Job summary
We have the exciting opportunity to appoint a full time, permanent, Band 4 Assistant Practitioner - Speech and Language Therapy post.
The post will support the Speech and Language Therapy work within the Specialist Children and Young People's Inpatient Services at both Ferndene, Prudhoe, Northumberland and Lotus ward, Middlesborough.
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual who is keen to develop their skills as an Assistant Practitioner and has a particular interest in working with children and young people.
Ferndene is home to 5 distinct clinical areas providing inpatient assessment and treatment for young people with complex mental health, behavioural and emotional needs, including those with a learning disability. o Woodside, a low-secure mental health unito Redburn, a general admission mental health unito Fraser, a complex learning disability and autism unito Stephenson, a Medium Secure Unit (MSU)o The Riding, a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Lotus ward provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients under the age of 18 years with early onset psychosis or complex mental health disorders.
Main duties of the job
You will have enthusiasm, commitment and an interest for working in this area. You will need to have experience working as part of a team and be able to work independently for aspects of the role. You will need to have some knowledge and qualifications related to this area of work. You will liaise closely with fellow professionals to address communication and eating/drinking difficulties as part of a holistic, patient centred service. You will contribute to care plans and provide high quality patient centred care.
Under the support and supervision of the Speech and Language Therapists, you will help children and young people to achieve their therapeutic goals by supporting their language and communication skills. In practice, you will assist in the delivery of a range of communication interventions with the individual both directly and indirectly. These interventions may take the form of 1:1 work, group work, resource making and admin tasks.
About us
The Speech and Language Therapy Service in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is continuing to develop and grow to meet the needs of our patients and local communities. You will join a large, dynamic team of Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in established, multi-disciplinary teams who are committed to providing the best quality service to our patients.
We actively encourage professional development and provide opportunities for all in the speech and language therapy team to contribute to the development of the service. We will provide you with a comprehensive induction period and you will have access to ongoing clinical supervision and appraisal with development reviews that will provide you with support and the specialist skills required to meet the holistic needs of the patients in your care.
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return, we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We would welcome applications from individuals who are keen to learn new skills and develop their knowledge. Previous experience of working with children and young people with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities is desirable, but not essential. This is an excellent development opportunity for an experienced support worker or a current assistant practitioner who would like to gain further experience and develop their skills and knowledge of speech and language therapy.
Please see the separate job description, person specification and in particular the service and role descriptor for more information.
Lotus ward is situated at Acklam Road Hospital, Middlesborough and Ferndene is situated in Prudhoe, Northumberland. Either site can be agreed as your main base however you will need to be willing to travel to both sites during the working week.
Advertising date : 5th August 2025
Closing date : 19th August 2025
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We would welcome applications from individuals who are keen to learn new skills and develop their knowledge. Previous experience of working with children and young people with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities is desirable, but not essential. This is an excellent development opportunity for an experienced support worker or a current assistant practitioner who would like to gain further experience and develop their skills and knowledge of speech and language therapy.
Please see the separate job description, person specification and in particular the service and role descriptor for more information.
Lotus ward is situated at Acklam Road Hospital, Middlesborough and Ferndene is situated in Prudhoe, Northumberland. Either site can be agreed as your main base however you will need to be willing to travel to both sites during the working week.
Advertising date : 5th August 2025
Closing date : 19th August 2025
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Foundation degree in applied social studies or alternative (NVQ/BTEC/QCF) with additional training to diploma level equivalent in the speciality field.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of supervising/teaching
- Experience of working with children and young people with complex health needs and have awareness of communication difficulties
- Experience of working in a relevant/similar setting with experience of and commitment to multi-disciplinary team work
- Working understanding and ability to promote the practice of speech and language therapy
Desirable
- Experience of involving service users/carers in evaluation/planning and monitoring of services
- Experience of working in therapy
- Knowledge of different communication systems such as signing, paper-based and electronic communication aids
- Knowledge and experience using different communication software
- Experience and ability to use the RiO clinical records management system.
Skills and Ability
Essential
- Ability to establish a rapport with service users and to adapt approach to meet need of individuals
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Able to follow instructions, recognising the boundaries of own competency
- Good communication and interaction skills and ability to use effective strategies and adapt approach to communicate information in a manner appropriate to the situation
- Good IT, record keeping and time management skills
- Appreciation of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities and the impact of these on a person
- Ability to cope with distressing and emotional situations
- Ability to use these to make communication resources, recording forms, programming communication aids and administrative tasks.
- Able to support speech and language therapists to deliver training and carry out individual and group therapeutic interventions
Desirable
- Advanced IT skills
- Experience and ability to use the RiO IT records management system
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Foundation degree in applied social studies or alternative (NVQ/BTEC/QCF) with additional training to diploma level equivalent in the speciality field.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of supervising/teaching
- Experience of working with children and young people with complex health needs and have awareness of communication difficulties
- Experience of working in a relevant/similar setting with experience of and commitment to multi-disciplinary team work
- Working understanding and ability to promote the practice of speech and language therapy
Desirable
- Experience of involving service users/carers in evaluation/planning and monitoring of services
- Experience of working in therapy
- Knowledge of different communication systems such as signing, paper-based and electronic communication aids
- Knowledge and experience using different communication software
- Experience and ability to use the RiO clinical records management system.
Skills and Ability
Essential
- Ability to establish a rapport with service users and to adapt approach to meet need of individuals
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Able to follow instructions, recognising the boundaries of own competency
- Good communication and interaction skills and ability to use effective strategies and adapt approach to communicate information in a manner appropriate to the situation
- Good IT, record keeping and time management skills
- Appreciation of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities and the impact of these on a person
- Ability to cope with distressing and emotional situations
- Ability to use these to make communication resources, recording forms, programming communication aids and administrative tasks.
- Able to support speech and language therapists to deliver training and carry out individual and group therapeutic interventions
Desirable
- Advanced IT skills
- Experience and ability to use the RiO IT records management system
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.
