVR.
• To initiate and implement change collaboratively with the Clinical Lead SLT.
• To complete own appraisal and personal development.
• Demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge in specialist area, including development of the team.
• Take responsibility for the planning and organisation of service provision across sites.
• Actively participate in clinical governance agenda.
• Deputise for Clinical Lead SLT in H&N in their absence.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• HCPC & RCSLT registration
• Graduate or post-graduate qualification in SLT
• Completion of Specialist Dysphagia Comps
• Commenced RCSLT H&N competency framework
• Evidence of CPD in relevant areas working towards Masters level.

Desirable

• Masters qualification or modules
• VFS / FEES / SVR / tracheostomy trained

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Highly specialised knowledge in clinical area
• Able to assess, diagnose and manage complex adult acquired dysphagia & communication impairments
• Excellent MDT working skills
• Experience of Surgical Voice Restoration and laryngectomy management
• Experience of VFS / FEES
• Delivery of SLT training in specialist area

Desirable

• Experience undertaking local research projects
• Experience of audit and service development
• Experience of cross site working

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Highly specialist skills in clinical area
• Advanced communication skills
• Advanced diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• CPD and clinical governance commitment
• Clinical Educator, supervision and line management of staff
• To work within limits of knowledge and skills

Desirable

• Awareness of relevant national guidance
• Excel and data collection skills
• Ability to work with tracheostomy

Values & Behaviours

Essential

• Invests in trust values
• Clinical leadership skills
• Able to work flexibly and multi-task
• Self-motivated and able to motivate others
• Resilient under pressure
• Takes responsibility for high quality care and performance

Desirable

• Attended leadership training

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9HT

Employer's website: https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/