Job summary
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHTR) is seeking to recruit a Specialist Head & Neck (H&N) Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) to join our exciting, complex and fast-paced H&N SLT service, with plans to expand regionally across the Lancashire & South Cumbria patch. If you enjoy working within a strong MDT, with a focus on patient-centred care and want to develop or grow your H&N specialist skills - this job is for you!
RPH is a specialist tertiary Cancer Centre, and we provide both Surgical and Oncology treatment for H&N patients on the same site. You will be expected to assess and deliver quality SLT intervention for patients with communication and swallowing problems for inpatients on our specialist oncology, ENT, maxillofacial and critical care wards, as well as outpatients across the oncology and surgical pathways.
Royal Preston Hospital provides a Laryngectomy service including Surgical Voice Restoration Clinics. We also have established Videofluoroscopy and FEES services.
We are ideally looking for an individual who is an autonomous and competent clinician in dysphagia/communication management, who has the passion and drive to work in the clinical area of H&N cancer and be part of our expanding specialist team. However, we have a flexible approach and would consider applicants who have transferrable skills from other relevant clinical areas.
Main duties of the job
- To provide a specialist speech and language therapy within the Head & Neck cancer Speech & Language Therapy Services
- To assess and treat adults with acquired disorders of voice, communication and dysphagia.
- To work across in-patient and out-patient pathways and proactively engage in multidisciplinary team working.
- To support the clinical lead in the day to day running of the clinical area (Head & Neck Cancer including ENT/Max surgeries, laryngectomy, SVR, oncology and late effects) through implementation of clinical knowledge, operational accountability, monitoring of service provision and supporting staff as required.
- To provide input to the teaching, research, audit and service development functions of the department.
- To actively participate in CPD to maintain and expand clinical knowledge.
- To practice at all times in accordance with the Trust values, Health Care Professions Council Code of Conduct and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists professional standards, working as part of a team to ensure that patients and relatives receive excellent care with compassion.
About us
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is a Cancer Centre and provides tertiary services and comprehensive care to the Lancashire & South Cumbria region. We are unique in that we can treat H&N cancer patients through surgery and/or chemo/radiotherapy, all on the same site.
We are a dedicated SLT service with excellent patient care at the core of our values, and our varied caseload provides complex presentations across dysphagia, communication and voice respectively. We have established VFS and FEES clinics, with in-service training to provide sustainability. We strive to continuously improve our SLT services through service development and innovation and are keen that audit / research are part of our clinical roles. We have strong clinical leadership within the department and structured clinical supervision and CPD is promoted.
You will join a large friendly team of speech and language therapists covering a range of specialist services. The department is rated 'GOLD' on the STAR quality assurance framework, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. CPD and training are well supported.
To find out more about us, look at our Twitter / X page @SLT_LTHTR
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see separate job description and person specification for full details:
- To actively promote high quality service delivery at all times and promote Speech & Language Therapy presence in multidisciplinary team working.
- Support service development and actively participate in audit/research.
- Manage a specialist H&N Cancer caseload within the acute / out-patient setting.
- To utilise instrumental assessment to optimise diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
- To communicate effectively with patients, carers, other disciplines, departments and organisations.
- Own appraisal and personal development plans.
- To provide education and training within the Trust as required.
- To provide mentorship and clinical supervision to junior staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see separate job description and person specification for full details:
- To actively promote high quality service delivery at all times and promote Speech & Language Therapy presence in multidisciplinary team working.
- Support service development and actively participate in audit/research.
- Manage a specialist H&N Cancer caseload within the acute / out-patient setting.
- To utilise instrumental assessment to optimise diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
- To communicate effectively with patients, carers, other disciplines, departments and organisations.
- Own appraisal and personal development plans.
- To provide education and training within the Trust as required.
- To provide mentorship and clinical supervision to junior staff
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Recognised Degree / Masters in Speech and Language Pathology
- HCPC & RCSLT registration
- Evidence of CPD in relevant areas
- RCSLT specialist dysphagia competencies
Desirable
- Post graduate courses in relevant clinical area of Speech and Language Therapy
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of acquired disorders of communication/voice and dysphagia
- Experience of managing dysphagia and communication disorders in specialist clinical area, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting
- Understanding of the roles of other health care professionals and working as a multidisciplinary team
- Clinical educator
Desirable
- Videoflouroscopy training or experience.
- FEES exposure
- Experience of laryngectomy management and Surgical Voice Restoration
- Projects/audit/service development
- Training and clinical supervision of others
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to manage patients independently
- Analytical, problem solving, auditory and perceptual skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Good prioritisation skills
- Ability to multitask and work flexibly
- Works well in a team environment
Desirable
- Ability to perform cervical auscultation
- Able to develop delegated project tasks
- Data collection and analysis
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Recognised Degree / Masters in Speech and Language Pathology
- HCPC & RCSLT registration
- Evidence of CPD in relevant areas
- RCSLT specialist dysphagia competencies
Desirable
- Post graduate courses in relevant clinical area of Speech and Language Therapy
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of acquired disorders of communication/voice and dysphagia
- Experience of managing dysphagia and communication disorders in specialist clinical area, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting
- Understanding of the roles of other health care professionals and working as a multidisciplinary team
- Clinical educator
Desirable
- Videoflouroscopy training or experience.
- FEES exposure
- Experience of laryngectomy management and Surgical Voice Restoration
- Projects/audit/service development
- Training and clinical supervision of others
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to manage patients independently
- Analytical, problem solving, auditory and perceptual skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Good prioritisation skills
- Ability to multitask and work flexibly
- Works well in a team environment
Desirable
- Ability to perform cervical auscultation
- Able to develop delegated project tasks
- Data collection and analysis
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).
