Job summary
Islington Additional Needs and Disability Service (IANDS) has a vacancy for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) team.
ELSEC is a pilot initiative designed to support education settings in identifying and supporting children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). The programme focuses on children accessing the Islington Universal Offer in mainstream schools. Funded until March 2026, (with a likely extension to August 2026 and possibly beyond), ELSEC is testing a new model where a team of Speech and Language Therapy Assistants (SLTAs) delivers universal and targeted support directly to schools. The aim is to build school staff confidence and capacity to continue supporting children's language development during and after the programme.
The successful candidate will receive full training and support to deliver screening assessments and interventions to children and provide training, modelling and coaching to education staff.
Following a successful pilot in Barnet in June 2024, the programme is now expanding to Islington and Enfield.
To learn more about the programme, please visit the Department for Education.
website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/earlier-support-for-speech-and-language-for-20000-children
Main duties of the job
1. Deliver screening assessments and provide training and coaching to staff in Early Years and Primary School settings. This includes training staff on how to carry out screening assessments and deliver targeted interventions. Work closely with teachers, teaching assistants, and other allied health professionals to support implementation. Regularly report on progress and share updates with senior Speech and Language Therapists.
2. To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate with children who may have barriers to communicating or understanding.
3. To help the team with both administrative, and clinical work, thereby supporting the smooth running of the team.
4. To be responsible for making resources, maintaining equipment, keeping clinical notes, and keeping clinical and office spaces in good condition.
5. To be responsible for organising and prioritising your own work and adhering to Trust policies and procedures, especially in relation to child safeguarding.
6. To have a duty to report any accident/incident via Trust procedures.
7. To monitor and record children's progression towards therapy aims.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See attached job description for further information:
Leadership
1. To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the Trust.
2. To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.
3. To facilitate the development of a positive and supportive team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict.
4. To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.
5. To contribute to the transformation, change and development in services.
6. To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.
Clinical Skills
1. Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.
2. To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
3. To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of a Speech and Language Therapist.
4. To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.
5. To work frequently without direct supervision in a variety of community settings e.g. community clinics, nurseries, childrens centres, schools, homes, etc.
6. To use judgement to modify and adapt activities to suit each situation.
Computer/Administration
1. To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM&T Strategy.
2. To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
3. To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.
Communication
1. To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.
2. To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.
3. To anticipate barriers to communication (internal and external) and take action to improve communication (in self and others)
4. To develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations.
5. To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.
6. Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision
7. To be proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communication to meet needs of clients and others
Training
1. To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
2. To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops.
3. To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
4. To support new staff and their integration within the team and to actively provide learning and development opportunities to others
5. To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See attached job description for further information:
Leadership
1. To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the Trust.
2. To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.
3. To facilitate the development of a positive and supportive team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict.
4. To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.
5. To contribute to the transformation, change and development in services.
6. To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.
Clinical Skills
1. Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.
2. To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
3. To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of a Speech and Language Therapist.
4. To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.
5. To work frequently without direct supervision in a variety of community settings e.g. community clinics, nurseries, childrens centres, schools, homes, etc.
6. To use judgement to modify and adapt activities to suit each situation.
Computer/Administration
1. To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trusts IM&T Strategy.
2. To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patients records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
3. To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.
Communication
1. To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.
2. To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.
3. To anticipate barriers to communication (internal and external) and take action to improve communication (in self and others)
4. To develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations.
5. To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.
6. Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision
7. To be proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communication to meet needs of clients and others
Training
1. To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
2. To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops.
3. To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
4. To support new staff and their integration within the team and to actively provide learning and development opportunities to others
5. To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- oRelevant prior experience related to Job description and working with children
Desirable
- NVQ level 2/3 or minimum of 5 GCSE's or equivalent
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Good organisational skills
- Able to communicate effectively particularly where difficulties in understanding exist
- Demonstrates awareness of standards of record keeping
- Able to identify own strengths and needs
- Able to identify when to seek support
- Demonstrates the ability to reflect on practice with peers / clinical supervisor
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- At least two years experience working with Children and Young people
- Evidence of continued development and learning in a therapy area
- Working in education and/or working alongside colleagues in education
- Experience of working effectively in a team
- Experience of delivering interventions to children following the advice of another professional
Desirable
- oGeneral Knowledge of child development
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the trust values
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
- Excellent interpersonal skills, able to listen well
- Able to demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- oRelevant prior experience related to Job description and working with children
Desirable
- NVQ level 2/3 or minimum of 5 GCSE's or equivalent
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Good organisational skills
- Able to communicate effectively particularly where difficulties in understanding exist
- Demonstrates awareness of standards of record keeping
- Able to identify own strengths and needs
- Able to identify when to seek support
- Demonstrates the ability to reflect on practice with peers / clinical supervisor
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- At least two years experience working with Children and Young people
- Evidence of continued development and learning in a therapy area
- Working in education and/or working alongside colleagues in education
- Experience of working effectively in a team
- Experience of delivering interventions to children following the advice of another professional
Desirable
- oGeneral Knowledge of child development
Other
Essential
- To be aware and demonstrate the trust values
- To be able to travel efficiently throughout the area
- Excellent interpersonal skills, able to listen well
- Able to demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues
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).
