Job overview
Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist with a strong desire to work with adults with Head and Neck cancer and voice disorders in a friendly and welcoming team?
We need you to join our established team at Addenbrooke's Hospital to provide excellent, evidence-based services within the multidisciplinary ENT and Head and Neck teams alongside highly specialist SLT colleagues.
The role will be supported by a Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. You will work closely with the multidisciplinary ENT and Head and Neck teams and participate in joint Clinics. Therefore, you will need to have highly developed communication and interpersonal skills.
We are looking for skilled Therapists who are able to manage complex swallowing and communication presentations, therefore experience of independent working with adult dysphagia is essential and voice and/or cancer experience is highly desirable. In addition, experience working in an acute hospital setting in areas such as surgical voice restoration, tracheostomy, oncology, and oro-facial surgery is highly desirable, as well as previous participation in FEES and VFS assessments.
Speech and Language Therapy Services at Addenbrooke’s are progressive and structured to afford excellent support and in-house training and development opportunities.
Main duties of the job
To contribute to the provision of specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) within the SLT ENT / Head and Neck Oncology service with some sessions designated to ENT.
To provide specialist input to a defined caseload, prioritising needs and managing workload independently.
To be proactive in developing specialist services offered to patients referred.
To contribute to the multidisciplinary management of patients, taking a holistic approach to care.
To cover for colleagues and line manager as required in service coordination and representation to relevant forums, e.g. Ward rounds, Clinics and multidisciplinary team meetings.
Working for our organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people’s age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
This vacancy will close at midnight on 13th November 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on 18th November 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Recognised Speech and language Therapy degree or equivalent qualification
HCPC Registration
Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Post-graduate dysphagia accreditation or equivalent
Evidence of successful completion of specialist short courses in communication, voice and swallowing disorders in a range of adult acquired conditions
Desirable criteria
Member of relevant CEN
Experience
Essential criteria
Relevant experience at undergraduate / post graduate level (pre-qualification)
Post graduate experience in the areas of dysphagia, communication and voice, including assessment, treatment and management of a Head and Neck cancer / ENT caseload
Undertaking videofluoroscopic examinations
Experience in developing and delivering training to other professionals
Experience of supervising students
Involvement in multidisciplinary working
Desirable criteria
Experience in managing patients with tracheostomies
Experience of Fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) examinations
Experience of Surgical Voice Restoration
Knowledge
Essential criteria
Established knowledge of a range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions in the areas of communication and dysphagia and approaches to the treatment of voice disorders
Demonstrate knowledge of RCSLT guidelines and national policies and procedures relevant to client group
Understanding of the principles of clinical governance / audit and the use of outcome measures
Skills
Essential criteria
Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
Good auditory and perceptual discriminator skills for analysis of voice and speech, including phonetic transcription
Ability to analyse and interpret videofluoroscopic examinations
Good presentation skills, both verbal and written
Demonstrates ability to be an effective team member
Negotiation and problem solving skills
Good analytical and reflection skills
Prioritisation and organisational skills
Demonstrates ability to lead on service projects
Computer skills for the preparation of reports, presentations and therapy materials
Desirable criteria
Counselling skills
Surgical voice restoration – valve insertion and management
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
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
Apply online now
Further details / informal visits contact
Name
Laura Hammond
Job title
Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Email address
laura.hammond18@nhs.net
Telephone number
01223 216200