Job summary
Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant (SLTA)
We are delighted to announce an exciting opportunity to join our Children and Young People's (CYP) Therapies Service in Hertfordshire as Band 4 SLTA. We are looking for creative and enthusiastic applicants to come and join our well established teams based in St Albans and Watford. We have are able to offer either full or part time hours (minimum 18.75 hours per week).
You will be joining an innovative and agile service, committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives and you will work as part of a locality team, meeting the needs of CYP with speech, language and communication needs.
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) provides integrated Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession, and we are jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.
Interview date will be 14 September.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicants will assist SLTs in providing services to clinics, mainstream & specialist schools. The role involves delivering individual programmes, group working including with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), developing resources, using IT & undertaking some administrative duties. You will have opportunity to work with teachers, teaching assistants and health visitors, and to work alongside therapists and assistants.
Applicants should have knowledge of normal child development alongside experience of working with children, including those with communication difficulties. Experience of working with, and using AAC is beneficial. We are looking for applicants who are creative, flexible, possessing good organisational and communication skills and with an ability to work on their own initiative.
We are a friendly and supportive service and have an excellent reputation for the support we provide our staff. We offer:
- Access to regular group clinical supervision and line management supervision
- Informal support from a peer/buddy
- Access to a range of professional development learning opportunities e.g. bitesize tutorials
- A well-established appraisal system
- Opportunities to work alongside other therapists/assistants to deliver evidence based episodes of care to children/young people
- A thorough induction period where you will have the opportunity to observe and shadow your team
- Opportunities to develop specialist skills as a link assistant
About us
A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff
We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities
Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision
We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages
We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now
You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post. Also attached is the Person Specification.
Successful candidates will need to be enthusiastic and motivated. Good communication and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but also be able to work autonomously.
If you are keen to be part of our well established, dynamic and friendly team we would love to hear from you. Please contact Bernadette Shevlin, Team Leader on 07827252347 for an informal chat and further details about this opportunity. Please also look at our website for information about our service.
Applicants wanting to work full time or part time will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post. Also attached is the Person Specification.
Successful candidates will need to be enthusiastic and motivated. Good communication and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but also be able to work autonomously.
If you are keen to be part of our well established, dynamic and friendly team we would love to hear from you. Please contact Bernadette Shevlin, Team Leader on 07827252347 for an informal chat and further details about this opportunity. Please also look at our website for information about our service.
Applicants wanting to work full time or part time will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE standard in English and Maths
- Documented evidence of formal knowledge and training to NVQ level 3 or equivalent
- Documented evidence of training and knowledge in child development and childhood health conditions
Experience
Essential
- Significant relevant experience of working with children and young people
- Significant experience of working in multi-disciplinary settings
- Significant experience of working independently, without direct supervision
- Knowledge of safeguarding for children
- Knowledge of confidentiality and information governance
- Understanding of a therapy assistant practitioner role and its duties
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum and Education system
Desirable
- Knowledge of Makaton, or similar, signing systems
Skills
Essential
- Able to analyse problems and use problem solving skills to reach an appropriate solution
- To be able to analyse and adapt clinical practice to meet individual circumstances
- Ability to communicate effectively with service users and other professionals
- Able to recognise barriers to communication and use tools to overcome these.
- Ability to keep accurate patient records in accordance with legal and professional standards
- Competent IT skills
- Able to communicate effectively and confidently in case conferences, care planning meetings and multiagency meetings
- Ability to use knowledge, skills and experience to make informed decisions and sound judgements
- Willingness to learn and receive training
- Ability to undertake delegated tasks
- Able to manage own time and to use initiative in prioritising tasks
Driving
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE standard in English and Maths
- Documented evidence of formal knowledge and training to NVQ level 3 or equivalent
- Documented evidence of training and knowledge in child development and childhood health conditions
Experience
Essential
- Significant relevant experience of working with children and young people
- Significant experience of working in multi-disciplinary settings
- Significant experience of working independently, without direct supervision
- Knowledge of safeguarding for children
- Knowledge of confidentiality and information governance
- Understanding of a therapy assistant practitioner role and its duties
- Knowledge of the National Curriculum and Education system
Desirable
- Knowledge of Makaton, or similar, signing systems
Skills
Essential
- Able to analyse problems and use problem solving skills to reach an appropriate solution
- To be able to analyse and adapt clinical practice to meet individual circumstances
- Ability to communicate effectively with service users and other professionals
- Able to recognise barriers to communication and use tools to overcome these.
- Ability to keep accurate patient records in accordance with legal and professional standards
- Competent IT skills
- Able to communicate effectively and confidently in case conferences, care planning meetings and multiagency meetings
- Ability to use knowledge, skills and experience to make informed decisions and sound judgements
- Willingness to learn and receive training
- Ability to undertake delegated tasks
- Able to manage own time and to use initiative in prioritising tasks
Driving
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
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).
