Snr Macmillan Speech and Language Therapist

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Snr Macmillan Speech and Language Therapist - Head & Neck Oncology/ENT

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 418-DTO6354-KA

Site Luton and Dunstable Hospital Town Luton Salary £38,682 - £46,580 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 31/10/2025 23:59 Interview date 12/11/2025

Job Overview
Are you a skilled and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist looking for a rewarding role in Head and Neck Oncology and Voice?

We have an exciting opportunity to join a well-established, supportive team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Based at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, the Cancer Centre for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, you'll be part of a specialist multidisciplinary team. This role involves providing an outreach SLT service to Bedford Hospital and the local community, including support for head and neck cancer patients requiring palliative care.

We're seeking an experienced SLT with expertise in complex dysphagia and communication disorders. Skills in Head and Neck Cancer, Laryngectomy/Surgical Voice Restoration, and voice disorders are desirable, though we welcome applications from developing Band 5 SLTs seeking progression. You'll manage your own caseload across acute, outpatient, and community settings, supported by the Macmillan Clinical Lead SLT.

Our department of 14 SLTs covers oncology/ENT, Maxillofacial Surgery, Acute Inpatients, Stroke, ESD, and community services. We offer excellent supervision, CPD support, and opportunities to contribute to audit, service development, and research.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an experienced therapist with specialist skills in Head and Neck Cancer, Laryngectomy/Surgical Voice Restoration (SVR) and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) disorders. He/she will independently manage and have day-to-day responsibility for a caseload of adults in acute, outpatient and community settings. As part of this, he/she will independently devise strategies for complex caseload management.

The post holder will provide an outreach specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service from the specialist hub (Luton and Dunstable Hospital) to Bedford Hospital and the surrounding community as well as addressing SLT palliative care needs for head and neck cancer patients across Bedfordshire and Luton.

The post holder will represent SLT at Bedford in matters relating to H&N Oncology with the support of the Macmillan Clinical Lead SLT based at the Luton and Dunstable (L&D) Hospital.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The SLT department are a welcoming group of SLTs working across acute, stroke, and community caseloads with a variety of patient caseloads. We work mindfully and collaboratively to create a well-organised, professional, and supportive atmosphere that achieves the best possible outcomes for all.

You Can Look Forward To

• A well-established and growing team of SLTs who are dedicated to supporting staff and encouraging career development.
• Friendly colleagues with a range of specialist knowledge and expertise, and open to new ideas or perspectives.
• Opportunities for external CPD.
• Regular internal CPD.

Previous Colleagues Have Shared

• "This has honestly been the friendliest team I have worked in. I am grateful for the learning opportunities, such as the chance to develop my skills in video-fluoroscopy and tracheostomy. Not only that, I have had so much support on a personal level and social celebrations together. It really makes a difference. Thank you L&D SLT team"

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Experience in the assessment and treatment of ENT/Voice patients.
• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree
• HCPC registration
• Relevant post registration training in specialist area
• Post graduate training in dysphagia.

Desirable criteria

• Training in supervision
• Relevant post registration training in ENT/Voice.
• Relevant post registration training in Head and Neck Oncology/ENT (1), including laryngectomy (1)and tracheostomy (1).
• RCSLT membership

Experience
Essential criteria

• Experience of complex assessment and intervention for adults with communication disorders and swallowing problems associated with a wide range of conditions
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of adapting and facilitating assessment and treatment according to perceived patient needs, including cultural and linguistic differences
• Well established experience in a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication (1) and dysphagia 1) relevant to the specialist area
• Experience in the selection, use and programming of augmentative communication systems.
• Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of supervising students and supporting less experienced SLTs.
• Experience in the assessment and management of trismus including provision of appropriate therapeutic devices.
• Independent use and interpretation of videofluoroscopic (1) and FEES examinations (1).
• Proven experience in the independent assessment, treatment and management of patients with tracheostomies.
• Proven competence in the independent management of laryngectomy patients (1), including surgical voice restoration (1)
• Experience of supervision of other staff or students
• Involvement in service improvement / evaluation via clinical audit
• Experience in tracheostomy management
• NHS based experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Theoretical knowledge underpinning the assessment, treatment and management of complex voice, communication (1) and swallowing (1) disorders associated with an ENT caseload
• Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
• Clear understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit to monitor and improve service
• Understanding of clinical governance (1) and its implications for the service (1)
• In depth knowledge of RCSLT guidelines(1) and national policies and procedures (1) relevant to client group

Desirable criteria

• Theoretical knowledge underpinning the assessment, treatment and management of complex voice, communication (1) and swallowing disorders (1) associated with a Head and Neck caseload.
• Awareness of the wider local and national agenda around SLT and NHS developments
• Knowledge of service improvement techniques e.g. change management

Skills
Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication
• Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate appropriately for self and for team to facilitate efficient working
• Good time management and record keeping
• Able to cope with difficult situations, and communicate information sensitively
• Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to adapt to the needs of a changing diverse environment
• Demonstrates self-awareness, and ability to seek appropriate support
• Able to respond appropriately to pressure
• Demonstrates a positive approach to problem solving

Desirable criteria

• Audit / project leadership

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.
Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 272.6KB)
• Person Specification (PDF, 136.6KB)
• Functional aspects (PDF, 136.4KB)
• L&D Hospital site map (PDF, 96.8KB)
• Disclosure & Barring Information and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders (PDF, 78.5KB)
• Staff Diversity Network (PDF, 140.3KB)
• Information for Disabled Applicants (PDF, 98.7KB)
• Staff Benefits (PNG, 1.6MB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Jenny Hunt Job title Lead SLT- ENT, Head and Neck Email address Telephone number

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust

Lewsey Road

Luton

Bedfordshire

LU4 0DZ

Telephone

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