Specialist Speech and Language Therapist - Head and Neck Cancer

Job summary
Band 6 Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) - Head and Neck Cancers (H&N)

We are excited to advertise this Band 6 full-time post at the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust (RBFT).

This post is split across two clinical areas - the post holder will be a key member of the H&N SLT team, providing input to inpatients and outpatients, in a variety of settings, whilst also contributing to the wider SLT service at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

You will be joining a team of 22 people, comprising of SLTs, SLT assistants, an SLT apprentice and an administrator.

This vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received. Early application is advised.

Main duties of the job

• Contributing to the H&N caseload, providing assessment, therapy and management plans to service users and their families. This will be across inpatient and outpatients, with outpatients being individual SLT clinics, as well as H&N and radiotherapy MDT clinics.
• Working as part of a team.
• Providing supervision and support to other members of the team, where appropriate.
• Contributing to training for other members of the MDT, in relevant areas.

About us
We are one of the largest hospital foundation trusts in the country, and currently touch the lives of half a million patients in the west of Berkshire every year by providing high quality acute medical and surgical services for our local communities.

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford, and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Details
Date posted: 23 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 193-8345528NCG
Closing date: 08 November 2026

Person Specification
Education

• Essential: Recognised Speech and Language Therapy degree qualification or equivalent licence to practice
• Essential: Registered member of RCSLT
• Essential: Registered member of HCPC

CPD

• Essential: Evidence of formal competencies to allow independent management of complex dysphagia, such as the RCSLT competency framework
• Essential: Evidence of successful post-graduate study through CPD portfolio
• Desirable: Evidence of competencies in laryngectomy management
• Desirable: Evidence of competencies in tracheostomy management
• Desirable: Evidence of competencies in FEES or Videofluoroscopy

Previous Experience

• Essential: At least two years post graduate experience, relevant to this post
• Essential: Experience of MDT working
• Essential: Changing own practice in response to evidence
• Desirable: Experience of working with a H&N caseload post qualification
• Desirable: Developing and delivery training packages to other disciplines, carers and service users
• Desirable: Experience of working in an acute and outpatient, fast paced and flexible environment

Skills

• Essential: Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist area
• Essential: Knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Desirable: Awareness of other relevant policies including Vulnerable adult/other relevant legal frameworks.
• Desirable: Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance/audit including RCSLT clinical guidelines

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, James Martin, james.martin54@nhs.net, 01183225205

Location: Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading, RG1 5AN, United Kingdom

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