Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.
Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.
We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.
Job overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist who has, or wants to develop, specialist skills in Head & Neck Cancer and Voice.
Within our Head & Neck service, we work across all areas of the pathway from pre- treatment to post treatment therapy. We run 2 x weekly AHP clinics jointly with our CNS and specialist dietitian, and also provide individual therapy clinics. For our Dysphonia service, this post is a core part of service provision given jointly with our Highly Specialist SALT and is closely aligned with our ENT colleagues.
At MSEFT Basildon, we aim to be an innovative, supportive and patient focused SLT service, providing opportunities for professional and personal growth. Primarily serving an acute in-patient caseload, we are also commissioned to provide specialist assessment and intervention to a designated caseload of out-patients including MND and complex degenerative neurological conditions, plus ENT, Respiratory and Gastroenterology referrals, where SALT assessment may form part of their diagnostic pathway.
We have a robust supervision and appraisal system, and training and CPD are actively encouraged and supported, including bi-monthly 'lunch & learn' sessions/Journal Club. As MSEFT is a meager of 3 Acute Trusts in 2022, we have access to other specialists across 3 sites, and opportunities for shadowing and peer support/discussions are encouraged.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder is responsible, once suitably skilled, for the provision of specialist assessment, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic intervention for people with Dysphonia or for those patients with a range of communication and swallowing disorders arising from Head & Neck Cancer and the treatment thereof.
The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), to ensure evidenced based and excellent professional care for patients with Head and Neck cancer and Voice disorders.
The post holder will be required to participate in team meetings, audit, and research projects. They will provide training and clinical support to the wider SLT team and other healthcare professionals, as relevant to their own skill level.
Working for our organisation
Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.
We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Are you looking for an exciting Therapy role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you.
For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.
We look forward to your application.
Person specification
Professional Qualification
Essential criteria
* Degree qualification as a Speech & Language Therapist
* HCPC Registered Speech & Language Therapist
* RCSLT membership
Desirable criteria
* Post-graduate attendance on courses related to management of Head & Neck Cancer or Voice
Dysphagia Management
Essential criteria
* Attained RCSLT Dysphagia Competencies at Level C or RCSLT EDS Competency Framework Foundation level
Desirable criteria
* Attendance on recognised Dysphagia course such as MLH or similar
* Experience working within a Videofluoroscopy clinic
* Attained or started to attain RCSLT Videofluoroscopy Competencies and /or MBSIMP qualification
* Experience observing or assisting with FEES
* FEES training received
* Achieved, or started to achieve, RCSLT FEES compencies
Dysphonia
Desirable criteria
* Observed Dysphonic clients in an assessment/treatment setting
* Experience at student level, or post qualification in the assessment, therapy and management of patients with Dysphonia
* Attendance on courses related to management of Dysphonic clients post-qualification
* Experience in ENT setting or EELs clinic in the assessment of laryngeal appearance, movement and functioning
* Achieved or partial achievement of EELS competencies
Head & Neck Cancer
Desirable criteria
* Observation or clinical placement within Head & Neck MDT/Support clinic
* Observation of patients following Laryngectomy, +/- SVP management
* Achieved or partially achieved RCSLT Laryngectomy competencies
Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.
Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.
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
* Speech and Language Therapist (Voice Head & Neck) - BR - Band 6 V5.1 (PDF, 369.4KB)
* Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
* AFC Pay Poster 25/26 (PDF, 32.3KB)
* Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)
* Applicant MS Teams Checklist (PDF, 560.5KB)
* Trust marketing brochure (PDF, 2.1MB)
* General Statements - AFC - V5.1 (PDF, 424.6KB)