Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (H&N/Voice)

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust; Chigwell; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to manage complex voice and swallowing needs for head and neck cancer patients. The role includes developing services, contributing to multidisciplinary teams, and supporting junior staff. Candidates must have relevant qualifications and experience in voice restoration. Competitive salary plus high cost area supplement.

Benefits

Comprehensive induction program

CPD opportunities

High Cost Area Supplement

Qualifications

• Experience of independently managing surgical voice restoration.
• Competencies in FEES and videofluoroscopy.
• Working with clients who have clinical voice disorders.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage clients with head and neck cancer and voice needs.
• Provide feedback and training to the multidisciplinary team and family.
• Participate in the delivery and development of Videofluoroscopy & FEES Clinics.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification

NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy

Job description

Go back NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (H&N/Voice)

The closing date is 17 November 2025

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join our innovative service in community head & neck cancer and voice disorders.

The NELFT Speech and Language Therapy service supports adults with acquired disorders in Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. The successful candidate will join a supportive and innovative team with established clinical specialists across multiple fields, including stroke, progressive neurology, head and neck cancers, and voice disorders.

Competencies and experience in managing surgical voice restoration are essential. The service offers weekly community videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics, and a monthly joint voice/dysphagia clinic with ENT. Competencies in these procedures would therefore be desirable. All staff are encouraged to lead quality improvement projects. In 2024, we were highly commended at the HSJ Awards for our community laryngectomy service development.

Clinical support will be provided by the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapists in head and neck/ENT and adult neurology. CPD is actively supported through regular supervision, appraisals, and excellent training opportunities. Members of the team are supported to get involved in CENs and research. For further information, please follow our X @NELFTAdultSLT .

Main duties of the job

• Independently manage and differentially diagnose a caseload of clients with head and neck cancer, voice and complex dysphagia needs.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary support for clients with a range of swallow and communication difficulties.
• Provide feedback, advice and training to family members, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team regarding communication needs and swallowing difficulties and strategies to facilitate development.
• To deliver a comprehensive, holistic service to patients undergoing laryngectomy, including the provision of SVR management
• To participate in the delivery and development of the Videofluoroscopy & FEES Clinics
• To provide highly specialist clinical/technical skills for interpretive assessment techniques, e.g. reading videofluoroscopic / FEES examinations.
• To participate in the delivery and development of joint complex voice and dysphagia clinics with ENT and Gastroenterology colleagues
• To work with colleagues in clinical psychology in the management of patients with voice disorders and head & neck cancer.
• To provide supervision and leadership to junior speech and language therapy staff in the areas of dysphagia, head and neck cancer and voice disorders within NELFT London.

About us

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Other

• To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area

Skills

• Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
• Demonstrate clear clinical reasoning based on evidence based practice
• Able to use own initiative
• Organise and manage own caseload
• Allocate duties and supervise therapy assistants
• Formulate care programmes, identify goals by organising and prioritising
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy
• Negotiation, problem solving concentration, analytical and reflection skills
• Written and verbal presentation skills
• Present information in clear and logical manner
• Ability to be a good team member

Knowledge

• An awareness of NHS priorities
• Awareness of NHS Plan, NSF, clinical governance priorities and changing service needs
• Government policy and legislation and how this may affect service delivery
• Knowledge of acquired communication and swallowing disorders
• Knowledge of assessment tools, treatment techniques and therapeutic interventions
• Awareness of the roles of other professionals
• Awareness of standards of record keeping
• Understanding of safeguarding
• Awareness of the principles of clinical governance/audit

Experience

• Working collaboratively with carers and other professionals
• Experience of working in a multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary team
• Working with clients who have a range of communication, trismus and swallowing needs resulting from head and neck cancer
• Planning and delivery of training to other professionals
• Working with clients who have clinical voice disorders
• Experience of independently managing surgical voice restoration
• Experience of videofluroscopy clinic
• Experience of running a FEES clinic
• Experience of running joint voice clinic with ENT
• Experience of independently managing people with a tracheostomy

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• HCPC Licence to PracticeShow active interest in CPD in line with RCSLT guidelines
• Competencies in working with laryngectomy including SVR
• Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy
• Competencies in FEES
• Competencies in videofluroscopy
• Competencies in tracheostomy

Trust Values

• Demonstrates trust values

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.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a yearpa pro rata (plus HCAS)