Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 21 August 2025

Job summary

The Neurodiversity Hub is a multi-agency team set up to support children and young people who are Neurodivergent or who have social communication differences . The aim of the Neurodiversity Hub is to work together to ensure that the child or young persons needs are met.

You will work both independently and alongside Speech and Language Therapists, Specialist Teachers, Occupational Therapists and parents to deliver therapy, including Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT), training courses and advice for children with a range of neurodiverse needs. You will support both children and their families to develop their communication skills. You will work in both schools, family hubs, and other settings across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale as needed.

We hold regular team meetings, and all staff take part in frequent, structured management supervision. We provide opportunities to develop skills in a range of clinical areas according to service need.If you are innovative, passionate about communication and keen to support the development of our service then we look forward to hearing from you.

We are committed to prioritising work- life balance and well- being. The NCA offers a robust Flexible Working policy and S.C.A.R.F, a wrap- around support programme to look after your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Please speak to us about how we can accommodate any flexible working requests.

Main duties of the job

  • To work as an assistant in the Neurodiversity Hub Team, providing a range of support functions including Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) with clients under the direction of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist.
  • To liaise with families and other professionals, giving advice and signposting to services available throughout Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
  • Be confident to deliver training alongside other members of the team to parents, carers and other professionals
  • You will be really passionate about working with children and their families.
  • You will develop children's communication skills in a range of different clinical areas including working with children and young people who are Autistic and have a range of other neurodiverse needs.
  • You will have excellent communication skills and be able to work independently across environments within Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
  • You will be a good team player and you will be keen to learn new skills where needed.
  • In order to meet local need there will be a requirement to work flexibly which may involve evenings and weekends.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Details

Date posted

07 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-RCO-CS243-25-A-PS

Job locations

HMR Children’s Community Services Callaghan House

Cross Street (off Green Lane)

Heywood, Rochdale

OL10 2DY


Job description

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Job description

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare or a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship - or equivalent experience
  • Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy (GCSE English and Maths Grade D-G)

Desirable

  • Relevant IT/computer NVQ or ECDL qualification

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of child development
  • Well-developed listening and visual observation skills
  • Experience of working with children and/or adults
  • Relevant experience in a care/education environment

Desirable

  • Experience of/Interest in working with Autistic children or/ those with social communication differences
  • Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) trained
  • Experience of delivering training sessions

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Willing to undertake the training required to carry out the job
  • Full UK driving license with willingness to use own car for work purposes
  • Able to develop and adapt therapy programmes from a framework provided by the Speech & Language Therapist
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Good organisational and time management skills
  • Good presentation skills
  • Able to maintain client confidentiality
  • Able to use own initiative and work flexibly
  • IT skills
  • Able to work to specified time scales
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare or a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship - or equivalent experience
  • Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy (GCSE English and Maths Grade D-G)

Desirable

  • Relevant IT/computer NVQ or ECDL qualification

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of child development
  • Well-developed listening and visual observation skills
  • Experience of working with children and/or adults
  • Relevant experience in a care/education environment

Desirable

  • Experience of/Interest in working with Autistic children or/ those with social communication differences
  • Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) trained
  • Experience of delivering training sessions

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Willing to undertake the training required to carry out the job
  • Full UK driving license with willingness to use own car for work purposes
  • Able to develop and adapt therapy programmes from a framework provided by the Speech & Language Therapist
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Good organisational and time management skills
  • Good presentation skills
  • Able to maintain client confidentiality
  • Able to use own initiative and work flexibly
  • IT skills
  • Able to work to specified time scales

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMR Children’s Community Services Callaghan House

Cross Street (off Green Lane)

Heywood, Rochdale

OL10 2DY


Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMR Children’s Community Services Callaghan House

Cross Street (off Green Lane)

Heywood, Rochdale

OL10 2DY


Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader

Siobhan Lever

siobhan.lever@nca.nhs.uk

01612060606

Details

Date posted

07 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-RCO-CS243-25-A-PS

Job locations

HMR Children’s Community Services Callaghan House

Cross Street (off Green Lane)

Heywood, Rochdale

OL10 2DY


Supporting documents

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