B8a Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (ENT/Voice)

Job Summary

Following a successful external funding application, we have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our team on an 18-month fixed term basis.

The successful candidate will work autonomously as a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist leading a one-stop clinic for patients referred under ENT 2-week wait, to reduce ENT wait times and expedite voice therapy interventions for those with benign vocal cord dysfunction and dysphonia. Referrals received via urgent suspected cancer pathways will be triaged by an ENT Consultant and low risk and voice presentations stratified to SLT-led clinic and booked in by admin team within a 2-week time frame from receipt of referral.

The role will be based at QEHB. We have a large yet close-knit, highly skilled team who contribute to our robust supervision structure. Innovation, participation in research and clinical/professional development are actively encouraged. The postholder will also be leading audit and research projects to evaluate service delivery.

The Team Offers

• A comprehensive induction, robust supervision, regular team meetings & peer support
• A wide range of opportunities for career development including research
• Access to videofluoroscopy, FEES, SVR and specialist voice clinics
• Modern facilities with good transport links
• Encouragement to attend CPD courses both internally and externally
  
  

Main Duties, Tasks & Skills Required

The postholder will operate as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP-equivalent) within defined governance frameworks, managed clinically and professionally by the Consultant SLT. The SLT would complete accredited extended scope practice training including endoscopic assessment and clinical decision frameworks, in keeping with UHB and RCSLT protocols and receive ongoing clinical supervision by ENT consultants and Consultant SLT.

Patients Stratified To SLT-led Clinic Would Attend a Single Visit Assessment To Include History And Risk Stratification, Voice Assessment And PROMs, And Flexible Nasendoscopy/videolaryngoscopy, With a Same Day Outcome. This Will Include

• Comprehensive head & neck symptom history
• Neck and oral cavity screening (within SLT scope of practice)
• Independent performance and interpretation of flexible nasendoscopy and laryngeal visualisation using protocols
• Identification of benign voice disorders (e.g. muscle tension dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux-related changes), structural but non-malignant lesions (nodules, cysts, polyps), and of suspicious features requiring urgent escalation.
• Immediate voice therapy intervention at first appointment including education and vocal hygiene, direct voice therapy techniques, behavioural modification, follow-up therapy pathways where needed, discharge with self-management plans, and use of outcome measures.
  
  

Stefanie.Smith@uhb.nhs.uk or Camilla Dawson (Consultant SLT) via Camilla.Dawson@uhb.nhs.uk or SLT office 0121 371 3804.

About Us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Job Description

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy (BSc or MSc) with HCPC registration and RCSLT membership.
• Evidence of leadership competencies and a comprehensive personal development portfolio.
• Postgraduate specialist training at Master's level or equivalent, including substantial advanced courses and clinical skill development.
• RCSLT Level C / EDS Level 5 dysphagia competencies (or above).
• Competencies in flexible nasendoscopy.
  
  

Desirable

• Ventilator competencies.
• Qualification or development in research / staff development or other relevant area.
• Competencies in FEES interpretation.
  
  

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working independently with adult dysphonia caseload at a specialist level.
• Significant experience working within an ENT setting.
• Significant experience working with patients with dysphagia.
• Significant experience of working at highly specialist level independently within an acute hospital setting.
• Experience of working successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Substantial experience of leading and working proactively within multi-professional teams with evidence of influence in service development
• Experience of higher-level training provision for Speech and Language Therapy undergraduates and junior SLTs.
• Application of evidence-based practice principles and research methodology.
• Substantial experience of leading and working proactively within multi-professional teams with evidence of influence in service development.
• Teaching experience and ability to deliver high quality presentations
  
  

Desirable

• Experience of working with patients with laryngectomy and/or head and neck cancer.
• Membership of a relevant CEN.cam
• Experience of presenting at national conferences.
• Knowledge of the strategic direction of the Trust.
• Significant experience of people management including attendance, performance and strategy.
  
  

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of assessment and management of dysphagia, voice and communication disorders.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information effectively and an awareness of the appropriate use of counselling skills.
• Excellent skills of persuasion, motivation, negotiation and problem-solving skills with patients, colleagues in the department, the MDT and other professionals.
• Effective communication skills with people who have significant and complex communication and or swallowing difficulties.
• Well-developed perceptual and auditory skills.
• Ability to absorb, interpret and summarise verbal information in a clinical environment.
• Systematic and organised.
• Able to manage and negotiate complex discussions or disagreements with patients, relatives and professional colleagues in a professional, supportive manner and able to support junior team members in this.
• Able to complete audit and disseminate findings.
• Ability to present on clinical topics to wide range of audiences.
• Well-developed perceptual and auditory skills.
• Keen to embrace change consistent with delivery of service whilst keeping the patient as an individual at the centre of care.
• Punctual and reliable in-service delivery and excellent time management.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Organisational skills with the ability to organise own workload and work in a systematic way.
• Excellent time management.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to be systematic and organised.
• Substantial skills in training and supervision of junior and specialist colleagues.
  
  

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

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.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

For Help With Your Application, Contact

Stef Smith

stefanie.smith@uhb.nhs.uk

01213713483

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57528.00 to £64750.00 Yearly

Contract

Fixed Term

Duration

18 Month(s)

Working pattern

Full-Time, Flexible Working

Reference number

304-1102865

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Attachments

Job Description

Band 8a ENT Voice Clinical Specialist Speech JD PS .pdf – 516KB Opens in a new window