Speech and Language Therapist - Children and Teenage Cancer Services

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A major NHS trust in the UK is seeking a Speech and Language Therapist with head and neck cancer expertise to join the team at University College Hospital. The role involves providing specialist SLT services to children and teenagers receiving treatment, working within a large multidisciplinary team, and contributing to service improvements in paediatric oncology. Excellent opportunities for learning and development are provided.

Qualifications

• Experience in head and neck cancer (adult and/or child).
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Willingness to learn and adapt transferable skills for paediatric oncology.

Responsibilities

• Provide autonomous specialist communication and dysphagia SLT services to children and teenagers.
• Deliver SLT care to paediatric patients with complex needs.
• Collaborate within a large MDT to manage patients at various diagnostic stages.

Skills

Communication and negotiation skills

Experience in head and neck cancer

Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams

Job description

Overview

Are you a Speech and Language Therapist with head and neck cancer expertise, looking for an exciting new challenge? We are offering a rare and exciting opportunity for a B7 to join the SLT team working in Children and Teenage Cancer Services at University College Hospital (UCH). We particularly want to attract candidates with head and neck experience who are interested in translating their skills to work with children and teenagers receiving radiotherapy. This is a 0.6 wte post. We recognise this is a rare position and will offer excellent training and supervision to support transferable skills.

You will provide both in-patient and out-patient SLT expertise across the child and teenage age range, including at the national Proton Beam Centre, and be part of an innovative and expert multi-professional team, including 3 SLTs, delivering cancer care at the forefront of innovative practice.

You will be an autonomous practitioner providing a specialist communication and dysphagia service to children and teenagers with a wide range of cancer diagnoses at all stages on their treatment pathway.

You will deliver SLT care to teenage and paediatric patients with diverse presentations and complex physical, psychological, and emotional needs.

You will be an excellent team player with strong communication and negotiation skills, thriving as part of a large innovative MDT alongside many experts in this field. As part of the multi-professional team you will help facilitate effective and timely management of patients at various stages of their diagnostic trajectory; some may be at the end of life. You will liaise effectively with various agencies within a wide geographical area, including social services, schools, charitable bodies, health teams and other hospital departments including specialist and partnership services.

We recognise that paediatric oncology experience is rare and so, alongside a keenness to learn and ability to utilise transferable skills, the role will include excellent opportunities for professional learning including regular supervision and specialist oncology teaching. You will also have the opportunity to be a key contributor to cutting-edge service improvements, including helping to shape our National Proton Beam Therapy service and the planned further expansion of photon radiotherapy services.

Responsibilities

• Provide autonomous specialist communication and dysphagia SLT services to children and teenagers with cancer across the treatment pathway.
• Deliver SLT care to paediatric patients with diverse presentations and complex needs.
• Collaborate within a large MDT to manage patients at various diagnostic stages, including end-of-life considerations.
• Liaise with social services, schools, charitable bodies, health teams and other hospital departments, including specialist and partnership services.
• Engage in professional learning, supervision, and oncology education; contribute to service improvements and development of the National Proton Beam Therapy service.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in head and neck cancer (adult and/or child) with an interest in extending to paediatric and teenage cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills; ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Autonomous practitioner with a willingness to learn and adapt transferable skills to the paediatric oncology context.

About the Organisation and Application Notes

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 across eight sites, with a commitment to sustainability and net-zero targets. This section also includes information on flexible working and staff benefits.

Please note that all correspondence regarding applications will be via email through TRAC.jobs. If you are currently in a training position on the 2016 junior doctor contract, salary arrangements follow the Trust Doctor pay scale based on prior experience. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, please assume you have not been shortlisted. The NHS Trust uses electronic starter forms to collect personal details and store them securely.