Deputy Lead Speech & Language Therapist

Job Summary

Due to ongoing service developments, an exciting new Deputy Lead SLT position has been funded to further develop the Speech and Language Therapy inpatient and outpatient services at The Christie. To be responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the SLT service provided to patients within the inpatient and outpatients services. To provide operational leadership to the Speech and Language Therapy team who deliver a highly specialist service to patients with communication and/or swallowing disorders as part of the cancer pathway for disease groups including CNS, lung, and head and neck.

To be responsible for the monitoring and organisation of the clinical caseloads within the Speech & Language Therapy inpatient and outpatient services. To provide highly specialist advice, teaching and training for the Speech and Language Therapy team and other healthcare professionals across the trust and the region.

To be a source of senior, highly specialist clinical expertise within SLT in the field of oncology and also to manage own caseload of patients with acquired communication and/or swallowing problems. To establish a team approach to service delivery which will facilitate the development and evaluation of clinical practices. This will involve the identification and negotiation of team objectives and projects in line with The Christie strategy, and leading the development and implementation of local clinical guidelines and policies informed by the evidence base, relevant professional guidelines and the context of local service delivery.

In conjunction with the Head of Speech & Language Therapy, to be responsible for the deployment of staff within the designated service area and provide management direction to these staff including supervision of practice and personal development programmes. To prepare management information and reports and advise the Head of Speech & Language Therapy on long and short term planning issues concerning the service provided from the specified teams.

To provide support and advice to specialist SLTs in the region or other professionals regarding the ongoing clinical management of oncology patients.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% of patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world;

chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Date posted: 19 January 2026
Pay scheme:
Agenda for Change
Band:
Band 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum pro rata

Contract:

Permanent
Working pattern:
Full-time
Reference number: CSSS-MS
Job locations:
Speech Therapy - E00275, Manchester, M20 4BX

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical – Responsibilities for Patient Care

• Responsible for providing a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service for head and neck and other cancer patients at the Trust.
• Manage own caseload of highly complex inpatients and outpatients with swallowing and communication disorders.
• Assess, diagnose and implement SLT management of complex swallowing problems, including instrumental assessment of swallowing where appropriate.
• Assess, diagnose and implement SLT management of complex communication problems, including awareness of communication strategies and aids including assistive technology.
• Manage patients with tracheostomy, laryngectomy and other voice conditions. You will not be required to change speech valves.
• Active participation within the…