Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our dynamic team at the Royal Marsden Hospital. The post holder will be involved in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of communication and swallowing impairments for our patients within our critical care department particularly those who are ventilator dependent/ tracheostomised. The post holder will be working closely with the CCU MDT. The post holder will also be involved in pre-treatment, on treat and follow up clinics for those with head and neck cancer including intensive dysphagia therapy rehabilitation programmes and surgical voice restoration. There will be opportunities to see other patients with a cancer diagnosis including neuro oncology and gastrointestinal cancers and will be involved in FEES and video fluoroscopy clinics. The department has a high research profile and there will be opportunities to further this area of interest.
For further information please contact Grainne Brady on 0207 808 2815, or Grainne.brady@rmh.nhs.uk.
Interviews will be held at RMH Chelsea on 3rd December 2025.
Main duties of the job
- To be responsible for the provision of a highly specialist clinical service, from acute to palliative and terminal stages of care, across the lifespan, to patients referred to the Trust with a wide range of communication and/or swallowing disorders secondary to cancer and/or its treatment. The main referral source is the Head and Neck (H&N) Unit who provide a clinically complex case load where patients have undergone radical treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
- To take the CCU SLT lead on tracheostomy management within the Trust. This will include leading on the development of protocols and programmes in this clinical area, working closely with and actively participating in MDTs; liaising with other specialist hospitals to ensure appropriate common care pathways are established and effective and appropriate information is maintained.
- To take the SLT role in the development and delivery of teaching and training programmes for professionals and other staff as required.
- To be responsible for disseminating knowledge, within the Trust and on a national and international basis, through reading, participation in research/audits/ service evaluation and advanced clinical practice.
About us
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical skills for interpretative assessment techniques and interventions when caring for patients with tracheostomies and those in CCU.
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical skills with both in and out patients, across the lifespan, when managing their swallowing and/or communication problems related to the nature and stage (acute to terminal/end) of their cancer.
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical management with both in and out patients, across the lifespan, who have complex communication and/or swallowing problems following surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy as well as maxillo-facial disorders, complex airway disorders and trauma.
- To provide support to junior members of staff in CCU including the step up unit in Sutton
- To provide a highly specialist outpatient service for patients who require follow up treatment following discharge
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical skills when assessing, treating and managing communication and swallowing problems after total laryngectomy.
- To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical skills for interpretative assessment techniques and interventions when caring for patients with tracheostomies and those in CCU.
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical skills with both in and out patients, across the lifespan, when managing their swallowing and/or communication problems related to the nature and stage (acute to terminal/end) of their cancer.
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical management with both in and out patients, across the lifespan, who have complex communication and/or swallowing problems following surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy as well as maxillo-facial disorders, complex airway disorders and trauma.
- To provide support to junior members of staff in CCU including the step up unit in Sutton
- To provide a highly specialist outpatient service for patients who require follow up treatment following discharge
- To demonstrate highly specialist clinical skills when assessing, treating and managing communication and swallowing problems after total laryngectomy.
- To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Registered MRCSLT
- Registered member of HCPC
- Masters or equivalent of post-graduate specialist training and membership/committee role in relevant CEN
- Attended post graduate dysphagia training leading to independent practice.
- Post graduate training/ experience in tracheostomy
- Attended specialist post graduate study relevant to ENT or Head & Neck cancer e.g advanced dysphagia course including tracheostomy management and Surgical Voice Restoration
- Post graduate training/experience in FEES
- Post graduate training/experience in videofluoroscopy
Desirable
- Advanced counselling
- Post graduate training/ experience in videofluoroscopy with patients with laryngectomy
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of independent management of adults with acquired dysphagia particularly, tracheostomy and laryngectomy/SVR
- Demonstrable experience of working at a specialist level with adults with acquired dysphagia/ communication disorders as a result of their cancer and /or its treatment, particularly Head & Neck or ENT.
- Knowledge/experience with the use of nasendoscopy/stroboscopy when assessing/treating patients with swallowing difficulties.
- Knowledge of artificial larynx/oesophageal voice
- Evidence of developing and delivering training
- Clinical supervision of SLT students
- Experience of developing case management skills in less experienced staff
- Demonstrable experience of an ability to independently perform and evaluate videofluoroscopy assessments at an advanced level.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Registered MRCSLT
- Registered member of HCPC
- Masters or equivalent of post-graduate specialist training and membership/committee role in relevant CEN
- Attended post graduate dysphagia training leading to independent practice.
- Post graduate training/ experience in tracheostomy
- Attended specialist post graduate study relevant to ENT or Head & Neck cancer e.g advanced dysphagia course including tracheostomy management and Surgical Voice Restoration
- Post graduate training/experience in FEES
- Post graduate training/experience in videofluoroscopy
Desirable
- Advanced counselling
- Post graduate training/ experience in videofluoroscopy with patients with laryngectomy
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of independent management of adults with acquired dysphagia particularly, tracheostomy and laryngectomy/SVR
- Demonstrable experience of working at a specialist level with adults with acquired dysphagia/ communication disorders as a result of their cancer and /or its treatment, particularly Head & Neck or ENT.
- Knowledge/experience with the use of nasendoscopy/stroboscopy when assessing/treating patients with swallowing difficulties.
- Knowledge of artificial larynx/oesophageal voice
- Evidence of developing and delivering training
- Clinical supervision of SLT students
- Experience of developing case management skills in less experienced staff
- Demonstrable experience of an ability to independently perform and evaluate videofluoroscopy assessments at an advanced level.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
