Speech and Language Therapy Assistant (Technician)

Job summary

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHSFT Children's Speech and Language Therapy Team

1 x Band 4 permanent Post, 37.5 hours per week. Part-time considered.

The Post will suit a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant who is passionate about working as part of a team and who is keen to expand their experience working with children.

You will be working mainly across community clinics, nursery and education settings across South Tyneside and Sunderland to deliver interventions for children.

We are working with agencies and service users across systems to improve the service to children with SLCN and SEND. This includes working with our Family Hubs, mainstream and specialist education settings, local authority and other health partners as well as commissioners.

Join us if you want to be part of our drive to make a difference to the long-term outcomes for children and young people.

Please note: The Trust are not able to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the UKVI threshold requirements. Applicants are requested to consider this when making their application. Please visit Gov.UK for further information.

Main duties of the job

You will have experience of working with children with a range of speech, language and communication difficulties and be able to provide intervention and therapy within a range of settings.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be committed to working in a multi-disciplinary way to facilitate the best outcomes for children. You will be well-supported and be part of a forward-thinking department that provides a range of specialist services and is always striving to be innovative and put research into practice to improve patient outcomes. Developing our team members in their career path is the corner-stone of this. This will be an ideal opportunity for an Assistant looking to develop their skills in this area who also has values that align with those of our organisation and is passionate about making a difference to children and young people. Our Children's Speech and Language Therapy Team covers South Tyneside and Sunderland localities. There are excellent links across the Children's Therapy staff with joint supervision and sharing practice sessions.

We want to see if you can be part of our vision to improve the outcomes for children in our area through you being part of our highly-regarded team. Come and talk to us and our team to find out more!

Contact:

Ruth Rayner - Head of Service: ruth.rayner1@nhs.net, 0191 569 9009

Nicola Johnson - Operational Manager: nicola.johnson40@nhs.net, 0191 569 9122

Emma Bowen - Operational Manager: emma.bowen10@nhs.net, 0191 283 2484

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form; this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award-winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. Looking after our workforce's health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high-quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Date posted

15 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pro-rata for part-time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9155-CSAHP-0425-27

Job locations

Cleadon Park PCC, The Nook, South Shields, NE34 8PS

Sunderland Children's Centre, Durham Road, Sunderland, SR3 4AG

Job description

Job responsibilities: To assist Speech and Language Therapists working with children with a range of Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND). PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of either in work or home life with people speech and language difficulties.
• Experience of working to deadlines.

Desirable:

• Worked as SALT assistant.

Other

Essential:

• Ability to travel to various work locations and transport equipment on occasion to meet the needs of the Post.

Desirable:

• Car owner / driver.
• Please provide a contact telephone number.

Qualifications

Essential:

• GCSE English Language (Grade 4 or above) or equivalent.
• At least four other GCSEs (Grade 4 or above) or equivalent.
• BTec Professional Development Award for Speech & Language Therapy Assistants/Nursery Nurse Level 3 qualification or other relevant qualification OR equivalent in-house/external training.
• Knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders and their management.

Attitude

Essential:

• Equal enthusiasm to work in a clinical admin/preparation role as well as directly with the patients.
• Enthusiasm for working within a caring profession.
• Enthusiasm for working in a support role.
• Enthusiasm to learn new skills.
• Enthusiasm to work in a variety of locations.
• Flexibility in work allocation (location, prioritising tasks etc).

Skills

Essential:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the basic aims and principles of Speech and Language Therapy and the Therapy Assistant role.
• Ability to communicate verbally in a manner appropriate to a variety of parties, dealing with sensitive information and taking into account barriers to understanding.
• Ability to generate written communication which is relevant, concise, accurate and legible.
• Ability to work independently as well as within the multi-agency team.
• Ability to organise own workload.
• Able to observe and modify a treatment activity, demonstrating an understanding of the patients and settings needs.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of own limits.
• Good listening skills.
• Good IT skills.
• Technical skills to set-up equipment/maintain and programme communication aids.

Desirable:

• Range of therapeutic approaches/skills to use with patients.

Personal Qualities

Essential:

• Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice.
• Demonstrates initiative within the boundaries of the role.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable and able to work on own initiative.
• Enthusiasm and recognition of the need for self-development.
• Advocacy skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload.
• Ability to work well as a team member.

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.

Employer details

Employer name: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Cleadon Park PCC, The Nook, South Shields, NE34 8PS

Employer's website: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk