Speech and Language Therapy Assistant - Band 3/4

Job summary

Community Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Band 3/4 (development post)

We require a part-time Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our School Age Complex Needs pathway.

This 22.5 hours per week post is based in Ipswich special schools and the surrounding area, with some work in homes or alternative provision.

Appointment is at Band 4 for applicants with previous employment as an NHS SaLTA, or Band 3 for those with relevant experience who will be supported to complete SaLTA competencies.

Working under the supervision of Speech and Language Therapists, you will also work independently with children and young people with complex needs in one-to-one and small-group sessions.

You will liaise with teaching staff, parents/carers and health and education colleagues, supporting communication outcomes within EHCPs.

Key skills include good communication, organisation, patience, creativity, positivity, ability to follow guidance and ask for support, and confidence using Microsoft packages/electronic records.

Experience with complex needs, Makaton, symbols, TalkPads, Intensive Interaction or Attention Autism is welcomed; training and supervision are provided.

Ability to travel during the working day is essential.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• Deliver therapy packages to children and young people with complex communication needs, including behavioural challenges, under the guidance and support of Speech and Language Therapists.

• Be able to work independently as well as with colleagues
• Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, across settings to achieve best outcomes
• Communicate therapy outcomes / next steps to relevant therapy partners and the therapy supervisor.

• Organise therapy sessions by timetabling sessions with therapy partners

• Offer support to the wider team as required e.g. by making resources for therapy sessions, programming Talkpads and other technology, supporting organisation of toys and resources and supporting delivery/booking of therapy groups, gathering information, and assisting with home visits.
• Be comfortable managing competing demands.

• Use our computer systems (Systm One) to record clinical notes, daily.

• Use Microsoft packages, Outlook, Word, Teams etc to keep in touch with service users and colleagues, participate in training and to communicate within the team

• Support delivery of training packages to parents/carers and educational staff (both face to face and virtually).
• Safeguard students, support other staff to do so
• Support teamwork & best practice within the school and across the pathway
• Attend/participate in team meetings

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?