Job summary
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (LTHTR) is looking to recruit an experienced and driven Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) in Clinical Voice Disorders / ENT. We want someone who has a passion and drive for service delivery / development, and who can motivate, train and upskill the other SLTs working within this specialty.
As an SLT service we are on an improvement journey, and with support from the Head of SLT and Clinical Lead in Voice, we are aiming to transform our clinical voice disorders / ENT dysphagia service. If you are excited by quality improvement and innovation, with a clear vision for a gold standard service, this job is the one for you!
Within this role you will be required to work alongside Consultants and other MDT members in Joint Voice Clinics, Videofluoroscopy/FEES clinics and whilst defining patient pathways. This role also requires cross site working. Excellent interpersonal skills are therefore essential to build working relationships with multiple MDTs.
Voice and dysphagia competence are non-negotiable elements to this role. Ideally we are looking for a candidate with experience in nasendoscopy and voice/FEES clinics, however training can be provided in this area. Flexible working will be considered.
Please note: this role may close early if a high volume of applications is received.
Main duties of the job
- To provide clinical leadership and service development within Clinical Voice Disorders and ENT dysphagia .
- To provide clinical services to adults with acquired voice, communication and/or swallowing problems.
- To use evidence-based, highly specialist skills to undertake expert assessments and deliver appropriate interventions to complex clinical caseload.
- To work effectively in collaboration with the MDT - particularly ENT to develop and redesign Joint Voice Clinics at LTHTR.
- To take a lead role in developing services such as SLT led voice endoscopy assessments.
- To utilise instrumental assessment of swallowing (VFS/FEES) as required.
- To provide input into teaching, training and supporting junior staff.
About us
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust is a large acute organisation, delivering specialist services both locally and regionally. we are a regional specialist centre for Cancer Care, Major Trauma, Neurosciences and Stroke. The Speech Therapy Department is situated at the Royal Preston Hospital site; however, we also deliver services to Chorley District Hospital and our new Community Healthcare Hub (intermediate care / step down facility).
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 are currently re-designing our Joint Voice Clinics with ENT and have plans for service expansion here.
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 more details:
- Effective communication of complex information to patients/carers regarding diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plans.
- Effective MDT communications
- Undertake highly specialist clinical assessment and deliver effective therapeutic intervention for optimised patient care.
- To independently perform flexible endostroboscopy for patients with clinical voice disorders in Joint Consultant Clinics.
- To work collaboratively with ENT to develop additional services such as augmentation of vocal folds (LAVC) and injection Botulinum Toxin for spasmodic dysphonia.
- VFS/FEES
- Demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge in specialist area and take responsibility for developing the junior team.
- Identify ongoing service pressures and opportunities for development within specialist service.
- Actively participate in clinical governance agenda and service leadership.
- Support recruitment within the clinical area and wider service as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see separate job description and person specification for more details:
- Effective communication of complex information to patients/carers regarding diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plans.
- Effective MDT communications
- Undertake highly specialist clinical assessment and deliver effective therapeutic intervention for optimised patient care.
- To independently perform flexible endostroboscopy for patients with clinical voice disorders in Joint Consultant Clinics.
- To work collaboratively with ENT to develop additional services such as augmentation of vocal folds (LAVC) and injection Botulinum Toxin for spasmodic dysphonia.
- VFS/FEES
- Demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge in specialist area and take responsibility for developing the junior team.
- Identify ongoing service pressures and opportunities for development within specialist service.
- Actively participate in clinical governance agenda and service leadership.
- Support recruitment within the clinical area and wider service as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- HCPC & RCSLT registration
- Graduate or post-graduate qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
- Completion of competencies in Clinical Voice Disorders
- Completion of Specialist Dysphagia Competencies
- Evidence of CPD in relevant areas working towards Masters level.
Desirable
- Masters qualification / modules or advanced course in specialist field
- Endoscopy competency framework - EEL
- Competencies in VFS / FEES
- Leadership training
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Highly specialised knowledge clinical voice disorders and ENT.
- Able to independently assess, diagnose and manage complex adult acquired voice, dysphagia & communication impairments
- Understanding of the roles of other health care professionals and working as a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to perform and interpret flexible laryngeal examinations for voice assessments
- Experience of VFS / FEES
- Delivery of SLT training in specialist area
- Experience of working in both in-patient and outpatient setting.
- Experience of audit and service development
Desirable
- Experience undertaking local research projects
- Working with other relevant agencies
- Laryngeal augmentation / Botox procedures
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills
- Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to prioritise workload
- CPD and clinical governance commitment
- Clinical Educator
- To work within limits of knowledge and skills
- Clinical leadership skills
Desirable
- Awareness of relevant national guidance
- Excel and data collection skills
Values & Behaviours
Essential
- Invests in trust values
- Enthusiastic / positive attitude to change
- Able to work flexibly and multi-task
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others
- Takes responsibility for high quality care and performance
- Empathetic approach to patient care
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- HCPC & RCSLT registration
- Graduate or post-graduate qualification in Speech and Language Therapy
- Completion of competencies in Clinical Voice Disorders
- Completion of Specialist Dysphagia Competencies
- Evidence of CPD in relevant areas working towards Masters level.
Desirable
- Masters qualification / modules or advanced course in specialist field
- Endoscopy competency framework - EEL
- Competencies in VFS / FEES
- Leadership training
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Highly specialised knowledge clinical voice disorders and ENT.
- Able to independently assess, diagnose and manage complex adult acquired voice, dysphagia & communication impairments
- Understanding of the roles of other health care professionals and working as a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to perform and interpret flexible laryngeal examinations for voice assessments
- Experience of VFS / FEES
- Delivery of SLT training in specialist area
- Experience of working in both in-patient and outpatient setting.
- Experience of audit and service development
Desirable
- Experience undertaking local research projects
- Working with other relevant agencies
- Laryngeal augmentation / Botox procedures
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills
- Highly developed auditory and perceptual skills
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to prioritise workload
- CPD and clinical governance commitment
- Clinical Educator
- To work within limits of knowledge and skills
- Clinical leadership skills
Desirable
- Awareness of relevant national guidance
- Excel and data collection skills
Values & Behaviours
Essential
- Invests in trust values
- Enthusiastic / positive attitude to change
- Able to work flexibly and multi-task
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others
- Takes responsibility for high quality care and performance
- Empathetic approach to patient care
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).
