Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to join our Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy service as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. You will have excellent communication skills and experience of working with children and young people with additional needs.The role is primarily based within our special school service for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.
Experience of working as part of a team is essential. Experience of speech, language and communication strategies such as ELKLAN, Signalong and/or Alternative and Augmentative Communication would be very beneficial. You will have excellent organisational skills and the ability to take initiative.You should be eager to learn new skills.
There is a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant group who provide peer support and CPD activities. You will attend team meetings and receive appraisals to support your own professional development.
Main duties of the job
You will be working within a team of Speech and Language Therapists and with other Speech and Language Therapy Assistants. The main role will be to work collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists in the team, primarily delivering speech and language therapy programmes directly to children or indirectly to school staff.You will overcome barriers to communication by using your knowledge and awareness of cultural and linguistic differences.
Successful applicants will need to work autonomously, demonstrating initiative in order to support children to work towards communication goals set by a Speech and Language Therapist.
Working for our organisation
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust provide services across the north west side of the Greater Manchester area ranging from hospital services in Bolton to community services across Bolton, Salford, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.We have recently been given a CQC rating of Good. Over 5,700 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare. The Trust offer a range of flexible working patterns to enable our staff to balance their work and personal life.
The Family Division aims to deliver the highest standards of care for maternity, sexual health, gynaecology and a range of acute and community children’s services. The Division is a Centre of Excellence for Women’s and Children’s services and has a credible and enviable reputation.We deliver over 6,000 babies and carry around 1500 gynaecological procedures each year, making us a specialist provider of health services for women, babies and their families in the North West Sector of Manchester and beyond.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Working collaboratively with Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists and Assistants working within the Special Schools as well as the wider team
Delivering therapy programmes and resources - modelling therapy activities, strategies and approaches under the supervision and guidance of a Speech and Language Therapist.
Working independently and using your knowledge of communication difficulties and own initiative to overcome communication difficulties.
Observation of formal assessments carried out by Speech and Language Therapists. Carrying out informal assessments and observations of children to contribute towards a holistic picture of children's communication strengths and weaknesses.
Ability to motivate children and adapt clinical practise to reflect cultural and linguistic differences.
Keep accurate and up to date clinical records.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant, relevant and recent experience of working with children with additional needs and/or working with children in schools or early years settings.
- Significant, relevant and recent experience of working with Parents/Carers
- Experience of working under the instructions of a Speech and Language Therapist Experience of working as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Knowledge of child development
- Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to client groups
Skills
Essential criteria- Completion of relevant courses e.g. Elklan, SignAlong
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Minimum of 5 GCSEs - Grades 9-4 (A-C) or Functional Skills Level 2 in both Maths and English BTEC Higher National Diploma/NVQ L4 in relevant subject or equivalent
Skills
Essential criteria- Highly developed communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Time management skills
- Ability to work alone and as part of a team
- IT Skills
We are an inclusive employer who trains and develops our staff in a positive learning environment.
We thrive on cultivating cultural architecture, if you have the right skills, attitudes and behaviours, in line with our Trust values, we welcome and appreciate the diversity you bring to our organisation.
We offer a wide range of staff benefits please click on the link below to see what current benefits we have.
Staff benefits - Bolton NHS FT (boltonft.nhs.uk)
From time to time we may need to close a vacancy early when in receipt of a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this post and wish to be considered, we strongly advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.