Job summary
- Main area
- Speech and Language
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 158-25-090-SLT
- Employer
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Liverpool
- Town
- Liverpool
- Salary
- £53,755 - £60,504 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Principal Speech and Language Therapist Operational Lead
NHS AfC: Band 8a
In cases where we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to automatically close any vacancies prior to the specified closing date - all vacancies are capped at a sufficient number; you are advised to submit your completed application form as early as possible.
Please note that applications are accepted only by completion of our application form. If you have any needs that prevent you from applying in this way and participating in our online recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment Team on 0151 5565176 or [email protected] at the earliest opportunity to ensure that support can be provided. Adjustments can be made for you during application and interview.
We operate a Values Based Recruitment (VBR) approach when recruiting new colleagues. VBR helps us to attract and select employees whose personal values and behaviours align with the values of the Trust. For more information on our vision, mission and values please see here - Vision, mission and values :: The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre (clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk)
If you do not receive confirmation that you have been shortlisted for interview, please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. It is with regret that we are unable to provide feedback to non-shortlisted candidates.
Overseas candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website.
Job overview
Speech & Language Therapy – An exciting new opportunity working with patients with Head & Neck Cancer and oncology
Travel is required across sites
This post is a newly developed role, having clinical and operational leadership responsibilities for the CCC site. The service delivers Head and Neck cancer and oncology services which are integrated across the oncology (CCC) surgical (Aintree) and community pathways. The Liverpool Head and Neck centre is a world class collaboration of key stakeholders, ensuring that patient care and outcomes are embedded in research & education. You will be part of a newly developing and innovative regional integrated team working across all aspects of the patient's pathway in surgery and oncology, in hospital, outpatient and community settings.
Main duties of the job
We are a growing service, committed to reducing health inequalities in Head and Neck cancer across Cheshire and Merseyside. This post is a clinical and operational lead role. We are seeking someone with advanced clinical and leadership skills to deliver and train a growing team, alongside the SLT leadership team in CCC and Aintree/LUHFT.
All of the SLT staff are employed by different organisations, with a commitment to work across boundaries to ensure that patients are seen by the right clinician at the right time, delivering what patients need, rather than them having to fit in to our established services. Working across organisations requires a flexible and open-minded approach to delivering care, ensuring that the patient’s needs and wishes determine how their SLT intervention is offered. The integrated SLT H&N team are actively involved in research, having close links to the University of Liverpool and other national centres.
We are a proactive & dynamic team and we welcome fresh ideas, perspectives and skills. We will provide training and support where needed. It is essential that team members bring positive energy, enthusiasm, a commitment to improving patient care, a mind-set of compassion and the courage to work around system obstacles in order to do the ‘right thing’ for patients. If you work well in a team, whilst also being self-motivated, then we are looking for you to join us! We would welcome all enquiries and encourage a visit
Working for our organisation
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is one of three specialist cancer centres in England. With 1,800 specialist staff and three sites, we are one of the largest NHS providers of non-surgical cancer treatment. The Trust has a unique multi-site care model serving the 2.4 million population across Cheshire and Merseyside and is consistently rated by patients as one of the best performing hospitals.
Our vision is to not only maintain this level of commitment to excellence but to work with our academic and healthcare partners across the region to ensure care, treatment and patient outcomes continuously improve in the future. We are very proud of all our expert and loyal staff and we welcome people who share the collective aim of delivering excellence in everything that we do.
Our values represent who we are and what we believe in. They define how we act to deliver the best possible care for our patients and shape The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre as a great place to work.
We are -
- Kind
- Empowered
- Responsible
- Inclusive
Vision, mission and values :: The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details about this exciting role on offer at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Speech and Language Therapy degree or recognized equivalent.
- Registration as a SLT with the Health and Care Professions Council
- Dysphagia Qualification or experience
Desirable criteria
- Registration with Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
- Masters degree or working towards a Masters qualification.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
- Excellent knowledge of oncology treatments
- Excellent knowledge of the treatment of patients with Head and Neck cancer and complex neurological impairment.
- Excellent knowledge & skills of surgical and oncology treatments and impacts on patients
- Excellent knowledge and skill in VFES
- Excellent and demonstrated leadership skills
Desirable criteria
- Experience of managing patients with acquired brain tumours
Experience
Essential criteria
- Relevant specialist experience in the management of patients with Head and Neck and Neurology Cancers
- Experience of managing own caseload of complex dysphagia
Desirable criteria
- Experience of management of tracheostomies
- Experience in the management of laryngectomies including surgical voice restoration in relation to voice and swallow
- Experience of voice disorders and management
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Heulwen Sheldrick
- Job title
- Principal Speech & Language Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0151 556 5791
- Additional information
Catriona Fleming
Principal Speech and Language Therapist
catriona.fleming @nhs.net
0151 556 5791
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