Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist - Clinical Voice Disorders

NHS; Preston; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job description

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, we are aiming to transform our clinical voice disorders / ENT 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 and both in-patient and out-patient care. Excellent interpersonal skills are therefore essential to build working relationships with multiple MDTs.

Clinical Voice Disorders is a non-negotiable element to this role and requires at least 3 days a week of complex voice caseload management. If ENT dysphagia is not an interest of yours, a purely voice role would be possible. Another alternative is the possibility of adding some H&N clinical sessions if the right candidate has an interest in this specialty. Part-time and flexible working will be considered.

Main duties of the job

• To provide clinical leadership and service development within Clinical Voice Disorders and ENT.
• 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.

Date posted: 04 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year Per Annum, Pro Rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 438-PB2755

Job locations: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green lane, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9HT

Job responsibilities

• 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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer name: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green lane, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9HT

Employer's website: https://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/