Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to join the respiratory team within the Heart Lung and Critical Care (HLCC) clinical group. Based across Royal Brompton and Guys Hospitals, you will be working with the severe asthma team and other respiratory specialties. You will be supported and supervised by the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapists in Voice and Respiratory.
Main duties of the job
- To take independent clinical responsibility for the provision of a high-quality Speech and Language Therapy service to adult patients with voice and upper airway disorders.
- To deliver and develop a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service in collaboration with the severe asthma team and the Clinical Lead SLT in voice disorders, including laryngoscopy.
- To work as a core member of the severe asthma MDT
- To work within the wider respiratory SLT service, undertaking assessment and treatment, including voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders associated with chronic respiratory conditions at all stages of the patient pathway, the majority of which is in the outpatient/ day case setting with some inpatient work.
- The post holder will receive professional supervision from the Band 8a Adult Clinical Specialist SLT in Voice at GH and operational management from the Band 8a Adult Clinical Specialist SLT in lung and upper airway at RBH, in addition to local and regional peer support networks.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guy's and St Thomas' in February 2021 and is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. We provide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world.
Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that we all understand and reflect these values in our work. We are:
Caring - we put patients first.
Ambitious - we innovate and strive for excellence.
Inclusive - we respect each other and work collaboratively.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical (both direct and indirect)
- To take a specialist role in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of outpatients with upper airway disorders, such as chronic cough, laryngeal hypersensitivity, and inducible laryngeal obstruction, as well as patients with asthma, who may have accompanying upper airway symptoms
- To demonstrate extensive knowledge of laryngeal and respiratory function to underpin highly specialist treatment of patients with upper airway disorders
- To develop and deliver therapy groups in collaboration with the Respiratory MDT and to maintain a database for future audit and research
- To be flexible to the needs of the caseload and the severe asthma and respiratory SLT services. To independently prioritise clinical need and manage time appropriately
- To identify patients requiring ENT assessment of their dysphonia and facilitate onward referral to the Voice Clinic
- To identify patients requiring provocation clinic assessment and treatment for ILO
- To undertake laryngeal provocation assessments via nasendoscopy.
- To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge of dysphagia related to respiratory conditions, ensuring a high standard of care for patients.
- To be an active participant on the RBH SLT Videofluoroscopy (VF) and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) rosters to provide comprehensive evaluation of swallowing using the instrumental techniques of Videofluoroscopy and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) according to agreed competency levels and with supervision and support as needed.
- To attend and contribute to weekly MDT meetings, referring appropriately to other professionals and arranging joint working where needed to ensure the delivery of effective, integrated therapy
- To undertake teaching and training, and support dissemination of knowledge of UA and complex breathlessness work both internally and nationally.
- To regularly participate in the development of multidisciplinary clinical audits and outcome measures for voice and upper airway sensitivity.
- To utilise a high level of interpersonal skills to support patients and families in adapting to changed circumstances/impact of their disorder.
- To refer patients where appropriate to outside agencies and/or speech and language therapy in the community on discharge and write discharge reports to ensure continuity of care as per department quality standards.
Please refer to job description document for full responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised SLT qaulification and current HCPC reg
- Post-graduate dysphagia training or equivalent supervised experience
Desirable
- Post-graduate specialist training relevant to upper airway disorders and complex breathlessness
Experience
Essential
- Familiarity with management of upper airway disorders including laryngeal hypersensitivity, ILO and chronic refractory cough
- Knowledge and experience in the use of instrumental assessment tools including flexible nasendoscopy and laryngoscopy with provocation.
- Experience of working with patients with acute and long-term conditions affecting respiratory and neuromuscular function
- In-depth knowledge and experience in assessing and treating communication and swallowing disorders in adults
- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance and effectiveness such as risk assessment, service evaluation, audit, and quality improvement
- Post-qualification experience in adult dysphagia inc. RCSLT Level 2a FEES assessor
Desirable
- Level 3 FEES competency or equivalent/ Lead VF clinician
- Active member of clinical education networks
Skills
Essential
- Able to work as an autonomous practitioner demonstrating problem-solving and solution-focused skills, seeking guidance and support when necessary
- Working alone and in MDT clinics
- Delivering high-quality supervision, teaching and training to others
Desirable
- Completion of Practice Educator training and delivery of student placements
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
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Brompton And Guys Hospitals
London
SW3 6NP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
This listing was aggregated from publicly-available sources. The employer holds an A-rated sponsor licence at the time of this listing, but sponsorship of this specific role is not guaranteed — the employer's offer and UK Visas and Immigration are the final authority. Details may have changed since our last update — verify with the employer via the Apply link.