Job summary
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, to join an innovative and dynamic team of professionals.
Our team supports children and their families with their speech, language and communication needs in Havering, London's eastern-most borough. The role involves close collaborative working with our colleagues in Paediatrics, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapies, and CAMHS. You will also work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with families, Health Visitors, School Nurses and the Local Authority.
This role involves delivering group and individual therapy under the guidance and support of qualified therapists. There are also opportunities to support service-development alongside colleagues in the wider team.
While gaining experience working with a general paediatric caseload in clinic, nursery and school settings, this post will include opportunities to work with therapists in different parts of the service such as stammering, speech disorders, AAC, selective mutism, complex needs and autism. Your skills will be nurtured by supportive and experienced colleagues across the team.
Based in Romford with established transport links from London: We are 17 minutes by train from London Liverpool Street and 20 minutes from Stratford on the new Elizabeth Line, we also have good transport links to Essex and Kent.
We welcome applicants who wish to develop their skills as a valued member of a vibrant and supportive team.
Main duties of the job
Your key responsibilities will include:
Working with preschool children in local clinics, running groups and providing one - to - one therapy following a care plan written by the therapist. There may also be need to support in schools when the need arises.
Supporting children and families with social communication difficulties, language difficulties and disorder or speech sound delays
Working as part of a multi-professional team in partnership with families.
Coaching / Training families and professionals.
Reporting back to therapist on children's progress and supporting their targets.
Carrying out administration duties relating to supporting children with communication needs
Preparing resources for sessions and training
The successful applicant will be greatly supported with one-to-one supervision at least monthly (more often to begin with), group band 4 supervision and safeguarding supervision. We provide a range of CPD opportunities such as team training and individual training, as well as observation opportunities in a range of interventions ensuring we keep up to date with practice and learn new skills.
As a member of our team you will be included in our monthly team meetings and annual away days. You will also be invited to regular team socials and bring and share lunches.
About us
You would be joining a friendly, dynamic, supportive and inclusive team which passionately advocates for the needs of our clients. Professional development is encouraged to further your skills, while support and advice from experienced colleagues is accessible whenever required.
We are a flexible service with options for compressed hours and working in a way that suits the needs of the service and yourself.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4, 714 to a maximum of £5,941 Per annum pro rata for part time).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Northeast London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
References
Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at Northeast London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
References
Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Person Specification
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential
- Putting people first
- Prioritising quality
- Being progressive, innovative, and continually improve
- Being professional and honest
- Promoting what is possible, independence, opportunity, and choice
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy (formal or informal) relevant to working with pre school and/or school age children at or equivalent to NVQ level 3 or BTEC
- Experience gained through in-service training, short courses and work experience
Experience
Essential
- 3 years + experience of working within a nursery, pre school or school setting with knowledge of planning and target setting for speech and language
- Understanding of the development of speech, language and communication skills in children speech, language and communication impairments as part of a learning disability
- Understanding of Child protection issues
- Keyboard and basic word processing skills, e mail, internet and file management
- Organisational skills for administration and support of therapy staff
- Able to organise, plan and prioritise own workload
- Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy
- Able to communicate factual information to clients, carers families and multidisciplinary team members / other professionals, in written and verbal form
- Creative and imaginative skills for preparation of therapy materials and equipment for varied and lively presentation of language development activities
- The ability to vary and modify target development activities taking into account individual needs and learning styles
- Developed perceptual and concentration skills for observing and responding to client's speech, language and communication as appropriate
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of NHS priorities
Other
Essential
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
Person Specification
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential
- Putting people first
- Prioritising quality
- Being progressive, innovative, and continually improve
- Being professional and honest
- Promoting what is possible, independence, opportunity, and choice
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy (formal or informal) relevant to working with pre school and/or school age children at or equivalent to NVQ level 3 or BTEC
- Experience gained through in-service training, short courses and work experience
Experience
Essential
- 3 years + experience of working within a nursery, pre school or school setting with knowledge of planning and target setting for speech and language
- Understanding of the development of speech, language and communication skills in children speech, language and communication impairments as part of a learning disability
- Understanding of Child protection issues
- Keyboard and basic word processing skills, e mail, internet and file management
- Organisational skills for administration and support of therapy staff
- Able to organise, plan and prioritise own workload
- Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy
- Able to communicate factual information to clients, carers families and multidisciplinary team members / other professionals, in written and verbal form
- Creative and imaginative skills for preparation of therapy materials and equipment for varied and lively presentation of language development activities
- The ability to vary and modify target development activities taking into account individual needs and learning styles
- Developed perceptual and concentration skills for observing and responding to client's speech, language and communication as appropriate
Knowledge
Essential
- An awareness of NHS priorities
Other
Essential
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
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.
