Job summary
We have exciting vacancy for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant (SALTA) to join our School Aged Complex Needs pathway to work 3 days in the Bridge Special School Ipswich and 2 days in Hillside Special School Sudbury - this role could be a job share for the right candidates.
SALTAS work under the supervision of speech and language therapists but also work independently. This role would suit someone with an interest in or experience of working with children with additional needs, who is a good communicator themselves, who is able to follow instructions from others but also able to ask for support; someone who is friendly, patient, creative, and organised.
As the schools' SALTA you could be working in one-to-one situations as well as in small groups. Being able to convey basic verbal and written information to teaching staff and parents/carers on the outcome of the sessions and about how to support the young person is essential. An interest or prior experience of Makaton, symbol communication systems, TalkPads and therapy approaches such as intensive interaction or attention autism would be useful but training in all of these would be provided where necessary.
Main duties of the job
You will:
- Deliver therapy packages to children and young people with complex needs with the guidance and support of Speech and Language Therapists.
- Be able to work independently as well as with colleagues
- Communicate therapy outcomes / next steps to relevant therapy partners and the therapy supervisor.
- Organise therapy sessions by timetabling sessions with therapy partners
- Assist with delivery of training workshops (face to face and virtually)
- Offer support to the wider team as required e.g. by making resources for therapy sessions, by supporting organisation of toys and resources within clinic bases and supporting booking for therapy groups, gathering information and assisting with home visits.
- Use our computer systems (Systm One) to record clinical notes, daily.
- Use Microsoft packages, Outlook, Word, Teams etc to keep in touch with service users and colleagues, participate in training and to communicate within the team
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for more detail
Successful applicants will be offered regular clinical and management supervision to support their continued professional development as well as the chance to meet regularly with other Speech and Language Therapy assistants, and with the wider team. This role is available as a whole-time role for both venues or as a part time role in either location.
Our record keeping is all electronic and is key to the role, therefore it is necessary to be able to use Microsoft packages and be ready to write notes daily on a computer system. Sometimes our therapy offer is online and skills in using online systems like Teams or equivalent would be a desirable but not essential.
We would welcome any applicants wishing to start in the role of SALTA, those with relevant experience in working with the communication needs of children and/or working with educational staff to support children with complex needs. We also encourage applications from those who have transferable experience from other areas and who have qualifications or backgrounds in early years, childcare, child development or equivalent.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for more detail
Successful applicants will be offered regular clinical and management supervision to support their continued professional development as well as the chance to meet regularly with other Speech and Language Therapy assistants, and with the wider team. This role is available as a whole-time role for both venues or as a part time role in either location.
Our record keeping is all electronic and is key to the role, therefore it is necessary to be able to use Microsoft packages and be ready to write notes daily on a computer system. Sometimes our therapy offer is online and skills in using online systems like Teams or equivalent would be a desirable but not essential.
We would welcome any applicants wishing to start in the role of SALTA, those with relevant experience in working with the communication needs of children and/or working with educational staff to support children with complex needs. We also encourage applications from those who have transferable experience from other areas and who have qualifications or backgrounds in early years, childcare, child development or equivalent.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Level/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
- Good general education including 5 GCSEs including Maths & English
Desirable
- NNEB training
- Other qualification in related area e.g. child development studies, language, or psychology
- Relevant qualification or short course in speech, language or communication development.
- Relevant qualification or short course in relevant therapy approach e.g. PECS, Makaton.
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working as an SLTA / equivalent knowledge / skill set e.g. have delivered SLT programmes to children or equivalent
- Experience as working with children of preschool or school age
- Experience in working with therapy partners e.g. parent/carers or education staff
- Knowledge of children's language development
- Knowledge of some aspects of SLC difficulties
- Knowledge and experience of Children's Safeguarding Process
Desirable
- Experience of working with CYP with special or complex needs
- Experience in NHS or Educational record keeping such as S1 or equivalent
- Experience of specific therapy approaches - e.g. using Makaton, PECS, colourful semantics or Nuffield approach.
- Experience of delivering training and/or therapy groups.
- Experience of supervising and supporting others.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Good spoken communication and written skills in English
- Able to write concise and accurate notes.
- Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening, tact and empathy.
- Ability to be creative and use initiative.
- Able to work as part of a team.
- Able to discuss, analyse and reflect on observations.
- To work independently as well as under instruction
- Computer literate *able to use MS packages (Word, Outlook)
- Ability to keep client confidentiality.
Desirable
- Use of universal child assessments or scales such as WellComm
- Able to use ages / stages knowledge to make informed observations about SLCN profile.
- Good negotiation skills
- Able to share sensitive and complex information with families and professionals.
- Able to use MS Teams & Excel
Personal qualities
Essential
- Organised
- Able to prioritise.
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties
- Self-motivated
- Reflective
- Able and willing to travel.
Desirable
- Confident to work on own initiative
- Confident to deliver training to groups of therapy partners.
- Confident to deal with conflict or differences of opinion, or emotionally challenging situations.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Level/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
- Good general education including 5 GCSEs including Maths & English
Desirable
- NNEB training
- Other qualification in related area e.g. child development studies, language, or psychology
- Relevant qualification or short course in speech, language or communication development.
- Relevant qualification or short course in relevant therapy approach e.g. PECS, Makaton.
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working as an SLTA / equivalent knowledge / skill set e.g. have delivered SLT programmes to children or equivalent
- Experience as working with children of preschool or school age
- Experience in working with therapy partners e.g. parent/carers or education staff
- Knowledge of children's language development
- Knowledge of some aspects of SLC difficulties
- Knowledge and experience of Children's Safeguarding Process
Desirable
- Experience of working with CYP with special or complex needs
- Experience in NHS or Educational record keeping such as S1 or equivalent
- Experience of specific therapy approaches - e.g. using Makaton, PECS, colourful semantics or Nuffield approach.
- Experience of delivering training and/or therapy groups.
- Experience of supervising and supporting others.
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Good spoken communication and written skills in English
- Able to write concise and accurate notes.
- Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening, tact and empathy.
- Ability to be creative and use initiative.
- Able to work as part of a team.
- Able to discuss, analyse and reflect on observations.
- To work independently as well as under instruction
- Computer literate *able to use MS packages (Word, Outlook)
- Ability to keep client confidentiality.
Desirable
- Use of universal child assessments or scales such as WellComm
- Able to use ages / stages knowledge to make informed observations about SLCN profile.
- Good negotiation skills
- Able to share sensitive and complex information with families and professionals.
- Able to use MS Teams & Excel
Personal qualities
Essential
- Organised
- Able to prioritise.
- Flexible approach to working hours/duties
- Self-motivated
- Reflective
- Able and willing to travel.
Desirable
- Confident to work on own initiative
- Confident to deliver training to groups of therapy partners.
- Confident to deal with conflict or differences of opinion, or emotionally challenging situations.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
