Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Head and Neck Cancer

This post provides a highly specialist speech and language therapy service to adults presenting with dysphagia and communication difficulties as a result of Head and Neck Cancer in acute medicine and outpatient clinics within the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Previously jointly funded with the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance and now substantively by RBHFT this post sits as part of a wider investment into the SLT head and neck cancer service. You will be joining a team of 5 SLT's and a support worker in a well supported service that is closely integrated within the MDT. There is potential for this role to be offered as a development opportunity, however this will be at the discretion of the interview panel and appointing team Main duties of the job This post is primarily based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and will include attendance at outlying MDT clinics at Townlands Hospital in Henley-on Thames and potentially Wexham Park Hospital. You will be jointly responsible for :

• the laryngectomy caseload and for supporting the laryngectomy valve change clinic as part of the wider Head and Neck Cancer SLT team,
• for supporting patients undergoing radiotherapy, working closely with MDT colleagues at the Berkshire Cancer Centre
• Attending joint clinics with Oncology Consultants.
• Management of acute admissions of Head and Neck cancer patients
• Supporting instrumental assessment clinics as competencies allow, For further details on this role, please refer to the Job Description and Person specification attached.
  
  Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Qualification
• HCPC registration
Continuous Professional Development Essential Evidence of maintaining and developing clinical skills and specialist knowledge Desirable Active involvement in specialist clinical support networks Previous experience Essential
• Clinical experience in Head and Neck Cancer caseloads
• Extensive experience of working within an MDT
• Developing and delivering training
• Supervision of students
• Supervision of SLTs
Desirable
• Working with patients in palliative care
• Experience of developing competencies in others
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Essential
• Advanced dysphagia skills to RCSLT level C or equivalent
• Instrumental assessment using FEES and / or VF
• Understanding of and ability to provide care to a laryngectomy caseload
• Excellent interpersonal skills including listening and empathy skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals in head and neck cancer
• Knowledge and understanding of national policies linked to head and neck cancer
• Knowledge of other relevant legal frameworks such as MCA and safeguarding legislation
  
  Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.
The CQC recently rated the care provided by The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good. Our values; Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen. You will be joining a friendly and supportive SLT service who put a strong emphasis on team development and well being. Within the wider team there are specialist services in acute medicine, ENT / Voice , stroke and neuro-rehab and critical care. If you would like to learn more about our service then please have a look at our X / twitter @RBH SLT and see below for our teams guiding principles