Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapist with specialist skills in Voice / ENT to join our service on a permanent 0.5 WTE contract.
We are a friendly, innovative team working with patients who have head and neck cancer, voice disorders, benign ENT, OMFS and airway disorders. Our team covers three sites - St Bartholomews, Royal London and Whipps Cross Hospitals to serve a large and diverse caseload. We have many established specialist clinics that the post holder will have the opportunity to be involved with and have long established working relationships with our ENT, OMFS and Oncology colleagues, along with the wider MDT and SLT team.
The post offers significant opportunity to increase existing skills and experience in a variety of settings across patient groups within the specialism. You will provide highly specialist services to adults with a range of voice and benign ENT disorders. There may also be the opportunity to cross-cover the head and neck cancer inpatient and outpatient caseloads. You will have the opportunity to participate in joint voice clinics with our ENT consultants and SLT-led nasendoscopy clinics.
The post holder will have post-qualification experience in working with adults with voice and other benign ENT disorders. The post holder will have the opportunity to maintain and develop specialist skills in voice therapy, benign ENT dysphagia (including opportunities for videofluoroscopy and FEES) and nasendoscopy.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will work as a member of the Head & Neck / ENT Speech and Language Therapy Department, primarily providing a service to adults with benign voice disorders. There may also be the opportunity to cover inpatients and outpatients with benign ENT dysphagia and Head & Neck Cancer for candidates with relevant experience. The therapist will be based across Royal London Hospital (RLH) and Whipps Cross Hospital (WXH) sites, but may also provide sessions to St Bartholomew’s Hospital (SBH) if required. The post holder will participate in service initiatives and be proactive in supporting the development of clinical work in their service area. The post holder will work closely with Technical Instructors (TIs), interpreters and other members of the MDT.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
2. Health and Care Professions Council license to practice
3. Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses in the area of Voice/Head & Neck
4. Post-graduate training in dysphagia
5. Membership of relevant Clinical Excellence Networks e.g. Voice, H&N
Desirable criteria
6. Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Significant post qualification experience of working with patients with benign ENT and voice disorders
8. Clinical experience of voice therapy, including use of various assessment and therapeutic techniques
9. Independent management of complex dysphagia
10. Experience of MDT working including participation in combined clinics (e.g. voice clinic)
11. Experience in training to other professionals
12. Experience in the supervision of SLT students / junior therapists/ assistants
13. Experience of audit/clinical governance to monitor/improve service
14. Experience of working with clients from multicultural background and working with interpreters
Desirable criteria
15. Experience of working with patients with Head & Neck Cancer, including laryngectomy, radiotherapy and surgical patients
16. Nasendoscopy competencies
17. Videofluoroscopy competencies
18. Myofascial release or other laryngeal manual therapy technique, experience of specialist areas such as upper airway disorders or trans voice
Knowledge
Essential criteria
19. To adhere to RCSLT, national and local clinical guidelines
20. Well-established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools in the area of voice and dysphagia
21. In depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions in voice and dysphagia with an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
22. Knowledge of use of outcome measures relevant to clinical area
23. Knowledge of up-to-date advances in clinical management
24. In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures in the clinical area
25. Knowledge of the importance of cultural and linguistic issues for communication and swallowing
26. In depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit
27. Understanding of the roles of other professionals (relevant to Voice/Head & Neck)
28. Knowledge of standards of record keeping