Lead SLT for Voice and Upper Airways

Job summary

The Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Voice and Upper Airway Services will provide strategic, clinical and operational leadership for a highly specialist, evidence-based service across acute and community settings. The post holder will lead the development and delivery of integrated voice and upper airway pathways, ensuring seamless, patient-centred care from referral to discharge. Working autonomously and collaboratively with ENT and wider multidisciplinary teams, they will deliver advanced assessment and treatment for adults with voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders, support service transformation and innovation, and provide expert supervision, training and leadership to speech and language therapy staff. The role will contribute to service development, quality improvement and workforce development, while supporting the operational management of Speech and Language Therapy services and deputising for senior leaders as required.

A full UK driving license is essential for this post. Please note that an international driving license is not accepted.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

Lead and deliver a highly specialist, evidence-based SLT service for adults with voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders across acute and community settings.Develop and implement integrated voice and upper airway pathways, ensuring seamless patient care from referral to discharge.Provide advanced assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and management for patients with complex voice and dysphagia needs.Support and contribute to Joint Voice Clinics, specialist ENT clinics and MDT swallowing clinics, working closely with ENT and wider MDT colleagues.Lead service development, quality improvement and pathway redesign initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance patient outcomes and service efficiency.Provide expert advice and guidance to patients, carers and healthcare professionals on voice and swallowing disorders.Ensure effective triage and prioritisation of referrals to support timely assessment, intervention and discharge planning.Deliver clinical supervision, training, competency development and day-to-day leadership for SLT staff working within voice and dysphagia services.Collaborate with multidisciplinary and cross-organisational partners to support integrated service delivery and innovative models of care.Contribute to policy development, clinical governance, audit and service evaluation activities.Undertake operational, leadership and line management responsibilities as required, deputising for the Head of Service and supporting the wider SLT service.

About us

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will provide clinical, operational and professional leadership for the Voice and Upper Airway Speech and Language Therapy Service across acute and community settings. They will be responsible for delivering highly specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment for adults with complex voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders, while leading the development of integrated care pathways and innovative models of service delivery. The role includes working collaboratively with ENT and multidisciplinary colleagues, driving service improvement and transformation, providing expert clinical advice, and ensuring high standards of patient care. The post holder will also support workforce development through supervision, training and leadership of Speech and Language Therapy staff, contribute to governance and policy development, and provide operational support to the wider Speech and Language Therapy service, including deputising for senior leaders as required.

For further details please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oSpeech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent. oMember of RCSLT. oHCPC Registration with Licence to Practise. oCompletion of RCSLT Dysphagia competencies or equivalent. oEvidence of relevant post-graduate training in voice. oWorking towards Master's level of education or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• oPost-graduate education at Masters level in relevant clinical area(s). oClinical Excellence Network (CEN) member in related clinical areas. oCompleted FEES/endoscopy competencies.

Experience

Essential

• oAdvanced specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and management voice disorders and dysphagia in adults. oSignificant clinical experience working in community settings including patient homes, residential/nursing homes, community clinics as well as in MDT clinics oExperience of working within a multidisciplinary team. oExperience supporting/teaching placement students, newly-qualified SLTs and less experienced colleagues. oExperience of delivering in-service training and/or CPD relevant to the service area. oEvidence of maintaining relevant personal/professional development portfolio. oUnderstanding of clinical governance. oExperience of assisting service improvement, audit, or research relevant to voice and dysphagia. oExperience of leadership/service development relevant to voice and dysphagia.

Desirable

• oExperience supporting Voice Clinic jointly with ENT. oExperience of developing voice and/or dysphagia services in line with national policy. oExperience developing services jointly with ENT/other MDT stakeholders. oExperience of conducting or being involved in research in voice and/or dysphagia.

Knowledge

Essential

• oAdvanced clinical knowledge and demonstrable skills in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of complex voice and swallowing disorders. oKnowledge of voice and dysphagia assessment tools and a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group. oKnowledge of best practice in assessment and management of voice disorders and dysphagia. oGood working knowledge of national policies and procedures oUnderstanding of the roles of other professionals in supporting patients with voice disorders and/or dysphagia. oUnderstanding of the impact of local cultural, linguistic and demographic factors influencing service delivery. oExcellent written and verbal communication skills. oAble to organise time effectively. oAble to work under pressure. oAble to adapt communication style to varied listeners, oAble to negotiate and manage difficult conversations. oAble to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. oIT skills to support clinical practice. oAbility to assess, identify and manage clinical risk appropriately. oAbility to critically evaluate service delivery and lead service planning.

Desirable

• oExcellent analytical and reflection skills oResearch skills e.g. literature review, critical appraisal, qualitative and/or quantitative analysis.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential

• oMust be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below) oApplicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience