Upper Airways Therapy Practitioner

Job Overview

This specialized role in Speech & Language Therapy focuses on providing comprehensive care to both inpatient and outpatient individuals (adults and children) who are experiencing voice disorders, upper airway issues, and swallowing difficulties, particularly those related to Post COVID-19 symptoms. The successful candidate will play a vital role in delivering essential services to the local community, specifically targeting voice and upper airway conditions following COVID-19. Collaboration with the Post COVID-19 Service at Whittington Health is a key aspect of this position.

Key Responsibilities

The role involves delivering speech and language therapy to outpatients (adults and children) facing clinical voice disorders and upper airway conditions as part of an expanding service. The incumbent will assist the Clinical Voice Lead in developing treatment protocols and care pathways in these specialized areas.

• A solid background in clinical voice disorders is essential, along with a keen interest in or experience with upper airway conditions, such as chronic cough, laryngeal hypersensitivity, and inducible laryngeal obstruction.
• Knowledge of neurology for differential diagnosis in both neurolaryngology and neurology is advantageous.
• The post holder will collaborate with the Clinical Voice Lead to assess and treat a diverse caseload of patients referred from Whittington Health.
• Responsibilities include managing a caseload of outpatients presenting with voice, upper airway, and Post COVID-19 related disorders.
• The role requires liaising with the Post COVID-19 Service at Whittington Health and associated organizations. Additionally, the position includes providing training and contributing to service advancements, audits, outcome measurements, and research initiatives.
• Close collaboration with multidisciplinary team members in ENT and the Post COVID-19 service is essential to ensure integrated patient care.
• The post holder will receive clinical supervision from the Clinical Voice Lead at Whittington Health.

About Whittington Health

Whittington Health is an integrated care organization that encompasses the Whittington Hospital, a district general hospital located in North Central London. The successful candidate will join the ENT/Voice Speech and Language Therapy Service, which is an outpatient service led by a Clinical Voice Lead. This service is dedicated to assessing and treating adults and children with clinical voice disorders, providing both outpatient therapy and inpatient consultations.

Whittington Health is committed to serving a diverse population and ensuring equitable access to all services. The organization values diversity in its workforce and strives to reflect the community it serves. The Trust is dedicated to implementing recruitment, training, and promotion policies that are sensitive to various differences, enhancing the quality of care provided to patients and creating a supportive work environment.

Responsibilities in Detail

1. Exhibit clinical proficiency in assessing, treating, and managing voice, swallowing, and airway conditions in both adults and children, primarily in an outpatient setting.

2. Provide specialized assessment and management for inpatient and outpatient individuals with complex voice and upper airway disorders, particularly those experiencing Post COVID-19 symptoms.

3. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of voice, swallowing, and respiratory disorders, supported by current evidence-based practices and outcome measures.

4. Utilize auditory and perceptual skills for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with voice disorders.

5. Adapt to the needs of a clinical caseload, prioritizing tasks and maintaining a database for future audits and research while managing time effectively.

6. Foster strong working relationships with all healthcare professionals involved in patient care.

7. Participate in and contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings, coordinating with other professionals to ensure effective, integrated therapy delivery.

8. Promote knowledge of voice, swallowing, and airway work within the Trust and at national and international levels through the demonstration of specialized clinical practice and positive outcomes.

9. Continuously develop and maintain specialist skills and knowledge through ongoing education, participation in clinical excellence networks, and relevant training courses, ensuring these benefits are integrated into clinical practice.

10. Reflect on clinical practice, adapt to evidence and feedback from clinical supervision, and contribute to the Trust's clinical governance systems.

11. Remain flexible to the service's needs and demonstrate a positive response to changes directed by lead clinicians.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Qualifications

• BSc/MSc in Speech Sciences or equivalent (including PG Dip).
• HCPC license to practice and registered member of RCSLT.
• Successful completion of postgraduate studies relevant to the field (voice disorders and upper airway conditions).
• Completion of specialist courses pertinent to the field (voice therapy techniques, voice assessment, upper airway disorders, and Long COVID).

Desirable Qualifications

• Skills in counseling.
• Experience in supervising and training students.

Essential Experience

• Experience working with voice and/or upper airway disorders.

Desirable Experience

• Delivering specialized training to diverse audiences.
• Conducting evidence-based research projects.

Essential Knowledge

• Proficiency in using a range of specialized assessment tools and procedures to evaluate voice, upper airway dysfunction, and Long COVID.
• Ability to demonstrate key characteristics leading to a specialist diagnosis of voice and upper airway disorders.
• Competence in selecting, setting, and evaluating treatment goals for patients with voice and upper airway disorders.
• Knowledge of therapeutic interventions relevant to voice and upper airway disorders, including their evidence base.
• Understanding of the key presentations and management options for voice and upper airway conditions.
• Application of specialist knowledge of local cultural, linguistic, and demographic factors in managing voice and upper airway caseloads.
• Familiarity with the diagnosis and management of patients with Long COVID and the role of the Speech and Language Therapist.
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary team approaches.
• Understanding of clinical governance principles.
• Approaches to support clients and caregivers facing challenging behaviors or mental health needs.

Desirable Knowledge

• Applying specialist knowledge of assessment tools for evaluating swallowing disorders related to voice and upper airway conditions.
• Knowledge of mentoring and supporting less experienced Speech and Language Therapists and support staff.
• Basic understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Familiarity with writing research protocols.

Essential Skills

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Capacity to formulate informed hypotheses regarding voice and/or upper airway disorders based on case studies.
• Skills in critically evaluating published research within a specific clinical area.
• Proficiency in delivering presentations and training, with adaptability for diverse audiences.
• Experience in developing and implementing clinically based projects.