Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (CHANT)

Position

Advanced Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (CHANT) – Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Closing date

The closing date is 28 June 2026

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Speech and Language Therapist with specialist skills in managing adults with swallowing and communication disorders secondary to Head and Neck Cancer and its treatment. You will work in the community as a core member of the Southeast London CHANT team, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary team members to provide highly specialist care closer to home.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced speech & language therapy input to a multidisciplinary, client‑focused rehabilitation service for adults with Head & Neck Cancer.
• Integrate and liaise closely with the Acute Head & Neck multidisciplinary team at the Cancer Centre (GSTFT) to deliver a seamless rehabilitative service throughout the patient pathway.
• Conduct advanced diagnosis, assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders arising from Head & Neck Cancer and its treatment.
• Participate in and actively facilitate the development of this innovative multidisciplinary team at all stages.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Autonomously manage patients with Head & Neck Cancer referred to the Community Team.
• Apply advanced clinical decision‑making for assessment, diagnosis, treatment programme design, implementation and evaluation.
• Take part in team decision‑making regarding caseload prioritisation and coordinated multidisciplinary care.
• Refer for and initiate appropriate investigations (videofluoroscopy, nasendoscopy, FEES) and evaluate these assessments to recommend further interventions.
• Serve as an expert resource for other SLTs and professional staff involved in patient care.
• Demonstrate awareness of religious, cultural and socioeconomic issues and work effectively in diverse settings.
• Provide evidence‑based practice and outcome measurement.

Professional / Managerial Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Clinician in responding to and initiating service developments, including guideline and protocol development.
• Provide day‑to‑day clinical and professional supervision of junior SLT staff and students, conduct appraisals, and inform the Lead Clinician of clinical development concerns.
• Participate in regular one‑to‑one meetings with the Lead Clinician/Clinical Lead SLT.

Education & Training Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of theory and evidence‑based practice in complex communication disorders and dysphagia for the Head & Neck Cancer population.
• Participate in the regular videofluoroscopy and FEES in‑service meetings with the GSTFT SLT team.
• Offer placements and clinical training to Speech and Language Therapy students.

Research / Audit Responsibilities

• Lead or take part in multidisciplinary audits, including data collection, analysis and development of action plans.
• Contribute as an advanced specialist resource to Head & Neck multidisciplinary research activities.
• Enter other duties as directed by the Lead Clinician to meet service exigencies or patient needs.

Qualifications

• Degree leading to license to practice as an SLT.
• Master’s or equivalent postgraduate specialist training, short courses, specific training and membership of relevant National CEN.
• Advanced videofluoroscopy training.
• Head and Neck Oncology specific dysphagia training.
• Attended basic/intermediate SVR courses.
• Advanced SVR training.

Experience

• Significant specialist experience working with adults with acquired dysphagia/communication impairment, including tracheostomies and post‑Head & Neck surgery.
• Demonstrable experience managing a caseload of laryngectomy patients.
• Support and supervision of junior SLT staff.
• Informal/formal training of other professionals.

Skills

• Evidence of advanced independent management of patients with SVR.
• Ability to carry out and evaluate videofluoroscopy with a Head and Neck Oncology caseload.
• Knowledge and experience of instrumental assessment of swallowing using FEES.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exemptions Order) 1975, requiring a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Compensation

£58,133 to £65,261 a year per annum, including H.C.A.

Employer

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

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