Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics.
We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading One Culture of Care underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.
We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.
We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us.
Our Future Plans
The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit
Job overview
The head and neck cancer MDT covers Calderdale & Huddersfield, Airedale and Bradford. The MDT meets weekly at Bradford. All major surgery takes place at Bradford Royal Infirmary, and oncology treatments are given in Leeds.
The CHFT head and neck cancer service has well established twice weekly AHP clinics which run with H&N CNS, dietitian and SLT input. The team consists of 3 CNS's, a cancer care coordinator, dietitian and part time B8a and B6 H&N SLTs. Patients are seen in the AHP clinic before they start treatment and again after treatment for rehabilitation.
In addition, there are regular laryngectomy clinics run with the ENT specialist nurses, a drop in valve troubleshooting clinic and OP SLT clinics. There is access to nasendoscopy and recording for FEES in the OP department as well as on both hospital sites.
There is a clinical support group for H&N SLT within the MDT hospitals which meets regularly, as well as a region wide H&N SLT group.
Advert
To work with our principal speech therapist and other speech therapy colleagues, to provide a highly specialist Speech & Language Therapy service for adults with communication, voice, and swallowing disorders associated with head and neck cancer, ENT conditions (including thyroid cancer), and their medical/surgical/oncological treatments. The postholder will work across the H&N cancer pathway, delivering expert assessment, intervention, rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary care.
Working for our organisation
CHFT is an integrated Trust of 6,500+ colleagues providing hospital and community services to patients and communities across Calderdale and Kirklees. We are rated as 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission, are a top performing Trust for Elective Recovery, Emergency and Cancer Care and widely acknowledged as a national digital lead when it comes to caring for people across our local and regional systems.
Our people are at the core of everything we do, hence our commitment to One Culture of Care. Our focus is to care for and support each other in order to provide outstanding compassionate care to our patients. That is why we are looking for an inclusive collaborative, creative, innovative and compassionate leader to join us in this role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
1. Deliver specialist assessment and differential diagnosis of dysphagia, dysphonia, communication disorders, and airway related issues in H&N and thyroid patients.
2. Provide pre‑treatment counselling and post‑treatment rehabilitation for patients undergoing surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy.
3. Manage patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies, including surgical voice restoration (e.g. managing voice prostheses, including changes).
4. Perform instrumental assessments where appropriate (e.g., FEES, videofluoroscopy ).
5. Develop and implement individualised treatment plans using evidence based practice.
6. Monitor progress and adjust interventions throughout the cancer and surgical pathway.
7. Provide specialist advice to patients, carers, and the MDT regarding communication and swallowing management.
8. Participate in H&N MDT clinics, joint consultations, AHP clinics, laryngectomy clinics and OP SLT Clinics.
9. Work collaboratively with ENT and Max Fax surgeons, oncologists, dietitians, CNS teams, restorative dentistry, radiographers, and palliative care.
10. Contribute to coordinated discharge planning and community follow up where required.
Leadership, Education & Service Development
11. Provide clinical supervision to junior SLTs, assistants, apprentices and students.
12. Lead or contribute to service development, pathway redesign, and quality improvement initiatives.
13. Deliver training to nursing, medical and SLT colleagues on communication, swallowing, and airway management.
14. Participate in audit, research, and data collection to support service evaluation.
Professional Responsibilities
15. Maintain accurate, timely clinical records in line with Trust and HCPC standards.
16. Adhere to national guidelines, local policies, and professional codes of conduct.
17. Contribute to departmental meetings, governance processes, and professional networks.
18. To actively engage in extending knowledge and clinical experience in areas of special interest and share this learning with other members of the therapy team.
19. To actively engage with clinical supervision demonstrating the ability to reflect on own practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs.
20. To adhere to departmental equipment policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others under supervision.
21. To ensure that the therapy treatment and storage areas are well maintained and comply with health and safety standards.
22. To assume delegated tasks as requested by line manager including recruitment, participation in working groups and multi-agency policy development groups.
23. To be familiar with and follow policies and procedures relevant to the working environment.
24. To involve patients and\or carers and other service users in the evaluation and future development of the service.
25. To demonstrate the ability to manage people with challenging behaviour including the application of appropriate management strategies and to demonstrate these to others.
26. To achieve the effective daily management of own caseload including responding to urgent referrals, prioritising clinical work and balancing other patient related and professional activities in accordance with departmental standards.
27. To have up-to-date knowledge of current legislation, local and national policies and professional guidance relevant to the SALT profession and advise colleagues as required.
28. To comply with Trust policies and national professional guidelines relating to the delivery of a H&N oncology and ENT service and be actively involved with all aspects of Clinical Governance including mandatory training, health and safety, risk assessment and audit.
29. Participate in local and/or national courses relevant to specialty.
30. Contribute to the SALT educational programmes organised for community and CHFT staff.
31. To be proficient in and to make use of a variety of computer software packages including Microsoft Word and Excel, to produce therapy care plans, reports, information leaflets for patients and spreadsheets for the collection of data
32. Maintain a flexible approach to the role and develop it according to need.
Accountability
· Maintain HCPC and RCSLT registration.
· Take responsibility for professional development.
· Work within the scope of professional practice.
· Attend and keep up to date with statutory and mandatory training.
· To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients care, ensuring a high standard of clinical care and supporting less experienced staff to do likewise.
· To ensure regular maintenance of equipment used for patients, to maintain accuracy and safety.
This job description is an outline only and is not definitive or restrictive in any way. It will be regularly reviewed and may be amended in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder
Our vision is to provide One Culture of Care for one another in order that we can provide compassionate care for the people who use our services. We are passionate about creating a workplace where we work together to get results, encouraging colleagues to have their say, in order to co create the change we want to see. We take pride in the diversity of our workforce that's why we encourage applications from all. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants.
We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It's important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Please ensure your application is submitted with referees who can verify your employment/education history over the last three years and include valid email addresses for them. We will request electronic Factual Employment References from your previous employers. These references will be requested before you are issued with an unconditional offer of employment letter.
Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.
If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard £26.40 or Basic £26.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff). You will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year. This is a condition of your employment.
CHFT is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.
If you have any questions please contact [email protected] for assistance.