Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Vacancy at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity is now available for a highly motivated, enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist wishing to develop and extend skills in assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders related to Head and Neck Cancer.

The post is based within the multidisciplinary Head and Neck Centre at University College Hospital. The post holder will join a team of 9 SLTs, including specialists and a Clinical Academic, and a consultant speech and language therapist for head and neck. UCH is a national tertiary referral centre for a range of specialties, including head and neck cancer and sarcoma.

It has strong links with the UCL Medical School and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. UCH also functions as a District General Hospital providing a wide range of services to the local population in Camden and Islington. Camden and Islington are culturally diverse boroughs with many multi‑ethnic, bilingual and multi‑lingual speaking communities.

04.02.26 In person

You will deliver a comprehensive and specialist service to patients presenting with communication and swallowing disorders related to head and neck tumours, including:

• Input into multi‑disciplinary meetings and clinics and management of patients undergoing surgery and/or chemo/radiotherapy.
• Assessment and management of patients with complex dysphagia including tracheostomy management and input into instrumental assessment and therapy clinics including videofluoroscopy and FEES.
• Assessment and management of patients with complex communication impairments, including surgical voice restoration after total laryngectomy and speech rehabilitation after oral cancer treatment.
• Participation in data collection for research and audit projects in line with the Trust research and development strategy, in consultation with the Consultant Head and Neck SLT post holder.
• Development and delivery of teaching and training, both internal and external.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top‑quality patient care, excellent education, and world‑class research.

We provide first‑class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net‑zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Speech and Language intervention in the head and neck cancer patient population requires advanced specialist knowledge and skills. The caseload is varied and complex and ranges from early stage oro‑pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers to advanced disease and/or cases requiring second opinions.

Treatment is broad, and is usually multimodal, involving surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or protein therapy. There is a wide range of patient profiles from teenage and young adult, to geriatric. There are specific diagnostic procedures used by speech and language therapists to…