Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Head & Neck Cancer

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK healthcare provider is seeking a Specialist Speech & Language Therapist to join their Adult Surgical team, focusing on Head & Neck cancer. This role includes managing complex communication disorders, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to service development. Candidates must be HCPC registered and demonstrate strong clinical skills. Competitive salary of £38,682 to £46,580 per annum, with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

NHS Pension Scheme

27-33 days holiday

Relocation package up to 30% of salary

Learning and development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Must have experience in managing patients with Head & Neck cancer.
• Experienced in delivering clinical treatment within the specialty area.
• Evidence of ability to manage complex clinical presentations is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide holistic care to patients in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead on projects and support audits and research.
• Contribute to student placements and development of service.

Skills

Managing complex dysphagia

Communication impairments

Assessment and management of adult communication disorders

Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

Project leadership

Use of outcome measures

Education

HCPC Registered Speech & Language Therapist

Evidence of relevant CPD activities

Postgraduate training in specialist area

Job description

Go back York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Head & Neck Cancer

The closing date is 07 December 2025

Are you a skilled, resourceful and dynamic Speech and Language Therapist, with experience of managing patients with complex dysphagia and communication impairments in the speciality of Head and Neck cancer and ENT?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join our existing Adult Surgical Speech and Language Therapy Team. This role will be based at York hospital and will deliver care to patients across the Trust.

There will be a specific focus of supporting patients with Head & Neck cancer and acute inpatients on the surgical wards, including critical care.

The Surgical Adult Speech and Language Therapy team based at York Hospital is responsible for delivering care across all aspects of the patient journey (inpatients, outpatients and specialist services such as Head & Neck cancer). We have a weekly Speech and Language Therapy led Videofluoroscopy service and are in the process of establishing a FEES service.

Main duties of the job

You will demonstrate sound skills in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of adult communication and swallowing disorders, specifically related to Head & Neck/ENT/Voice.

You will liaise closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, carers, GPs and AHPs to provide holistic care to your patients as required.

You will be well supported by the Advanced Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapists, as well as the Team Manager and the Professional Lead for Speech & Language Therapy.

You will contribute to service development by taking an active role in leading on projects and supporting the Advanced Clinical Specialists with audits and research. You will also contribute to providing engaging student placements.

You will have access to:

• weekly SLT-Led Videofluoroscopy clinics
• regular full team and smaller clinical team meetings
• a comprehensive programme of supervision and support

You will be able to transport yourself and your equipment independently across the region. Trust pool cars are available.

You will need to be flexible with time and skills, in order to respond to the needs of the service. This may involve some acute inpatient/community work at times.

About us

Trust Information Pack:

We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:

Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants

27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)

A generous relocation package of up to 30% of salary (capped at £18k) to support with relocation expenses for hard to fill positions where relocation would be an expectation to undertake the role fully. If you would like to discuss a potential relocation package, please speak to the recruiting department/manager at interview stage.

A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave

Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme

NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme

An extensive range of learning and development opportunities

Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers

For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.

Job responsibilities

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: [e-mail].

As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britains Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications & Training

• HCPC Registered Speech & Language Therapist
• Evidence of relevant CPD activities
• Evidence of post graduate training within specialist area

Experience and knowledge required

• Experience in a relevant junior role, including the management of a range of conditions, with evidence of additional knowledge acquired through formal and informal clinical supervision
• Evidence of ability to manage complex clinical presentations
• Experience in delivering clinical treatment within specialist area
• Understanding of current issues in health care Standards of Professional Practice
• Delivery of relevant audit/research projects
• Developed / Specialist clinical skills within relevant area
• Experience of use of outcome measures to evaluate clinical treatment
• Experience of training/supporting others (including students) within specialist clinical area

Values, Drivers & Motivators

• Ability to demonstrate our organisational values and behaviours

Aptitude & Personal Qualities

• Flexible & adaptable
• Ability to work as a team
• Demonstrates professional demeanour at all times

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.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearpro rata/per annum