Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to join the respiratory team within the Heart Lung and Critical Care (HLCC) clinical group. Based across Royal Brompton and Guys Hospitals, you will be working with the severe asthma team and other respiratory specialties. You will be supported and supervised by the Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapists in Voice and Respiratory.

Main duties of the job

• To take independent clinical responsibility for the provision of a high-quality Speech and Language Therapy service to adult patients with voice and upper airway disorders.
• To deliver and develop a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service in collaboration with the severe asthma team and the Clinical Lead SLT in voice disorders, including laryngoscopy.
• To work as a core member of the severe asthma MDT
• To work within the wider respiratory SLT service, undertaking assessment and treatment, including voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders associated with chronic respiratory conditions at all stages of the patient pathway, the majority of which is in the outpatient/ day case setting with some inpatient work.
• The post holder will receive professional supervision from the Band 8a Adult Clinical Specialist SLT in Voice at GH and operational management from the Band 8a Adult Clinical Specialist SLT in lung and upper airway at RBH, in addition to local and regional peer support networks.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical (both direct and indirect)

• To take a specialist role in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of outpatients with upper airway disorders, such as chronic cough, laryngeal hypersensitivity, and inducible laryngeal obstruction, as well as patients with asthma, who may have accompanying upper airway symptoms
• To demonstrate extensive knowledge of laryngeal and respiratory function to underpin highly specialist treatment of patients with upper airway disorders
• To develop and deliver therapy groups in collaboration with the Respiratory MDT and to maintain a database for future audit and research
• To be flexible to the needs of the caseload and the severe asthma and respiratory SLT services. To independently prioritise clinical need and manage time appropriately
• To identify patients requiring ENT assessment of their dysphonia and facilitate onward referral to the Voice Clinic
• To identify patients requiring provocation clinic assessment and treatment for ILO
• To undertake laryngeal provocation assessments via nasendoscopy.
• To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge of dysphagia related to respiratory conditions, ensuring a high standard of care for patients.
• To be an active participant on the RBH SLT Videofluoroscopy (VF) and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) rosters to provide comprehensive evaluation of swallowing using the instrumental techniques of Videofluoroscopy and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) according to agreed competency levels and with supervision and support as needed.
• To attend and contribute to weekly MDT meetings, referring appropriately to other professionals and arranging joint working where needed to ensure the delivery of effective, integrated therapy
• To undertake teaching and training, and support dissemination of knowledge of UA and complex breathlessness work both internally and nationally.
• To regularly participate in the development of multidisciplinary clinical audits and outcome measures for voice and upper airway sensitivity.
• To utilise a high level of interpersonal skills to support patients and families in adapting to changed circumstances/impact of their disorder.
• To refer patients where appropriate to outside agencies and/or speech and language therapy in the community on discharge and write discharge reports to ensure continuity of care as per department quality standards.

Please refer to job description document for full responsibilities.