Sirona care & health CIC

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 05 February 2026

Job summary

The Sirona Speech and Language Therapy School Aged Team is a friendly and supportive team that deliver a variety of core and commissioned clinical Speech and Language Therapy Services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

We offer regular training opportunities to our staff, a buddy system for new starters, regular line management, whole team and smaller team meetings. A large and supportive team means that there is plenty of opportunity for development and progression internally.

You will work as a Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner working in a Special School with children with complex communication needs associated with severe disability. You will also be supporting children using high tech communication aids across a number of primary and secondary schools.

You will work with Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to support the students and staff. The post holder should have interest and/or experience in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and supporting children/YP in both primary and secondary schools.

Please do contact us to find out more detail about the position.

Main duties of the job

You will be working within the School Aged Speech and Language Therapy Service working across both primary and secondary schools in Bristol. You will work with Specialist Speech and Language Therapists. Main duties of your role will be to:

Work within primary and secondary schools (specialist and mainstream) to deliver specific skilled support along with speech and language therapy programmes to children/young people and their families to improve their outcomes and support children/young people to reach their full potential.
Monitor children/young people's response to therapy intervention and feedback to the therapist, jointly setting new targets as required.
Work closely with the Speech and Language Therapists in the Special School and AAC Support Team.
Prepare equipment, materials and make resources to support the Speech and Language Therapy team.

About us

Ever dreamt about a career that sparks excitement and fosters your professional growth? Picture yourself waking up eager to make a real difference in our community, surrounded by teams who value your unique ideas.

We are Sirona care & health - England's largest provider of Adult's and Children's Community Services and we'd love for you to join us in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire.

Agenda for Change Salary, full NHS benefits, 27+ days' annual leave, and participation in the NHS Pension Scheme - just a glimpse of the benefits you'll receive.

We welcome and encourage all applicants. We are committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities we support and are proactively seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce. We know diversity fosters creativity and innovation.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We aim to draw upon the widest possible range of views and experiences to meet the changing needs of our colleagues, partners and communities we serve.

Whether you're starting your journey in healthcare, looking for a fresh challenge within the NHS, or contemplating a career change, don't be daunted by the prospect of something different - we create development opportunities for all our colleagues and apprentices.

Interested? View our benefits leaflet which you can find attached to this vacancy.

Date posted

22 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

083-7743042-WW

Job locations

Eastgate House

Unit 9 Eastgate Office Centre

Bristol

BS5 6XX

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role and can only accept applications from UK based applicants.

If you currently require a visa to work in the UK, there must be a minimum of 14 months remaining on your visa. Please provide the end date in your application.

If you refer to employment history and qualifications within your supporting statement that are not reflected in your application form this informatiom may be discounted.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this role and can only accept applications from UK based applicants.

If you currently require a visa to work in the UK, there must be a minimum of 14 months remaining on your visa. Please provide the end date in your application.

If you refer to employment history and qualifications within your supporting statement that are not reflected in your application form this informatiom may be discounted.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Recognised childcare / health care / social care qualification at NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification or experience

Desirable

Training in Makaton / Hanen / Attention Autism or other relevant SLCN interventions

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Relevant experience of working with children in an Early Years , educational or health setting
To be able to work without direct supervision carrying out observations and / or therapy activities in clinic / educational settings and/or home settings as required
To be able to demonstrate therapy programmes and use of equipment to others (parents and educational staff)
Ability to relate to children and their families with special needs, cultural and language difficulties, and/or challenging behaviour.
To be able to communicate effectively with therapy colleagues, members of the multidisciplinary team, and other agencies (e.g. education, social services)
Experienced with technology - comfortable using a range of computer software

Desirable

Experience of working with children and young people presenting with difficulties in the areas ocommunication, social communication and activities of daily living, (or any combination of these) and their families.
Experience of working as an assistant practitioner
To be familiar with a range of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) such as Makaton signing, Voice Output Communication Aids, low tech communication aids.
Experience of working with children/ young people who require adapted / alternative methods of communication (e.g. Makaton)
Experience of Communicate in Print software

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Recognised childcare / health care / social care qualification at NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification or experience

Desirable

Training in Makaton / Hanen / Attention Autism or other relevant SLCN interventions

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Relevant experience of working with children in an Early Years , educational or health setting
To be able to work without direct supervision carrying out observations and / or therapy activities in clinic / educational settings and/or home settings as required
To be able to demonstrate therapy programmes and use of equipment to others (parents and educational staff)
Ability to relate to children and their families with special needs, cultural and language difficulties, and/or challenging behaviour.
To be able to communicate effectively with therapy colleagues, members of the multidisciplinary team, and other agencies (e.g. education, social services)
Experienced with technology - comfortable using a range of computer software

Desirable

Experience of working with children and young people presenting with difficulties in the areas ocommunication, social communication and activities of daily living, (or any combination of these) and their families.
Experience of working as an assistant practitioner
To be familiar with a range of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) such as Makaton signing, Voice Output Communication Aids, low tech communication aids.
Experience of working with children/ young people who require adapted / alternative methods of communication (e.g. Makaton)
Experience of Communicate in Print software

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.