University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Band 7 Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist- H&N

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Summary
QEHB are seeking a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to cover a maternity leave - for a fixed term of 12 months.
The successful candidate should be keen to support head and neck cancer patients in our specialist tertiary centre. This role will primarily be focused within the Head and Neck Cancer team based at QEHB and will benefit from a network within the wider SLT team across surgery, medicine, ITU, stroke and neuro-trauma divisions.
The head and neck oncology service includes a Clinical Specialist, several Highly Specialist and Team Leaders, Specialist SLTs, newly qualified SLTs and an SLT assistant supporting patients through the pathway from diagnosis, treatment, acute inpatient management/rehabilitation and outpatient follow up. 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 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
Main Duties, Tasks & Skills Required
This post is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and involves provision of Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapy to patients with swallowing, voice and communication difficulties, primarily but not limited to, pre- and post- head and neck cancer surgery, surgical voice restoration, laryngectomy, tracheostomy and non-head and neck cancer oncological treatments. This could include both outpatient and inpatient assessment, management and rehabilitation within the acute setting.
Your Responsibilities Will Include, But Not Be Limited To
- Assessing and managing patients with dysphagia, communication disorders and/or altered airways in an inpatient and outpatient setting, including specialist clinics such as surgical voice restoration
- Provision of rehabilitation
- Training of junior colleagues and students
- Working towards utilising specialist assessments such e.g. FEES, tracheostomy, videofluoroscopy
- Working flexibly and thriving in a fast-paced environment
- Supervision and service development responsibilities
- Involvement in audit and research including attending or presenting at regional and national conferences
- Attendance at MDT
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About Us
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.
Job Description
Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A good standard of secondary education including A-Level or equivalent.
- BSc or recognised MSc degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
- Membership of RCSLT.
- Registration with HCPC.
- Completed RCSLT Level C dysphagia competencies/Level 5 EDS competencies (or above).
Desirable
- Advanced dysphagia competencies e.g. FEES, VFS, tracheostomy, SVR.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working independently with adult dysphagia caseload at a specialist level.
- Significant experience working within a head and neck cancer/oncology clinical setting.
- Significant experience of working independently within an acute hospital setting.
- Significant post-graduate training, through attendance at short courses and via personal study and practical skill development.
- Experience of working successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Demonstration of people management at either an individual or team level.
- Experience of training Speech and Language Therapy undergraduates and junior SLTs.
Desirable
- Post-graduate education or research.
- Experience of working with patients with laryngectomy and/or head and neck cancer.
- Membership of a relevant CEN.
- Knowledge acquired through attendance at postgraduate specialist courses which would be expected to be at Masters level or equivalent.
- Evidence of attendance at national conferences.
- Knowledge of the strategic direction of the Trust.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Keen to embrace change consistent with delivery of service whilst keeping the patient as an individual at the centre of care.
- Punctual and reliable in service delivery.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Organisational skills with the ability to organise own workload and work in a systematic way.
- Excellent time management.
- Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
- Thriving in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work weekends as part of a 7 day working pattern (when appropriate service delivery allows and commences).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
For Help With Your Application, Contact
Molly Metcalf
01213713804
Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£49387.00 to £56515.00 Yearly
Contract
Fixed Term
Duration
12 Month(s)
Working pattern
Full-Time, Flexible Working
Reference number
304-1103039
Job locations
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
West Midlands
B15 2TH
Attachments
Job Description
Band 7 JD PS.pdf – 479KB Opens in a new window
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills