Adult Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Job summary

Due to internal movement, we have an exciting opportunity within the acute Speech and Language Therapy service in Lincoln County Hospital for an Assistant Practitioner. The post holder will work under the direction of Speech and Language Therapists to assist in the delivery of the Speech and Language Therapy acute service. We are a friendly and supportive team who look forward to supporting a new team member. The acute service comprises of wards specialising in ENT, respiratory, medical, care of the elderly and frailty. The post holder will be working with patients who have acquired communication and swallowing difficulties caused by a variety of aetiologies.

The post holder will be responsible for implementing speech and language therapy programmes and providing feedback to the Speech and Language Therapist following these sessions. Additional training will be provided to develop competencies in dysphagia to an appropriate level. The post holder will also be required to complete administrative duties and processes for the caseload.

We are looking for candidates who hold the required Level 5 qualification as are unable to offer B3 development posts at this time. Please see job description/person specification for details.

Those who have completed a nursing associates qualification who are looking to develop skills within speech and language therapy will be considered.

Main duties of the job

• To assist the Speech and Language Therapy team with daily administrative tasks which will include the use of Systm one and Microsoft Excel.
• To gather patient case histories from medical notes and discussion with the multi-disciplinary team and patient, as requested by the Speech and Language Therapist
• To assist the Speech and Language Therapist on the acute wards when they are conducting swallowing assessments.
• To independently carry out communication screens on inpatients, as directed by a speech and language therapist.
• To independently carry out speech and language therapy sessions with inpatients with communication difficulties, delivering therapy programmes written by a Speech and Language Therapist. This will include demonstration of communication aids.
• To independently carry out a protocol guided swallowing assessment on inpatients, in line with the services dysphagia policy and the individual's level of competency.
• To maintain accurate and timely documentation in line with service and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) guidelines
• To feedback findings to the Speech and Language Therapy team.
• To create therapy resources, communication aids and information resources for patients/carers as required
• To maintain stock levels.

About us

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is in the top 25 per cent of all community trusts for overall staff engagement in the 2021 NHS National Staff Survey.

At LCHS, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in LCHS' workforce.

LCHS recognises the increasing demand for more flexibility in working practices in order to accommodate the personal goals and commitments that employees experience at different stages during their working lives. Flexible working opportunities such as part-time working, compressed hours, job shares, and hybrid working models can help staff to balance their personal and work commitments. Arrangements can be put in place if it can be shown that the needs of the individual can be balanced with those of the service and the impact on other team members, enabling the Trust to recruit and retain skilled staff, raise staff morale, reduce absenteeism and respond to changing service needs more effectively.

We are an ambassador of a learning culture that will support the right individual to progress in their chosen career through an 'earn while you learn' apprenticeship programme. Visit our Learning and Development page to find out more https://www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/join-us/learning-and-dev