Job summary
Our supportive, innovative and forward-thinking SLT team at QEHB requires a Band 7 Speech & Language Therapist to lead our specialist surgery and lung transplant service. This exciting role will lead on the provision of Specialist Speech and Language Therapy to patients with swallowing and communication difficulties primarily, but not limited to, pre- and post-lung transplant (single and bilateral), thoracic and other specialist surgery and patients within the wider medicine and surgery caseload.

This will include both outpatient pre- and post-operative lung transplant assessments (including FEES); inpatient assessment and rehabilitation in-reaching to, following step-down from, ITU and management of a wide range of patients with dysphagia and communication difficulties within the acute ward setting. This post also includes half a day in outpatients seeing patients from the Specialist Surgery caseload.

The team offers:

• A full induction programme, robust supervision, regular team meetings & peer support
• A wide range of opportunities for career development
• Access to instrumental assessment and management modalities
• Modern facilities with good transport links

We would welcome interested candidates to get in touch for an informal discussion. Please contact Molly Metcalf (Clinical Lead) via Molly.metcalf@uhb.nhs.uk or 0121 371 3483.

Main duties of the job
The specialist surgery and lung transplant SLT service will be led by the post holder alongside a Highly Specialist SLT plus support from the wider team within the medicine, ITU and ENT divisions with direction from the clinical lead SLT and consultant SLT.

The post holder will have operational and leadership responsibilities including service development, governance, supervision and training. You will work closely with members with of the multidisciplinary team at the QEHB with particular emphasis on close working relationships with the transplant team, ITU colleagues, ENT colleagues, physiotherapy colleagues and clinical nurse specialists.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of surgical, respiratory and lung transplant assessment and recovery and have a clear passion in assessing and managing dysphagia and communication difficulties, particularly within a surgical caseload.

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• assessing and managing patients with swallowing, communication and voice disorders pre- and post op.
• service development and audit in relation to the lung transplant and surgery caseload.
• working closely with the MDT, particularly ENT and surgical colleagues.
• training of junior colleagues and students.
• utilising specialist assessments such as FEES.
• working flexibly and thriving in a fast-paced environment.

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.

Details
Date posted
12 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,
Flexible working
Reference number
304-1103412
Job locations
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
West Midlands
B15 2TH
United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
*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/Level 5 EDS dysphagia competencies (or above).
• Willingness and capability to achieve FEES interpretation and scoping competencies.

Desirable

• FEES -- scoping/ Interpretation competencies

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience of working independently with adult dysphagia caseload at a specialist level
• Significant experience of working with surgery caseload
• Significant experience of working independently within an acute hospital setting
• Significant experience of working successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Significant post-graduate training, through attendance at short courses and/or via personal study.
• Evidence of attendance at national conferences or similar.
• Demonstration of people management at either an individual or team level.
• Experience of training Speech and Language Therapy undergraduates and junior SLTs.

Desirable

• Membership of a relevant CEN.
• Post-graduate education or research.
• Knowledge acquired through attendance at postgraduate specialist courses at Masters level or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the strategic direction of the Trust.

Additional Criteria
Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of assessment and management of dysphagia, dysarthria, dyspraxia and dysphonia and dysphasia.
• Advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge and of evidence based practice in the area of specialist surgery.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information effectively and an awareness of the appropriate use of counselling skills.
• Excellent skills of persuasion, motivation, negotiation and problem solving skills with patients, families, colleagues and other professionals.
• Effective communication skills with people who have significant and complex communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
• Well-developed perceptual and auditory skills.
• Ability to absorb, interpret and summarise verbal information in a clinical environment.
• Systematic and organised.
• 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.
• Ability to work flexibly.
• Organisational skills with the ability to organise own workload and work in a systematic way.
• Excellent time management.
• Excellent interpersonal and team working skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work weekends as part of a 7 day working pattern (when appropriate service delivery allows and commences).

Desirable

• FEES and/or VFS competencies.
• Tracheostomy competencies.
• Skills in training students and peers including presentation skills.
• Able to manage and negotiate complex discussions or disagreements with patients, relatives and of professional colleagues in a professional manner independently.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
West Midlands
B15 2TH
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Hiring Manager
Stef Smith
stefanie.smith@uhb.nhs.uk
01213713483