Specialist SLT Head and Neck

NHS; Worcester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist to join their Head and Neck Cancer team in Worcester. This role involves managing a caseload of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties, contributing effectively in a multidisciplinary environment, and providing high-quality patient care. The ideal candidate must possess a degree in Speech and Language Therapy, be a registered member of RCSLT, and have HCPC registration. A strong commitment to professional development and teamwork is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience working with complex communication and swallowing disorders.
• Ability to handle challenging communication situations.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and legal frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of patients with speech and language difficulties.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Conduct assessments and develop treatment plans.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Empathy

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent

Membership of RCSLT

Registration with HCPC

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Band 6 SLT to join our specialist Head and Neck Cancer team. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a dynamic multidisciplinary team delivering high quality, evidence based care to adults with complex communication and swallowing needs.

You will manage a varied caseload including patients pre and post surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. You will provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for dysphagia, voice and communication difficulties.

Key Duties

• Act as a specialist Speech and Language Therapist for the Head and Neck MDT based at WRH.
• Contribute to the patients pathway from diagnosis to discharge from this service.
• Work independently with Surgical Voice Restoration patients.
• Participate in pre, on and post treatment clinics for both oncology and surgical patients in the unit.
• Attend Head and Neck MDT on a weekly basis.
• Assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy treatment for allocated caseload.
• Provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.
• Provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to clinical teams both multidisciplinary and unidisciplinary by discussing own and others input around clients’ needs, ensuring a well‑coordinated care plan.
• Communicate complex condition‑related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management.
• Demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring effective communication is achieved, especially where barriers to understanding exist.
• Develop skills to motivate clients and/or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
• Develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
• Deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• Form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
• Employ excellent communication skills.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Specialist knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence‑based practice.
• Independent caseload management.
• Experience with a Personal Development Plan within an appraisal framework.
• Attendance of relevant training and development to maintain HCPC and RCSLT registration.
• Participation in specialist short courses appropriate to the clinical specialism.
• Adherence to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.
• Contribution to the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism.
• Development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others.
• Stays current with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in head and neck management and treatment.
• Provides advice to non‑specialists and other specialists.
• Attends relevant courses, meetings and special interest groups.
• Develops a working knowledge of safeguarding, working with vulnerable adults, mental capacity act and other legal frameworks.
• Develops a working knowledge of principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice.

Analytical and Judgmental Skills

• Reflects on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients’ communication/voice and identifies appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.
• Negotiates with carers, clients and others around individual case management.
• Recognises potential breakdown and conflict, seeking advice and support to resolve.
• Uses specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgments/decision making for case management.
• Makes a differential diagnosis based on evidence from assessment, seeking advice as appropriate.
• Develops clear care plans based on best practice.
• Reflects on practice with peers and mentors and identifies own strengths and development needs.
• Targets training appropriately to the needs of course participants.
• Evals training provided and adapts practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances.

Physical Skills

• Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.
• Skills in handling clients with disabilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications – Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent.
• Membership of RCSLT.
• Registration with HCPC.
• Relevant post‑graduate courses/conferences.
• Membership of relevant CEN.
• Computer literate.

Knowledge and Skills – Essential

• Substantial theoretical knowledge of acquired communication and swallowing disorders.
• Excellent communication skills – persuasion, motivation, negotiation and problem solving with patients, colleagues, MDT, medical team and other professionals.
• Awareness of appropriate use of counselling skills.
• Ability to analyse complex and highly sensitive information regarding a patient’s diagnosis, and communicate this information to patients, relatives and colleagues.
• Ability to overcome non‑compliance of professional colleagues and of patients and relatives.

Personal Qualities – Essential

• Effective communication skills with people who have significant and complex communication difficulties.
• Well‑developed perceptual and auditory skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team‑working skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to absorb, interpret and summarise verbal information in a pressurised clinical environment.
• Systematic and organised approach.

Experience – Essential

• Experience of working in relevant specialty fields, leading to sound specialist knowledge.
• Successful experience of working and learning in multi‑professional teams.
• Experience of working with complex conditions with appropriate level of autonomy.

Desirable

• Previous head and neck experience.
• Previous altered airway experience (e.g., tracheostomy/ laryngectomy).
• Previous experience of assessing and using instrumental assessment as part of caseload management for dysphagia.

Additional Information

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Disclosures to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) are required.

Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information see NHS Careers website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer Details

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD

Website: https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/