B7 Speech and Language Therapy Team Leader - Head & Neck Cancer

Job summary

Due to new funding and service expansion we are seeking a Speech and Language Therapy Team Leader keen to support head and neck cancer patients in our specialist tertiary centre. This role will be focused within the inpatient Head and Neck Cancer team based at QEHB and will benefit from a network within the wider SLT team across surgery, medicine, ITU, stroke and neuro-trauma divisions.

The newly expanded head and neck oncology service includes a Clinical Specialist, several Highly Specialist and Team Leaders, Specialist SLTs, newly qualified SLTs and an SLT assistant supporting patients through the pathway from diagnosis, treatment, acute inpatient management/rehabilitation and outpatient follow up.

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. We have well-established SLT led Videofluoroscopy, FEES and SVR services so opportunities to access these instrumental assessments to help to shape your clinical practice would also be available.

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

This post is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and involves leading the inpatient head and neck cancer Speech and Language Therapy team supporting patients with swallowing, voice and communication difficulties, primarily but not limited to, pre- and post- head and neck cancer surgery, surgical voice restoration, laryngectomy, tracheostomy and non-head and neck cancer oncological treatments. This will primarily be within the inpatient setting including assessment, management and rehabilitation within the acute setting.

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

*assessing and managing patients with dysphagia, communication disorders and/or altered airways in an inpatient and outpatient setting, including specialist clinics such as surgical voice restoration

*provision of rehabilitation

*training of junior colleagues and students

*working towards utilising specialist assessments such e.g. FEES, tracheostomy, videofluoroscopy

*working flexibly and thriving in a fast-paced environment

*supervision and service development responsibilities

*involvement in audit and research including attending or presenting at regional and national conferences

*attendance at MDT meetings

We would welcome interested candidates to get in touch for an informal discussion. Please contact Stef Matthews (Professional Lead) via Stefanie.matthews@uhb.nhs.uk or 0121 371 3483

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;
Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Job description

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

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

A good standard of secondary education including A-Level or equivalent.

BSc or recognised MSc degree in Speech and Language Therapy.

Membership of RCSLT.

Registration with HCPC.

Completed RCSLT Level C/Level 5 EDS dysphagia competencies (or above).

Willingness and capability to achieve SVR and FEES interpretation and scoping competencies.

Experience

Essential

Significant experience of working independently with adult dysphagia caseload at a specialist level

Significant experience of working with head and neck cancer/oncology caseload

Significant experience of working independently within an acute hospital setting

Significant experience of working successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Significant post-graduate training, through attendance at short courses and/or via personal study.

Evidence of attendance at national conferences or similar.

Demonstration of people management at either an individual or team level.

Experience of training Speech and Language Therapy undergraduates and junior SLTs.

Desirable

Membership of a relevant CEN.

Post-graduate education or research.

Knowledge acquired through attendance at postgraduate specialist courses at Masters level or equivalent.

Knowledge of the strategic direction of the Trust.

Additional Criteria

Essential

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.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Ability to work flexibly.

Organisational skills with the ability to organise own workload and work in a systematic way.

Excellent time management.

Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Ability to work weekends as part of a 7 day working pattern (when appropriate service delivery allows and commences).

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: 

Stefanie Matthews 

stefanie.matthews@uhb.nhs.uk