About this role
Job summary
Are you looking for the opportunity to grow and develop your skills within the field of Head and Neck Cancer (H&N) within a dynamic Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), providing a service across the cancer pathway, including pre-treatment, on treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
We are looking for someone to join our friendly, enthusiastic and motivated team. The post holder will work within the H&N SLT team and be supported to hold responsibility for the oncology pathway as well as having the opportunity to work with patients who have had surgery.
The H&N service covers both surgical and oncological pathways with a seamless service provided from diagnosis to the completion of treatment. We are highly respected by the wider H&N team and provide a truly multi-disciplinary approach to H&N cancer management with routine joint AHP and CNS clinics.
You will be a qualified and HCPC registered Speech & Language Therapist with knowledge and experience of dysphagia assessments and treatments. We would welcome a discussion with anyone with general adult experience who has a passion for this patient group and wishes to specialise.
Main duties of the job
Every day is different! The successful candidate will have the opportunity to independently manage a caseload of patients with swallowing / speech / voice disorders secondary to H&N cancer. You will create and implement individualised treatment programmes, ensuring that these are monitored and modified as required. You will be working alongside a supportive team of experienced SLT colleagues and will attend the H&N MDT and Consultant Led Clinics.
The H&N SLT team sits within the wider Adult SLT service, which provides an acute and community service. You will be part of an innovative and supportive team of colleagues. The team are proactive in service development initiatives. The service offers regular clinical and line management supervision. We have a strong CPD ethos, access to training is available and career development is encouraged through your regular personal development reviews.
What can we offer you?
A supportive and stimulating work environment in a service which is committed to making a difference for people who have H&N Cancer.
A strong emphasis on CPD with access to specialist clinical support, team away days, sharing good practice and effective team working.
We value our staff and advocate career progression internally. We encourage therapists to contribute to service development and welcome and valve new ideas and experiences.
About us
We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.
Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that:
72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question. 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region. 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.
This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.
Job description Job responsibilities
To effectively examine and assess patients, identify their problems / needs and ensure that patients medical, cognitive, psychological, social, environmental, and cultural factors are considered including those with diverse or complex presentations / multi pathologies.
To provide specialist differential diagnosis, clinical advice, and therapy to patients with communication / swallowing difficulties as a result of Head and Neck Cancer; this includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention, implementing specialist programmes where appropriate.
To be able to relate findings of assessment to presenting disease / pathology / impairment.
To interpret assessment findings using specialist clinical reasoning skills in order to competently plan and carry out therapy programmes.
The Trust is required to work in line with the Governments UK Visa and Immigration Rules and Regulations. For more information about sponsorship for certain roles, please visit - https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Person Specification
Essential Essential
A baseline knowledge and understanding of the specific counselling required for the specialist area Member of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Essential & Desirable Essential
Recognised Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists degree level qualification Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Post Graduate Dysphagia Training with evidence of competencies Experience managing patients with complex communication and swallowing needs, including developing therapy programmes Experience of working with patients in an acute setting Working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team and with other professionals Ability to identify own professional development needs and develop a professional portfolio within the appraisal framework, including specific objectives Skill in selection of appropriate strategies for prioritisation and management of a complex caseload independently Specialist skills in differential diagnosis and targeting of clinical interventions backed by current evidence Specialist skills in differential diagnosis and targeting of clinical interventions backed by current evidence Ability to demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of clients Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including skilled and professional recognition of communication barriers/facilitation Ability to effectively and independently manage own caseload Negotiation skills for management of conflict across a range of situations To employ appropriate strategies to manage aggressive or other inappropriate behaviour within the workplace Knowledge of a broad range of specialist formal and informal assessment methods and their interpretation Approachable Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) Be able to independently prioritise tasks and manage time effectively To recognise personal limitations and to seek support when required Ability to work under pressure and to be flexible in order to manage clinical prioritise as they occur Ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care Ability to engage positively with patients Ability to work effectively as a team member Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook Ability to work flexibly across the Trust Able to attend and participate in all mandatory and statutory training events Ability to travel around the locality as required, independently and efficiently
Desirable
Experience in managing patients with Head and Neck Cancer Competent in tracheostomy management Experience of working with patients who have had a Laryngectomy Experience of working with patients having radiotherapy as a result of Head and Neck Cancer Excellent presentation skills A baseline knowledge and understanding of the specific counselling required for the specialist area
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Great Western Road
Gloucester
GL1 3NN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ghc.nhs.uk/who-we-are/jobs/ (Opens in a new tab)