Speech & Language Therapy Associate Practitioner

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Associate Practitioner - Fixed term - 12 months to join the Speech and Language Therapy service within Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will work into the ALD (Adult Learning Disabilities) North Tees Team which provides specialist health services to adults with a diagnosed learning disability across the Stockton and Hartlepool localities, and may also include providing cover across the Tees Valley ALD Community Services.

Applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis. In the event that permanent funding is secured for this post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Main duties of the job

The SLT service works with service users with a range with communication and chewing and swallowing difficulties.

Duties of this post will include: making therapy resources and materials, carrying out communication and dysphagia screenings and reviews, updating personalised meal mats and communication passports, delivering one-to-one and group therapy (under the guidance of qualified therapists), assisting with delivering carer training packages, maintaining their own clinical records and carrying out administrative duties (e.g. taking telephone messages, allocating referrals, updating spreadsheets, preparing case note files, photocopying and filing).

Working for our organisation

There will be access to regular one-to-one clinical supervision from a qualified therapist and the opportunity to attend trust wide SLT CPD meetings and training.

Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for further detailed information regarding the role, qualifications and main responsibilities.

Additional contact details :- Anne Shanks (Community Team Manager)

Tel: 01642 368555 - Email: [email protected]

Person specification

Qualifications

• Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
• NB: At least one of the qualifications below should be a no less than Level 4 qualification; if you have a level 4 or above in a clinical / health care qualification / equivalent experience, and level 3 qualification in the relevant specific skills/knowledge base area, there will be an expectation to increase your qualifications in the skills based area to a level 4 once in post
• Clinical/health care qualification Either: Minimum of level 3 qualification or equivalent in healthcare related subject e.g. A level Certificate of higher education BTEC professional award, certificate and diploma Access to health and social care Foundation degree HNC
• Or Equivalent experience of working in a relevant health and/or social care setting. (Individual can demonstrate considerable understanding of the needs of and issues encountered by those with mental health difficulties or learning disabilities, and demonstrable application of this in practice, helping them to reach their potential.)
• And Specific qualification relating to area of specialism within the role e.g. art, nutrition, fitness, communication, woodwork
• Minimum of level 3 relevant qualification or above NVQ3 Certificate of higher education BTEC professional award, certificate and diploma Access to health and social care Foundation degree HNC

• Successful completion of short courses e.g. Makaton, Intensive Interaction
• Certificate in Food Hygiene (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
• Level 4 or above qualification in relevant healthcare related subject
• Evidence of additional relevant qualifications to role
• Level 4 or above qualification in specialist area

Experience

• Previous experience working as a SLT assistant or closely related work e.g. nursing/care or AHP assistant
• Experience of supporting people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.

Skills

• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
• • Good observational skills and ability to describe such observations verbally and in writing.

If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.

Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis.

Trust Welcome Day

Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valley Foundation NHS Trust we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. To ensure you have great welcome, for all new starters joining the Trust, we offer two start dates per month on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of that Month.

For certain clinical roles, your Welcome Day could then be followed by up to 9 days face to face training. If this is applicable to you, further information will be provided ahead of your Welcome Day.

Right to Work in the UK

Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.

AI in Recruitment

This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Newly Qualified Nurses

All band 5 nursing positions are only open to those candidates who already have their NMC registration in place and have successfully completed a preceptorship programme. Please note: Newly qualified applicants or those due to qualify will be recruited via a separate process, for more information about this process please contact: [email protected]

TEWV encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.

This job advert may close as soon as sufficient suitable applications have been received. If interested please apply for this post as soon as possible.

If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.

If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.

Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.