Go back
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 10 July 2025

Apply for this job

Job summary

CDDFT Speech and Language Therapy is pleased to advertise a permenant Speech and Language Therapy Assistant post working at Bishop Auckland Hospital and 1 session in the community with communication disordered patients. The successful postholder will deliver routine communication therapy rehabiltation to stroke and elderly care patients in an in-patient setting as well as in their own homes, make communication aid resources, and support qualified Speech and Language Therapists. The successful candidates will utilise their outstanding organisation and communication skills to achieve best patient outcomes whilst being well supported by qualified Speech and Language Therapists to develop a range of competencies in delivering excellent communication therapy and rehabilitation.

Main duties of the job

The Speech and Language Therapy Assistant will have a minimum of NVQ3 in social care, have a good track record of working with communication impaired vulnerable adults, have excellent computer literacy skills and be well organised as well as being able to independently travel across the Trust countywide. We will offer the successful candidate support and supervision to escalate their clinical skills in a wide range of communication rehab therapy practices as well as offering:-

Monthly staff meetings

Regular management supervision

Peer support groups

Annual Appraisal

In-Service Training

Well-resourced department

Clinical Leads in Communication, Dysphagia, Voice and Fluency

Good access to communication aids

Good IT access, mobile-working laptop and phone

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Details

Date posted

01 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0350

Job locations

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate should be interested in working with stroke patients to rehabilitate their communication skills. You will be committed to continuing professional development and have excellent communication and prioritisation skills.

The Speech and Language Therapy Service offers a supportive team of experienced colleagues who will help the further development of your skills.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate should be interested in working with stroke patients to rehabilitate their communication skills. You will be committed to continuing professional development and have excellent communication and prioritisation skills.

The Speech and Language Therapy Service offers a supportive team of experienced colleagues who will help the further development of your skills.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience working with adults or another vulnerable communication impaired group

Qualifications

Essential

  • High standard of computer literacy, including using Microsoft Office

Desirable

  • NVQ level 3 health and social care

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Knowledge of limited range of routine strategies and techniques for facilitating adults communication skills.
  • Ability to make judgements involving straightforward facts or situations.
  • Ability to plan and organise ones own working day to day work tasks or activities, including handling a small given caseload.
  • Well-developed empathic and listening skills.
  • Skills in making judgements that involve a range of facts or situations, some of which may require analysis or comparison of a range of options.
  • Organisational skills, including those related to diary management.

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Able to travel independently countywide
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience working with adults or another vulnerable communication impaired group

Qualifications

Essential

  • High standard of computer literacy, including using Microsoft Office

Desirable

  • NVQ level 3 health and social care

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Knowledge of limited range of routine strategies and techniques for facilitating adults communication skills.
  • Ability to make judgements involving straightforward facts or situations.
  • Ability to plan and organise ones own working day to day work tasks or activities, including handling a small given caseload.
  • Well-developed empathic and listening skills.
  • Skills in making judgements that involve a range of facts or situations, some of which may require analysis or comparison of a range of options.
  • Organisational skills, including those related to diary management.

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Able to travel independently countywide

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.

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Adult Speech and Language Therapy

Jill Dyer

jill.dyer@nhs.net

01913336978

Details

Date posted

01 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0350

Job locations

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)