Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Guys & St Thomas Hospital; London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in a renowned healthcare institution. Join a dedicated team focused on head and neck oncology, where you will provide high-quality care to patients with communication and swallowing disorders. This role offers a chance to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment, utilizing your specialized skills in dysphagia management and videofluoroscopy. If you are passionate about making a difference and thrive in a dynamic setting, this position is perfect for you. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your professional journey while contributing to patient care excellence.

Qualifications

• Registered member of HCPC with a degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
• Post-graduate training in dysphagia for independent practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist service to in-patients and out-patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
• Conduct videofluoroscopic examinations and participate in voice restoration clinics.

Skills

Dysphagia management

Videofluoroscopy

Tracheostomy management

Multidisciplinary team collaboration

Training and supervision

Education

Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence

Post-graduate dysphagia training

Tools

Videofluoroscopy equipment

Job description

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area: Head and Neck Oncology

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 196-LIS9130

Employer: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Employer type: NHS

Site: Guy's Hospital

Town: London

Salary: £44,806 - £53,134 per annum inc HCA

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 05/01/2025 23:59

An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to join our well established head and neck oncology team rotating between the acute and community settings.

We are looking for 2 Band 6 Speech and Language Therapists with specialist skills in the management of adults with acquired disorders of communication and swallowing, including management of patients with a tracheostomy and with experience of working with patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer. You will ideally be competent in undertaking videofluoroscopy, and knowledge and experience of interpreting and reporting FEES is desirable. You will also have a proven track record of working as a specialist speech and language therapist within a multidisciplinary team, and will have experience of delivering training and student supervision.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a high quality specialist service to adult in-patients and out-patients referred mainly from the ENT, Oro-Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Oncology departments at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals with communication and/or swallowing disorders.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• In collaboration with senior therapists based on the Guy’s site or in the CHANT team to provide independent, specialist clinical management of in-patients and outpatients with disorders of swallowing and communication.
• To maintain close liaison with referring medical staff and nurse specialists to ensure optimum treatment and support for patients after laryngectomy/SVR and other head and neck surgery.
• To utilise a high level of interpersonal skills in helping patients adapt to changed circumstances / disability.
• To independently carry out and analyse videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow.
• To participate in the Surgical Voice Restoration clinics at Guy’s Hospital.

Person specification

Qualifications/Education/Registration

• Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice and registered member of HCPC
• Post-graduate dysphagia training leading to independent practice

Previous Experience

• Post graduate experience of working with adults with acquired dysphagia.
• Demonstrable experience of working with a specialist caseload of patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
• Experience of working as an integrated member of an MDT
• Experience of supervising Students
• Experience of working with patients with a tracheostomy and altered airways

Skills/Knowledge/Ability

• Able to demonstrate a high level of competence in dysphagia management
• Able to demonstrate knowledge of SVR management including awareness of risk management
• Able to demonstrate ability to carry out and interpret video-fluoroscopy

Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitably according to their needs.

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.

Your e-mail address is important to us - We communicate to all job applicants via the e-mail address which has been provided on the application form.

Please apply for this post by clicking "Apply Online Now."