Lead Voice / ENT Speech and Language Therapist

• Lead, co-ordinate and deliver a high quality, evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy service to voice patients, requiring a highly advanced level of knowledge, skills and experience.
• Lead the development of an integrated voice and upper airway service pathway across acute and community settings, ensuring seamless patient care from referral through to discharge. The post holder will work across both UHCW and community services, providing highly specialist clinical input, supporting staff development and competency, and leading service improvement, pathway redesign and new models of working. It is anticipated that the role will include regular sessions across both settings, with flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the service.
• Provide clinical supervision, training and support to less experienced SLTs working in voice and dysphagia.
• Provide advanced speech and language therapy assessment and treatments and review for voice and patients referred into the service. This will be for patients in a variety of settings including, community clinics and at clinics at UHCW.
• Provide strategic clinical leadership in the evaluation and development of the voice service pathway, identifying areas for improvement and leading service transformation through innovative models of care, pathway redesign and collaborative working with ENT and wider multidisciplinary teams. Support delivery of the Joint Voice Clinic at UHCW in collaboration with colleagues from ENT.

Essential

• Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
• Member of RCSLT.
• HCPC Registration with Licence to Practise.
• Completion of RCSLT Dysphagia competencies or equivalent.
• Evidence of relevant post-graduate training in voice.
• Working towards Master's level of education or equivalent experience.

Desirable

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

Essential

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

Desirable

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

Essential

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

Essential

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