Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Job summary

B4 Speech & Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner. Band 3 applicants encouraged to apply but will be required to complete Trainee Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner competency framework to progress into the Band 4 role.

Are you enthusiastic, motivated and looking for an opportunity to develop clinical and professional skills? Do you have a desire to support individuals with complex communication and swallowing needs? If so we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our service.

We are looking for someone who is creative, driven and solution focused. We are a friendly team of 23 staff committed to delivering high quality, person centred care in a fast paced acute environment.

You will be working with individuals who have acquired neurological disorders across the inpatient pathway including critical care, neurosurgery, neurology and neurorehabilitation and their respective multidisciplinary teams. You will be responsible for delivering assessment and intervention as directed by a Speech and Language Therapist. You will develop skills to support patients use of a range of communication aids and create resources to assist with assessment and therapy sessions. You will have the opportunity to support Speech and Language Therapists to deliver training and workshops. We are highly committed to supporting professional development and provide regular line management and clinical supervision to fulfil this.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will support the Speech and Language Therapy team in delivering high quality care to patients with communication and swallowing difficulties resulting from acquired neurological disorders. This is a unique role as they will assist in providing assessment and therapy as directed by a Speech and Language Therapist to inpatients on critical care, neurosurgery, neurology and neurorehabilitation. The post-holder will develop skills to support patients with a range of communication aids including low tech paper based resources as well as high tech computer based software across inpatient and outpatient settings.

The post-holder will support the Speech and Language therapists to deliver training and workshops. They will be expected to support with administrative tasks which requires a proactive approach, excellent time management and strong organisation skills. They will also be responsible for ensuring that communication aids, assessments and therapy resources used by the team are kept up to date and organised appropriately.

This is a fast paced acute environment and the post holder needs to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with speech and language therapy colleagues, multidisciplinary team members as well as patients with communication difficulties and their families/carers.

About us

We are a large and friendly team working across many specialities within Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust. We provide input to inpatients at Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley District General Hospital. We also have a large outpatient service for Neuro, ENT, Head & Neck and Medicine.

For enquiries, please contact Leah Freimann/Carmel Richardson, Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapists on 01772 522426 or email leah.freimann@lthtr.nhs.uk or carmel.richardson@lthtr.nhs.uk

Date posted

08 October 2021

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£20,330 to £24,882 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

438-RC6453

Job locations

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 9HT

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will carry out assessment and intervention as directed by a Speech and Language Therapist. You will support patients who have acquired neurological disorders with their communication and swallowing needs. You will complete administrative tasks in a timely manner and be involved with service development to continually improve patient care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

oGCSE Maths & English grade C or above OR level 1 numeracy skills and level 2 literacy skills
oNVQ Level 3 in care or similar care qualification
oHold accredited Assistant Practitioner band 4 qualification or commits to completion of LTHTR Trainee Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner competency framework within 12 months of appointment.

Desirable

oRelevant qualification to demonstrate ability to support people with communication difficulties, feeding difficulties and/or additional needs
oCounselling Course

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

oSpecific experience of working as a therapy assistant
oExperience of supporting individuals with communication difficulties, feeding difficulties and/or cognitive impairment
oExperience of working with AHPs and team working
oKnowledge of the importance of adhering to Health & Safety policies
oKnowledge of infection control and decontamination processes

Desirable

oRecent experience of working within an acute hospital setting
oExperience of working as an assistant practitioner

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

oGCSE Maths & English grade C or above OR level 1 numeracy skills and level 2 literacy skills
oNVQ Level 3 in care or similar care qualification
oHold accredited Assistant Practitioner band 4 qualification or commits to completion of LTHTR Trainee Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner competency framework within 12 months of appointment.

Desirable

oRelevant qualification to demonstrate ability to support people with communication difficulties, feeding difficulties and/or additional needs
oCounselling Course

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

oSpecific experience of working as a therapy assistant
oExperience of supporting individuals with communication difficulties, feeding difficulties and/or cognitive impairment
oExperience of working with AHPs and team working
oKnowledge of the importance of adhering to Health & Safety policies
oKnowledge of infection control and decontamination processes

Desirable

oRecent experience of working within an acute hospital setting
oExperience of working as an assistant practitioner

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.