Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (CHANT) Fixed Term

Are you a Band 6 Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) with head and neck oncology experience looking to gain experience in a highly specialist role? Or, are you and Band 7 SLT specialising in adults, with videofluoroscopy, tracheostomy and FEES experience looking to gain experience in the field of head and neck oncology? If so, this 7.5 month contract could be the perfect opportunity for you. Please note, that part-time employment will also be considered.

You will be based in the community, as a core member of the Southeast London Community Head and Neck Cancer Team (CHANT). You will work closely with the CHANT multidisciplinary team members, providing highly specialist care, closer to home.

You will have significant postgraduate specialist experience of managing patients with complex swallowing and communication disorders with adult populations. You will be able to demonstrate competence in independently managing patients with a tracheostomy. You will have a high level of competence in undertaking videofluoroscopy and knowledge and experience of interpreting and reporting FEES. You will also have a proven track record of working as an autonomous specialist SLT within a multidisciplinary team. As part of this role you will be required to supervise SLTs.

The service is able to offer you excellent supervision and peer support, with a strong emphasis on team working. We have regular team meetings, plus opportunities for CPD.

Main duties of the job

Please see attached Job Description for full details.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree leading to license to practice as an SLT
• Masters or equivalent level of post-graduate specialist training short courses, specific training and membership of relevant National CEN
• Advanced videofluoroscopy training
• Head and Neck Oncology specific dysphagia training

Attended basic/intermediate SVR courses

Desirable

• Advanced SVR Training

Experience

Essential

• Significant specialist experience working with adults with acquired dysphagia / communication impairment including those with tracheostomies and following Head & Neck surgery
• Demonstrable experience of working with a caseload of laryngectomy patients
• Support and supervision of junior SLT staff.
• Informal/formal training of other professionals

Skills

Essential

• Evidence of advanced independent management of patients with SVR
• Able to demonstrate ability to carry out and evaluate videofluoroscopy with a Head and Neck Oncology caseload.
• Knowledge/ experience of instrumental assessment of swallowing using FEES

About the employer

The Adult Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Department at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital consists of 26.2 WTE SLTs and 1.4 WTE SLT Assistants. We have considerable expertise within the team with members representing the profession on a number of regional and national groups as well as contributing to both local and national guidance and research.

The service is able to offer you excellent supervision and peer support, with an emphasis on team working. Quality improvement projects and research ideas are strongly encouraged, both within SLT and in the multi-professional teams. We have regular team meetings, plus opportunities for continuing professional development through in-house training, clinical excellence networks and external courses.