Job summary
The Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Voice and Upper Airway Services will provide strategic, clinical and operational leadership for a highly specialist, evidence-based service across acute and community settings. The post holder will lead the development and delivery of integrated voice and upper airway pathways, ensuring seamless, patient-centred care from referral to discharge. Working autonomously and collaboratively with ENT and wider multidisciplinary teams, they will deliver advanced assessment and treatment for adults with voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders, support service transformation and innovation, and provide expert supervision, training and leadership to speech and language therapy staff. The role will contribute to service development, quality improvement and workforce development, while supporting the operational management of Speech and Language Therapy services and deputising for senior leaders as required.

A full UK driving license is essential for this post. Please note that an international driving license is not accepted.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• Lead and deliver a highly specialist, evidence-based SLT service for adults with voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders across acute and community settings.
• Develop and implement integrated voice and upper airway pathways, ensuring seamless patient care from referral to discharge.
• Provide advanced assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and management for patients with complex voice and dysphagia needs.
• Support and contribute to Joint Voice Clinics, specialist ENT clinics and MDT swallowing clinics, working closely with ENT and wider MDT colleagues.
• Lead service development, quality improvement and pathway redesign initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance patient outcomes and service efficiency.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to patients, carers and healthcare professionals on voice and swallowing disorders.
• Ensure effective triage and prioritisation of referrals to support timely assessment, intervention and discharge planning.
• Deliver clinical supervision, training, competency development and day-to-day leadership for SLT staff working within voice and dysphagia services.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary and cross-organisational partners to support integrated service delivery and innovative models of care.
• Contribute to policy development, clinical governance, audit and service evaluation activities.
• Undertake operational, leadership and line management responsibilities as required, deputising for the Head of Service and supporting the wider SLT service.

About us
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Details
Date posted: 21 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 218-AHP-B8A-8244794
Job locations: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide clinical, operational and professional leadership for the Voice and Upper Airway Speech and Language Therapy Service across acute and community settings. They will be responsible for delivering highly specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment for adults with complex voice, upper airway and swallowing disorders, while leading the development of integrated care pathways and innovative models of service delivery. The role includes working collaboratively with ENT and multidisciplinary colleagues, driving service improvement and transformation, providing expert clinical advice, and ensuring high standards of patient care. The post holder will also support workforce development through supervision, training and leadership of Speech and Language Therapy staff, contribute to governance and policy development, and provide operational support to the wider Speech and Language Therapy service, including deputising for senior leaders as required.

For further details please see the attached job description.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Speech and Language Therapy degree or equivalent.
• Member of RCSLT.
• HCPC Registration with Licence to Practise.
• Completion of RCSLT Dysphagia competencies or equivalent.
• Evidence of relevant post-graduate training in voice.
• Working towards Master's level of education or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Post-graduate education at Masters level in relevant clinical area(s).
• Clinical Excellence Network (CEN) member in related clinical areas.
• Completed FEES/endoscopy competencies.

Experience
Essential

• Advanced specialist level of clinical skills and knowledge in the assessment, diagnosis and management voice disorders and dysphagia in adults.
• Significant clinical experience working in community settings including patient homes, residential/nursing homes, community clinics as well as in MDT clinics
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience supporting/teaching placement students, newly-qualified SLTs and less experienced colleagues.
• Experience of delivering in-service training and/or CPD relevant to the service area.
• Evidence of maintaining relevant personal/professional development portfolio.
• Understanding of clinical governance.
• Experience of assisting service improvement, audit, or research relevant to voice and dysphagia.
• Experience of leadership/service development relevant to voice and dysphagia.

Desirable

• Experience supporting Voice Clinic jointly with ENT.
• Experience of developing voice and/or dysphagia services in line with national policy.
• Experience developing services jointly with ENT/other MDT stakeholders.
• Experience of conducting or being involved in research in voice and/or dysphagia.

Knowledge
Essential

• Advanced clinical knowledge and demonstrable skills in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of complex voice and swallowing disorders.
• Knowledge of voice and dysphagia assessment tools and a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
• Knowledge of best practice in assessment and management of voice disorders and dysphagia.
• Good working knowledge of national policies and procedures
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals in supporting patients with voice disorders and/or dysphagia.
• Understanding of the impact of local cultural, linguistic and demographic factors influencing service delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to organise time effectively.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to adapt communication style to varied listeners,
• Able to negotiate and manage difficult conversations.
• Able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• IT skills to support clinical practice.
• Ability to assess, identify and manage clinical risk appropriately.
• Ability to critically evaluate service delivery and lead service planning.

Desirable

• Excellent analytical and reflection skills
• Research skills e.g. literature review, critical appraisal, qualitative and/or quantitative analysis.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. (As detailed in UHCW's Values in Action document below)
• Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

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).

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Address: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.jobsatuhcw.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Speech and Language Therapy Manager, Isobel Rogers, isobel.rogers@uhcw.nhs.uk, 02476966145

Supporting documents
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