Job summary
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Band 6 General Oncology
Fixed term to May 2027
We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) to join the General Oncology SLT service at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering high-quality care to adult inpatients and outpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders arising from cancer (excluding head and neck cancers). You will be based on the wards at Guy's Hospital and in Guy's Cancer Centre working in a range of settings including multidisciplinary clinics; specifically, lung and neuro-oncology and on the wards seeing patients with a range of cancer diagnoses (e.g. haematology and upper gastrointestinal).
We are passionate about delivering high quality and personalised care to our patients and working effectively with other teams and cancer professionals. Suitable applicants must have experience of working at a post-graduate level, independently managing adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders. Excellent communication and organisational skills are essential. Teaching is a significant part of the role and you will participate in nurse/medical education and provide external talks and presentations as needed. You will also have a proven track record of working as a specialist SLT within a multidisciplinary team, and will have experience of student and junior SLT supervision.
Main duties of the job
- As an autonomous specialist to take clinical responsibility for the provision of a high quality service to adult inpatients and outpatients presenting with communication and/or swallowing impairment secondary to their diagnosis of cancer (excluding patients with Head and Neck cancer) and/or associated treatment or other acquired or structural disorders.
- Outpatient activity will be delivered in the Speech and Language Therapy department and within the Cancer Centre at Guy's with a combination of face to face appointments, participation in Consultant led clinics and virtual consultations.
*see full job description for detail
About us
There is a strong ethos of clinical support, supervision and development within the team. The service is able to offer you excellent supervision and peer support, with an emphasis on team working. Quality improvement projects and research ideas are strongly encouraged, both within SLT and in the multi-professional teams. We have regular team meetings, plus opportunities for continuing professional development through in-house training, clinical excellence networks and external courses.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide independent clinical management of inpatients and outpatients requiring assessment and rehabilitation of complex communication and swallowing disorders with the aim of restoring optimum function or offering compensatory strategies. This will include assessing the patients needs for alternative and augmentative communication where appropriate.
- To regularly participate in videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow, analyse and report findings to the Multidisciplinary Team regarding implications for management and design specialised therapeutic programmes of care.
- To be a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy resource for members of the Multidisciplinary Team in the management of communication/swallowing disorders.
- As a core member of the Multidisciplinary Team, to participate in team meetings, ward rounds and family meetings. Where appropriate to propose and assist in the implementation of policy/service development.
- To develop training programmes relevant to communication/swallowing disorders and deliver these aspects in the on-going training programme for the members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
- To train staff and carers to facilitate the communication and swallowing skills of the patient including the use of alternative and augmentative communication.
*see full job description for detail
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide independent clinical management of inpatients and outpatients requiring assessment and rehabilitation of complex communication and swallowing disorders with the aim of restoring optimum function or offering compensatory strategies. This will include assessing the patients needs for alternative and augmentative communication where appropriate.
- To regularly participate in videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow, analyse and report findings to the Multidisciplinary Team regarding implications for management and design specialised therapeutic programmes of care.
- To be a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy resource for members of the Multidisciplinary Team in the management of communication/swallowing disorders.
- As a core member of the Multidisciplinary Team, to participate in team meetings, ward rounds and family meetings. Where appropriate to propose and assist in the implementation of policy/service development.
- To develop training programmes relevant to communication/swallowing disorders and deliver these aspects in the on-going training programme for the members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
- To train staff and carers to facilitate the communication and swallowing skills of the patient including the use of alternative and augmentative communication.
*see full job description for detail
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice
- Registered member of HCPC
- Evidence of CPD to Specialist level
- Post-graduate dysphagia training leading to independent practice
Desirable
- Membership/regular attendance of relevant CEN
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with adults with acquired disorders of communication and swallowing in an acute hospital and/or community setting
- Experience of working as an integrated member of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working on acute inpatient wards
- Experience of working with patients with cancer in an inpatient and/or outpatient setting
- Experience of working with clients with life threatening or palliative conditions
Skills
Essential
- Experience of performing and evaluating videofluoroscopy
- Evidence of development and delivery of training to other professionals
- Supervision and teaching of SLT students
- Able to demonstrate well developed competence in dysphagia management in an adult caseload
- Previous participation in clinical governance activities (audit, quality improvement)
Desirable
- Exposure to/ experience with FEES
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice
- Registered member of HCPC
- Evidence of CPD to Specialist level
- Post-graduate dysphagia training leading to independent practice
Desirable
- Membership/regular attendance of relevant CEN
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with adults with acquired disorders of communication and swallowing in an acute hospital and/or community setting
- Experience of working as an integrated member of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working on acute inpatient wards
- Experience of working with patients with cancer in an inpatient and/or outpatient setting
- Experience of working with clients with life threatening or palliative conditions
Skills
Essential
- Experience of performing and evaluating videofluoroscopy
- Evidence of development and delivery of training to other professionals
- Supervision and teaching of SLT students
- Able to demonstrate well developed competence in dysphagia management in an adult caseload
- Previous participation in clinical governance activities (audit, quality improvement)
Desirable
- Exposure to/ experience with FEES
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
