Job summary
Band 4: Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Based in Hartlepool / Stockton Localities
From April 1st 2025, there will be a single Children & Young People's Speech & Language Therapy Service across the Tees Valley covering local authority areas of: Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton.
This is an exciting new development that brings together speech and language therapy services in the local area to deliver support in a flexible, responsive and equitable way.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is interested in supporting children with a wide range of speech, language or communication difficulties. This is a full time, permanent post based in the Stockton and Hartlepool localities.
Main duties of the job
You will work as part of a team to deliver high quality interventions under the supervision of qualified Speech and Language Therapists. You are likely to work across a range of settings, including schools, nurseries, clinics and homes.
You will join a team of Speech and Language Therapists and Assistant Practitioners, supported by a Service Lead and an Administration Team. The service has a strong commitment to support and supervision. with excellent working relationships with multi- disciplinary teams and colleagues within the trust. We also work positively with partners in the area.
About us
North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.
We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool".
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key responsibilities:
Independently manage a caseload of individuals with communication difficulties with supervision from a Speech and Language Therapist.
Implement therapeutic interventions in both group settings and one to one situations following an agreed plan.
Guide parents/carers and other agencies involved with the care of the client group in their contribution to the therapy programmes including the programme content, with support from Speech and Language Therapists.
Carry out specific observations, informal and screening assessments to contribute to speech and language therapy assessment.
Ensure clients are fully involved in decisions relating to their care, whenever possible.
Work independently and unsupervised in outreach locations (e.g. schools, homes, etc).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key responsibilities:
Independently manage a caseload of individuals with communication difficulties with supervision from a Speech and Language Therapist.
Implement therapeutic interventions in both group settings and one to one situations following an agreed plan.
Guide parents/carers and other agencies involved with the care of the client group in their contribution to the therapy programmes including the programme content, with support from Speech and Language Therapists.
Carry out specific observations, informal and screening assessments to contribute to speech and language therapy assessment.
Ensure clients are fully involved in decisions relating to their care, whenever possible.
Work independently and unsupervised in outreach locations (e.g. schools, homes, etc).
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel different distances on a frequent basis in short timescales.
Qualifications
Essential
- 3 GCSE's including English to grade C or above or equivalent
- A recognised qualification in speech and language/NVQ3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a speech and language therapy assistant or comparable role
- Experience of working alongside other professionals in health, education or social care
- Experience of working independently
Desirable
- Experience of working with clients with specific difficulties e.g. fluency disorders
- Experience in the use of Speech and Language Therapy specific software
Skills
Essential
- Able to work as a member of a team
- Able to work effectively in a range of different work environments
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of strategies and techniques for facilitating clients' communication skills
- Knowledge of current national and local strategies, clinical guidelines, policy drivers and issues including those relating to educational provision for children with speech, language and communication difficulties
Desirable
- Awareness of local and national policies relating to speech and language, e.g. child protection issues, vulnerable adults, etc
Person Specification
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel different distances on a frequent basis in short timescales.
Qualifications
Essential
- 3 GCSE's including English to grade C or above or equivalent
- A recognised qualification in speech and language/NVQ3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a speech and language therapy assistant or comparable role
- Experience of working alongside other professionals in health, education or social care
- Experience of working independently
Desirable
- Experience of working with clients with specific difficulties e.g. fluency disorders
- Experience in the use of Speech and Language Therapy specific software
Skills
Essential
- Able to work as a member of a team
- Able to work effectively in a range of different work environments
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of strategies and techniques for facilitating clients' communication skills
- Knowledge of current national and local strategies, clinical guidelines, policy drivers and issues including those relating to educational provision for children with speech, language and communication difficulties
Desirable
- Awareness of local and national policies relating to speech and language, e.g. child protection issues, vulnerable adults, etc
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).
