Job summary
Are you a Speech and Language Therapist with head and neck cancer expertise, looking for an exciting new challenge? Do you thrive working as part of a close-knit team, combining specialist knowledge with a creative approach to provide the best patient- and family-centred care?
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) and 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 are looking for an SLT who may have skills and experience in adult and/or child head and neck cancer who would like to broaden their skills to the children and teenage population receiving radiotherapy with diagnoses of head and neck, neuro-oncology and some haematology diagnoses. We recognise this is a rare position and so 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 SLT's, delivering cancer care at the forefront of innovative practice.
Main duties of the job
- 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, who thrives working 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 of whom 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.
About us
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, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- HCPC Licence to practice as SLT
- Successful completion of highly specialist post-graduate study relevant to setting and caseload, including knowledge of feeding/ swallowing disorders and communication. (e.g. accredited dysphagia course, accredited communication course, VFS, oncology courses, tracheostomy)
Desirable
- Member of relevant Special Interest Group(s)
- Training in SLT student clinical supervision
- Evidence of working within the NHS
- MSc or Diploma relating to SLT
- Evidence of qualifications in counselling skills
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical experience working at this level in a relevant field post-registration, including 2 years at a specialist level
- Of working at a complex specialist level within one or more relevant specialist fields including: neuro/oncology, head-and-neck oncology, paediatric dysphagia and associated communication issues.
- Of audit and service evaluation and/or development with data capture
- Proven experience of a highly/specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate feeding and swallowing disorders, speech & language skills in a complex and/or paediatric/teenage population.
- Good understanding of the clinical governance principles (e.g. audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, patient, and public involvement)
Desirable
- Of supervising SLT students
- Basic knowledge of qualitative & quantitative research approaches, the key elements of writing a research protocol
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Communication & Customer Care: The ability to communicate complex, sensitive information
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Skilled in delivering presentations and training including basic adaptations to presentation/ training style for a range of audiences
Personal & people development
Essential
- Knowledge of a range of approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting, and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
- The ability to reflect on practice
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Demonstratable understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and/or knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties
Quality and service improvement
Essential
- Demonstrates knowledge of HCPCs code of ethics and professional conduct
- Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to national and local clinical guidelines with reference to paediatric acute caseload e.g. National Service Frameworks/ NICE Guidelines
- Demonstrates knowledge of and commitment to the Equal Opportunities policy, Infection Control and Health and Safety Guidelines
- Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate legislation affecting working practice e.g. Working with Vulnerable Adults, Safeguarding Children
- The ability to develop & implement short term clinically based projects
Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives, and visitors is minimised by:
Essential
- Being familiar with, and adhering to policies and guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC), including having maintained IPC in previous professional roles
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Information processing (IT skills) : Competent IT skills
Other requirements, including:
Essential
- Physical Effort: Highly specialist lifting &/ or positioning of clients
Person Specification
Knowledge & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
- HCPC Licence to practice as SLT
- Successful completion of highly specialist post-graduate study relevant to setting and caseload, including knowledge of feeding/ swallowing disorders and communication. (e.g. accredited dysphagia course, accredited communication course, VFS, oncology courses, tracheostomy)
Desirable
- Member of relevant Special Interest Group(s)
- Training in SLT student clinical supervision
- Evidence of working within the NHS
- MSc or Diploma relating to SLT
- Evidence of qualifications in counselling skills
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical experience working at this level in a relevant field post-registration, including 2 years at a specialist level
- Of working at a complex specialist level within one or more relevant specialist fields including: neuro/oncology, head-and-neck oncology, paediatric dysphagia and associated communication issues.
- Of audit and service evaluation and/or development with data capture
- Proven experience of a highly/specialist range of assessment tools and procedures to evaluate feeding and swallowing disorders, speech & language skills in a complex and/or paediatric/teenage population.
- Good understanding of the clinical governance principles (e.g. audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, patient, and public involvement)
Desirable
- Of supervising SLT students
- Basic knowledge of qualitative & quantitative research approaches, the key elements of writing a research protocol
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Communication & Customer Care: The ability to communicate complex, sensitive information
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Skilled in delivering presentations and training including basic adaptations to presentation/ training style for a range of audiences
Personal & people development
Essential
- Knowledge of a range of approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting, and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
- The ability to reflect on practice
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Demonstratable understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and/or knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties
Quality and service improvement
Essential
- Demonstrates knowledge of HCPCs code of ethics and professional conduct
- Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to national and local clinical guidelines with reference to paediatric acute caseload e.g. National Service Frameworks/ NICE Guidelines
- Demonstrates knowledge of and commitment to the Equal Opportunities policy, Infection Control and Health and Safety Guidelines
- Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate legislation affecting working practice e.g. Working with Vulnerable Adults, Safeguarding Children
- The ability to develop & implement short term clinically based projects
Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives, and visitors is minimised by:
Essential
- Being familiar with, and adhering to policies and guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC), including having maintained IPC in previous professional roles
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Information processing (IT skills) : Competent IT skills
Other requirements, including:
Essential
- Physical Effort: Highly specialist lifting &/ or positioning of clients
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).
Employer details
Employer name
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University College London Hospital
250 Euston Road
London
NW1 2PG
Employer's website
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
