Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with skills in Head and Neck Cancer to join our Adult SLT team at NELFT. We are looking for an enthusiastic, innovative and motivated individual to join our friendly department as part of our Head and Neck Cancer and ENT team on a fixed term contract until December 2025.
The Adult SLT Team are a respected and integrated part of the Head and Neck Cancer multidisciplinary team, with a positive record of developing innovative and patient centred services. The service runs weekly community videofluoroscopy and FEES clinics, and a monthly joint voice/swallowing clinic with ENT. The team also runs an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programme and we have proudly pioneered the provision of laryngectomy care in the community. CPD is actively supported through regular clinical supervision, appraisals and excellent training opportunities.
To find out more about what we have been doing, why not follow us @NELFTAdultSLT ?, This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735 p.a. pro rata for part time)., We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
+ A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
+ A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our efforts to support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a 'Top 10 Family Friendly Employer' from the Working Families Charity.
+ Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
+ Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.
Supporting our Armed Forces
We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Gold Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. We have supportive policies, guaranteed interview schemes for veterans. reservists and military spouses and give additional leave to our Reservists so that they can attend their annual camp.

As an experienced and highly specialist SLT you will independently prioritise and manage a highly specialist caseload of head and neck cancer patients right across the cancer care pathway from diagnosis to survivorship. This will include management of a complex laryngectomy caseload therefore requiring competencies in SVR and laryngectomy care. The post holder will be required to support our innovative, pioneering and groundbreaking domiciliary laryngectomy service that operates across the three London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. We are proud to announce that this service was recently highly commended in the prestigious 2024 HSJ Awards.
The successful candidate will have an opportunity to further develop their existing skills, and work in an exciting and dynamic team. They will work closely with ENT, Oral & Maxillofacial and Oncology teams via weekly H&N cancer multidisciplinary team meetings whilst networking with vast group of cancer care professionals across the North East London Cancer Alliance.
The ideal candidate must be able to work independently as well as part of a team and have good time management and prioritisation skills.
Although not essential, the ideal candidate would have competencies in Videofluoroscopy and FEES.
The post holder will be required to participate in service development initiatives.

Joining #TeamNELFT means you'll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We're CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video