Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a Speech & Language Therapist to join our highly skilled and well-established Head and Neck Oncology / ENT service. You will have experience of working as an SLT with Head and Neck Oncology and Voice preferably in an acute setting. This post is based at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital (Surgical Cancer Centre) but the post holder may be required to work cross-site at Bedford Hospital as part of our Outreach Head and Neck Cancer Service.
The post holder will be an experienced SLT with specialist skills in Head and Neck Cancer, Laryngectomy/Surgical Voice Restoration and ENT disorders. You will independently manage and have day to day responsibility for a caseload of adults in acute and outpatient settings.
This role is part funded (15 hours) by the cancer alliance for 24 months. The successful candidate will support the service to create a business case to secure permanent funding. You will join a highly supportive and innovative Speech and Language Therapy Team comprising 14 SLTs providing services to Head and Neck /ENT, Maxillofacial Surgery, Acute inpatients, Stroke, ESD and Luton Community. The department offers an excellent supervision program with a well-established CPD and support network and we encourage and support audit, project work and/or research.
The Luton & Dunstable Hospital is the Cancer Centre for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, comprising a fully comprehensive multidisciplinary team, which you would be part of.
Main duties of the job
Use highly specialist clinical skills to manage a specialist caseload of adults with communication and/or swallowing disorders as a result of Head and Neck Cancer and benign ENT disorders/voice. Identify, assess and diagnose communication/swallowing impairments and select appropriate patients and type of therapy for effective treatment.
Provide specialist advice to colleagues in specialty area, giving service wide second and expert opinions as required.
Independently take students on placement for clinical teaching and supervision, including exam placement.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To assess patients communication and swallowing, develop and implement specialist speech and language therapy treatment, and discharge as appropriate. To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need.
To develop clear care plans based on best/evidence based practice.
To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.
To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication and /or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
To provide specialist advice in relation to relevant care group.
To monitor and evaluate own highly specialist service delivery.
To employ counselling skills with patients and carers with highly complex needs.
To analyse and interpret complex information relating to patients and to service provision in order to plan patient care and service development and to devise care protocols for specific clinical issues.
To use skills and knowledge to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues.
To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical.
To demonstrate an advanced level of clinical expertise with extended scope of practice including laryngeal endoscopy/stroboscopy and maintain expert clinical knowledge in the field of Head & Neck cancer, SVR and ENT disorders.
To size, fit and change voice prosthesis in accordance with clinical guidelines and protocols as well as problem solve, demonstrating highly specialist skills in managing complex SVR situations.
To understand and support patients and carers through quality of life decisions regarding eating and drinking risks, particularly in regard to patients on a palliative pathway
Job description
Job responsibilities
To assess patients communication and swallowing, develop and implement specialist speech and language therapy treatment, and discharge as appropriate. To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment and design appropriate treatment based on analysis of profile of need.
To develop clear care plans based on best/evidence based practice.
To use clinical skills to generate written reports reflecting specialist knowledge.
To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.
To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication and /or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
To provide specialist advice in relation to relevant care group.
To monitor and evaluate own highly specialist service delivery.
To employ counselling skills with patients and carers with highly complex needs.
To analyse and interpret complex information relating to patients and to service provision in order to plan patient care and service development and to devise care protocols for specific clinical issues.
To use skills and knowledge to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management for complex clinical issues.
To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, clinical and non-clinical.
To demonstrate an advanced level of clinical expertise with extended scope of practice including laryngeal endoscopy/stroboscopy and maintain expert clinical knowledge in the field of Head & Neck cancer, SVR and ENT disorders.
To size, fit and change voice prosthesis in accordance with clinical guidelines and protocols as well as problem solve, demonstrating highly specialist skills in managing complex SVR situations.
To understand and support patients and carers through quality of life decisions regarding eating and drinking risks, particularly in regard to patients on a palliative pathway
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent. Health and Care Professions Council Registration.
- Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent.
- Relevant post registration training in Head and Neck Oncology/ENT, including laryngectomy,tracheostomy and FEES.
Desirable
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Evidence of training as a clinical supervisor.
- MBSImp Certified
Communication Skills
Essential
- Ability to give highly specialised advice to the MDT in a range of formats and in such a way that it can be clearly understood by the receiver.
- Use well developed negotiation and motivational communication skills with service users, their relatives/carers as well as colleagues in the MDT.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team
- Ability to deliver presentations and training, including complex adaptations to presentation / training style for a range of audiences
Desirable
- Training in 'Advanced Communication Skills in Cancer Care'
Experience
Essential
- Postgraduate experience, within Head and Neck Oncology and Voice at Band 6 level.
- Proven competence in the independent management of laryngectomy patients, including surgical voice restoration.
- Proven experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies.
- Independent use and interpretation of videofluoroscopic and FEES examinations.
- Experience in the area of voice, including use of specialist assessment and therapeutic techniques.
- Experience of supervising students and supporting less experienced SLTs.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a Specialist Voice Clinic
- Development of protocols and guidelines.
- Experience of initiating, managing and evaluating change within a service.
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge underpinning the assessment, treatment and management of complex voice, communication and swallowing disorders associated with and head and neck caseload.
- Knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions/approaches in Voice Disorders.
- In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to Head and Neck Oncology and Voice.
- Clear understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit to monitor and improve service.
Desirable
- Awareness of the wider local and national agenda around SLT and NHS developments.
Skills
Essential
- Proven competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of highly complex, communication and swallowing disorders associated with the head and neck cancer caseload.
- Established skills in managing the pre and post-operative patient with a Laryngectomy, including stoma care, HME Placement, voice prosthesis sizing and fitting.
- Ability to analyse and interpret videofluoroscopy images and FEES.
- Established skills in perceptual assessment and management of more complex voice disorder cases.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced work environment including critical decisions involving complex facts / situations often under pressure, for example within a busy Head and Neck MDT clinic.
- Excellent time management, delegation and prioritisation skills.
- Excellent negotiation and problem solving skills for management of complex cases and challenging situations.
Desirable
- Service improvement/project management skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent. Health and Care Professions Council Registration.
- Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent.
- Relevant post registration training in Head and Neck Oncology/ENT, including laryngectomy,tracheostomy and FEES.
Desirable
- Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Evidence of training as a clinical supervisor.
- MBSImp Certified
Communication Skills
Essential
- Ability to give highly specialised advice to the MDT in a range of formats and in such a way that it can be clearly understood by the receiver.
- Use well developed negotiation and motivational communication skills with service users, their relatives/carers as well as colleagues in the MDT.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team
- Ability to deliver presentations and training, including complex adaptations to presentation / training style for a range of audiences
Desirable
- Training in 'Advanced Communication Skills in Cancer Care'
Experience
Essential
- Postgraduate experience, within Head and Neck Oncology and Voice at Band 6 level.
- Proven competence in the independent management of laryngectomy patients, including surgical voice restoration.
- Proven experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies.
- Independent use and interpretation of videofluoroscopic and FEES examinations.
- Experience in the area of voice, including use of specialist assessment and therapeutic techniques.
- Experience of supervising students and supporting less experienced SLTs.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a Specialist Voice Clinic
- Development of protocols and guidelines.
- Experience of initiating, managing and evaluating change within a service.
Knowledge
Essential
- Theoretical knowledge underpinning the assessment, treatment and management of complex voice, communication and swallowing disorders associated with and head and neck caseload.
- Knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions/approaches in Voice Disorders.
- In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to Head and Neck Oncology and Voice.
- Clear understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit to monitor and improve service.
Desirable
- Awareness of the wider local and national agenda around SLT and NHS developments.
Skills
Essential
- Proven competence in the independent assessment, treatment and management of highly complex, communication and swallowing disorders associated with the head and neck cancer caseload.
- Established skills in managing the pre and post-operative patient with a Laryngectomy, including stoma care, HME Placement, voice prosthesis sizing and fitting.
- Ability to analyse and interpret videofluoroscopy images and FEES.
- Established skills in perceptual assessment and management of more complex voice disorder cases.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced work environment including critical decisions involving complex facts / situations often under pressure, for example within a busy Head and Neck MDT clinic.
- Excellent time management, delegation and prioritisation skills.
- Excellent negotiation and problem solving skills for management of complex cases and challenging situations.
Desirable
- Service improvement/project management skills
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).
