B8a Clinical Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (ENT / Voice)

Following a successful external funding application, we have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our team on an 18-month fixed term basis. The successful candidate will work autonomously as a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist leading a one-stop clinic for patients referred under ENT 2-week wait, to reduce ENT wait times and expedite voice therapy interventions for those with benign vocal cord dysfunction and dysphonia. Referrals received via urgent suspected cancer pathways will be triaged by an ENT Consultant and low risk and voice presentations stratified to SLT-led clinic and booked in by admin team within a 2-week time frame from receipt of referral. The role will be based at QEHB. We have a large yet close-knit, highly skilled team who contribute to our robust supervision structure. Innovation, participation in research and clinical/professional development are actively encouraged. The postholder will also be leading audit and research projects to evaluate service delivery. The team offers:

• A comprehensive induction, robust supervision, regular team meetings & peer support
• A wide range of opportunities for career development including research
• Access to videofluoroscopy, FEES, SVR and specialist voice clinics
• Modern facilities with good transport links
• Encouragement to attend CPD courses both internally and externally, The postholder will operate as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP-equivalent) within defined governance frameworks, managed clinically and professionally by the Consultant SLT. The SLT would complete accredited extended scope practice training including endoscopic assessment and clinical decision frameworks, in keeping with UHB and RCSLT protocols and receive ongoing clinical supervision by ENT consultants and Consultant SLT.
Patients stratified to SLT-led clinic would attend a single visit assessment to include history and risk stratification, voice assessment and PROMs, and flexible nasendoscopy/videolaryngoscopy, with a same day outcome. This will include:
• Comprehensive head & neck symptom history
• Neck and oral cavity screening (within SLT scope of practice)
• Independent performance and interpretation of flexible nasendoscopy and laryngeal visualisation using protocols
• Identification of benign voice disorders (e.g. muscle tension dysphonia, laryngopharyngeal reflux-related changes), structural but non-malignant lesions (nodules, cysts, polyps), and of suspicious features requiring urgent escalation.
• Immediate voice therapy intervention at first appointment including education and vocal hygiene, direct voice therapy techniques, behavioural modification, follow-up therapy pathways where needed, discharge with self-management plans, and use of outcome measures.
  
  University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.