Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Job summary

We are looking for a resourceful, enthusiastic and well-organised person who has previous experience of working with children and young people with speech and language or learning needs.

We are a team of eleven speech and language therapists and assistants who work with children and young people with complex neurodisability at Chailey Clinical Services, near Lewes.

The successful applicant will have:

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate with those with atypical communication styles
• Enthusiasm and an ability to relate well to children and young people (3-25 years)
• The ability to work well as part of a team
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Excellent IT skills - including ability to learn to use online patient records system, software to develop tailored resources to support children, high tech communication aids.
• The ability to be flexible and respond to a number of different demands, which will include office-based or class based working with different health professionals as part of a multi-professional team.
• Creativity and problem-solving skills
• The ability to self-reflect and actively engage with a process of continuing professional development

Main duties of the job

• The Speech and Language Therapy Assistant will:

  • Work with children and young people with complex sensory, physical and communication needs, individually and in small groups, with direction from speech and language therapists.
  • Create resources to support communication and learning of children and young people with complex neuro-disability
  • Create bespoke communication systems and resources such as communication passports, with direction from speech and language therapists
  • Use electronic notes to write up therapy notes
  • Demonstrate therapy interventions and resources to others, including parents, school and support staff
  • Attend and participate in team meetings.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of 1.3 million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.

We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2022 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support
• Variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county
• Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
• Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
• Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
• Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
• Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
• Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff