Highly Specialist Speech and Language therapist, Head and Neck Cancer

Integrated Care System; London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in London seeks a highly motivated Speech and Language Therapist specializing in head and neck cancer. In this role, you will provide comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients with communication and swallowing disorders. Key responsibilities include participation in multidisciplinary teams and delivering specialist services. The ideal candidate will hold a BSc in Speech Pathology and have relevant acute setting experience. A flexible approach and commitment to professional development are essential.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• HCPC licensed Speech and Language Therapist.
• Post-registration experience in acute settings.
• Experience in dysphagia management.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist services for head and neck cancer patients.
• Conduct assessments for complex communication impairments.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

BSc. in Speech Pathology or equivalent

Job description

Go back University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Speech and Language therapist, Head and Neck Cancer

The closing date is 31 August 2025

An exciting opportunity is now available for a highly motivated, enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist wishing to develop and extend skills in assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders related to Head and Neck Cancer The post is based within the multidisciplinary Head and Neck Centre at University College Hospital. The post holder will join a team of 8 SLTs including specialists and a consultant speech and language therapists for head and neck. UCH is a national tertiary referral centre for a range of specialties, including head and neck cancer and sarcoma. We have an evolving Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) service to adults, which may include seeing those with brain tumours, lung and oesophageal cancers. We have strong links with the UCL Medical School, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and The Royal National Ear Nose and Throat and Eastman Dental Hospitals. UCH also functions as a District General Hospital providing a wide range of services to the local population in Camden and Islington. Camden and Islington are culturally diverse boroughs with many multi ethnic, bilingual and multi lingual speaking communities.

Main duties of the job

You will deliver a comprehensive and specialist service to patients presenting with communication and swallowing disorders related to head and neck tumours, including:

• Input into multi-disciplinary meetings and clinics and management of patients undergoing surgery and/or chemo/radiotherapy
• Assessment and management of patients with complex dysphagia including tracheostomy management and input into instrumental assessment and therapy clinics including videofluoroscopy and FEES
• Assessment and management of patients with complex communication impairments, including surgical voice restoration after total laryngectomy and speech rehabilitation after oral cancer treatment
• Participation in data collection for research and audit projects in line with the Trust research and development strategy, in consultation with the Consultant Head and Neck SLT post holder.
• Development and delivery of teaching and training, both internal and external

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Speech and Language intervention in the head and neck cancer patient population requires advanced specialist knowledge and skills. The caseload is varied and complex and ranges from early stage oro-pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers to advanced disease and /or cases requiring second opinions.

Treatment is broad, and is usually multi-modal, involving surgery, radiotherapy (proton and photon), chemotherapy and / or protein therapy. There is a wide range of patient profiles from teenage young adult, to geriatric. There are specific diagnostic procedures used by speech and language therapist to define the impairment both as a result of the disease, and as a consequence of the treatment. These procedures inform and define the intervention and highlight the most appropriate therapeutic techniques for rehabilitation of speech, swallow, voice and respiration.

The Speech and Language Therapists within the Head and Neck team are specialists dedicated to Head and Neck. The post holder is responsible for the provision of a Speech and Language Therapy service within the Head and Neck team and will report directly to the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Head and Neck.

In line with the Trust philosophy these services are at a tertiary level, acting as resource for multidisciplinary care providers in secondary level services. The post holder works as part of an MDT contributing to the assessment, management and treatment of referred patients including highly complex and rare head and neck conditions.

The post holder will be based at UCH at all times providing both inpatient and outpatient services.

Job Purpose

To provide a high standard of Speech and Language Therapy to patients with highly complex and rare head and neck benign and malignant disease as an autonomous practitioner. Staff are guided and supported by the Clinical lead and Consultant Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapists

Our organisation is driven by our strategic objectives and organisational values and we look for people who are strongly aligned with them. Our Team is tight knit and work well together. This position would suit a developing specialist who is looking for a Team that can provide a high level of mentoring and support on an on-going basis. The team offers excellent line management and peer supporta wide range of opportunities for professional and career development a full induction programme and regular clinical supervision modern. We have a rich weekly CPD programme to promote and enhance skill and knowledge development.

Annual leave starts at 27 days a year plus bank holidays pro-rated.

You will be employed in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Agenda for Change.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and so the successful candidate will be required to apply for a Disclosure

You will form part of a team of 16 Speech and Language Therapy service colleagues based within UCH.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

• Licence to practice as a Speech and Language therapist (HCPC)
• BSc. Speech Path or equivalent (including Dip. CST)
• Member of RCSLT
• Successful completion of highly specialist post graduate study relevant to ENT or head and neck cancer e.g. FEES, advanced dysphagia course including videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy management, surgical voice restoration

Experience

• Post-registration experience within an acute setting
• 3 years post registration dysphagia experience
• Experience of oAssessing dysphagia oDeveloping dysphagia management and rehabilitation programmes
• 2 years post registration ENT, head and neck and/or maxillofacial experience
• Use of problem oriented medical records / SOAP notes
• Evidence of active participation in and/or experience in teaching in one or more of the following areas: oSLT in-service training oMDT in-service training oStudent training oInternal/External courses oJoint sessions with junior staff
• Evidence of supervision experience with one or more of the following groups: oBand 5/6 SLT oSLT Assistants oSLT students
• Post-registration experience of videofluoroscopy
• Post-registration tracheostomy experience
• Post-registration head and neck experience
• Post registration experience in surgical voice restoration after total laryngectomy
• Evidence of involvement in clinical governance programmes including one or more of the following areas: oAudit and clinical effectiveness oRisk management oPublic patient involvement
• Post-registration experience of assessing and treating voice disorders

Communication

• Demonstrates understanding of and ability to manage the needs of patients with head and neck cancer, including the use of counselling skills as appropriate.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to the emotional needs of patients and carers and ability to use strategies to manage emotional behaviour.
• Demonstrates professional and effective verbal and written communication skills including excellent negotiation skills with patients, carers and other health professional staff in complex case management, service delivery issues and conflict management.
• Demonstrates highly developed skills in multidisciplinary team working
• Proven ability to identify areas for own personal/professional development through highly developed reflective practice skills and integrate knowledge gained into own practice
• Effective time management and the ability to prioritise own SLT workload
• Evidence of supervision skills

Health, safety and security

• Proven ability to identify equipment and resource needs within own area of work
• Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to Infection Control and Health and Safety Guidelines when dealing with frequent unpleasant conditions relating to patient contact including moving and handling

Quality and service improvement

• Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to national and local clinical guidelines with reference to assessment and rehabilitation of communication and swallowing disorders in patients with head and neck cancer
• Proven ability to participate in the development of local policies and care protocols for rehabilitation of speech, voice and swallowing disorders, informed by a strong evidence base
• Proven experience in planning, reviewing and auditing uni- and multidisciplinary service delivery
• Proven ability to monitor equipment resources within own area of work
• Evidence of effective clinical reasoning in the management of complex communication and swallowing disorders
• Demonstrates knowledge of RCSLT and HPC's code of ethics and professional conduct
• Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate legislation affecting working practice, e.g. Working with Vulnerable Adults and Safeguarding Children

Equality and Diversity

• Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to the Equal Opportunities Policy

Personal Qualities

• Ability to express reasons for desire to work in this area
• A flexible approach to the changing service needs

Other requirements, including:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• The ability to understand and adhere to Equal Opportunities Policy and risk management policy

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.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£56,276 to £63,176 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAS