Speech and Language Therapist – Children and Teenage Cancer Services

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is offering a part-time Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist position. You will join a dedicated SLT team in Children's and Teenage Cancer Services, providing expert care for young patients with complex needs. The role includes both in-patient and out-patient services and is supported by excellent training. Ideal candidates will have experience in head and neck cancer and paediatric care.

Qualifications

• Significant post-registration clinical experience at a specialist level.
• Experience in neuro/oncology and paediatric dysphagia.
• Familiarity with clinical governance principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist communication and dysphagia service.
• Deliver SLT care to patients with diverse needs.
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Communication skills

Verbal and written communication

Presentation and training delivery

Education

Degree in Speech and Language Therapy

HCPC Licence to practice as SLT

Post-graduate specialist study (e.g., dysphagia/communication)

Job description

Overview

We are offering a rare 0.6 wte Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist position to join the SLT team working in Children and Teenage Cancer Services at University College Hospital (UCH). We particularly want candidates with head and neck cancer experience who are interested in translating their skills to work with children and teenagers receiving radiotherapy.

We are looking for an SLT who may have skills and experience in adult and/or child head and neck cancer and who would like to broaden their skills to the paediatric/teenage population receiving radiotherapy with diagnoses of head and neck, neuro-oncology and some haematology. Excellent training and supervision will be provided 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 multi-professional team, including 3 SLTs, delivering cancer care at the forefront of practice.

Responsibilities

• Autonomous practitioner providing a specialist communication and dysphagia service to children and teenagers with a wide range of cancer diagnoses at all stages of their treatment pathway.
• Deliver SLT care to paediatric and teenage patients with diverse presentations and complex physical, psychological, and emotional needs.
• Work effectively as part of a large, innovative MDT with strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Support timely management of patients at various stages of their diagnostic trajectory, including those at end of life where applicable.
• Liaise with agencies within a wide geographical area (social services, schools, charitable bodies, health teams, and other hospital departments including specialist and partnership services).
• Engage in professional learning, including regular supervision and specialist oncology teaching, recognising the rarity of paediatric oncology experience.
• Contribute to cutting-edge service improvements, including shaping the National Proton Beam Therapy service and expansion of photon radiotherapy services.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the UK’s most complex NHS trusts, providing academically led acute and specialist services to a wide population. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, education, and research across eight sites.

• University College Hospital (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

UCLH is committed to sustainability and aims to become carbon net zero in direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Details

Date posted: 15 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £56,276 to £63,176 per year inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 309-UCLH-6226-A

Job locations: University College London Hospital, 250 Euston Road, London NW1 2PG

Job responsibilities

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

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC Licence to practice as SLT
• Post-graduate specialist study relevant to setting and caseload (e.g., dysphagia/communication courses, VFS, oncology courses, tracheostomy)

Desirable

• Member of relevant Special Interest Groups
• Training in SLT student clinical supervision
• Evidence of NHS experience
• MSc or Diploma relating to SLT
• Qualifications in counselling skills

Experience Essential

• Significant post-registration clinical experience at a specialist level (including 2 years in a specialist role)
• Experience in neuro/oncology, head-and-neck oncology, paediatric dysphagia and related communication issues
• Audit and service evaluation/development with data capture
• Experience with a range of assessment tools for feeding, swallowing and paediatric/teenage SLT needs
• Understanding of clinical governance principles

Desirable

• Supervision of SLT students
• Basic knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods

Skills & Abilities Essential

• Excellent communication skills for complex and sensitive information
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Experience delivering presentations and training for diverse audiences

Personal & people development Essential

• Mentoring, advising, supporting, and supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
• Ability to reflect on practice

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Essential

• Understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010

Quality & service improvement Essential

• Knowledge of HCPC Code of Ethics and professional conduct
• Knowledge of national and local clinical guidelines (paediatric acute caseload, e.g., NICE/National Service Frameworks)
• Commitment to Equal Opportunities, Infection Control and Health and Safety
• Knowledge of safeguarding and related legislation
• Ability to develop and implement short-term clinically based projects

Infection prevention Essential

• Adherence to IPC policies to minimise infection risk

Information processing Essential

• Competent IT skills

Other requirements Essential

• Physical effort: Highly specialist lifting and/or positioning of clients

Other information

Disposal and DBS check: This post requires a DBS check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. For details, refer to UK Visas and Immigration guidance. For overseas applicants, see guidance on criminal records checks.

Notes: This description reflects current requirements and may be updated in response to service needs.