Adult Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust; Lincoln; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is seeking an Adult Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner (Band 4) in Lincoln. The role supports the acute SLT service, delivering therapy programmes under supervision and developing dysphagia competencies.

The post requires Level 5 qualification and experience with inpatient communication and swallowing assessments, with training and resources to support patient care in an acute setting.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE's at Grace C or above, including English and Maths, or equivalent.
• Level 5 qualification in healthcare/healthcare-related.
• Evidence of training in a related area.

Responsibilities

• Assist SLT team with daily admin tasks including Systm One and Excel.
• Gather patient histories from notes and MDT discussions.
• Assist on acute wards during swallowing assessments.
• Independently carry out communication screens for inpatients.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Basic IT skills

Assistive technology

Education

5 GCSEs incl English & Maths

Level 5 healthcare qualification

Tools

Systm One

Boardmaker/Widgit

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Adult Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Band 4

Main area Speech and Language Therapy Grade Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 818-CYP412-B

Site Lincoln County Hospital Town Lincoln Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 30/09/2026 23:59

We recognise that outstanding care can only be delivered through our people. We want to attract people who can help us deliver our vision. We want in return to help people achieve what they wish in their careers in the NHS at LCHS.

We are always keen to welcome highly skilled, committed and compassionate individuals to our teams – people who put patients at the heart of everything they do and are ready to help us achieve our vision.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.

This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.

The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).

Our Group values guide everything we do. They are:

• Compassionate - We care about people - Compassionate is the act of showing empathy, kindness, and respect to others, recognising their individual needs and circumstances. It involves listening, understanding, and supporting others in a way that makes them feel valued, safe, and cared for.
• Collaborative - We work together as a team - Collaborative is working inclusively and respectfully with others to achieve shared goals. It involves open communication, valuing diverse perspectives, and building trust to create a supportive and effective team environment.
• Innovative - We strive to improve - Innovative is the process of exploring new ideas, approaches, and technologies to improve care, services, and working practices. It involves creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to take risks in a safe and supportive environment.

If you believe in them too, then you are ready to join the LCHG team.

We’ve taken great pride in building working environments where staff always feel valued, cared for and part of a team. Without doubt this is a challenging yet very rewarding job that is at the centre of health and care in Lincolnshire - making a positive difference to our patients. We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated.

Job overview

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.

Previously unsuccessful candidates will not be considered, please do not apply.

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.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the above and Job description/personal specification for more details on this opportunity.

Person specification

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE's at Grace C or above , including English and Maths, or equivalent
• Level 5 qualification in healthcare/healthcare related (Higher Diploma, Foundation Degree, Nursing Associate Qualification)
• Evidence of training in a related area

Special attributes/specific requirements

• Able to work flexibly as required by the service
• Ability to respond and adapt to changes
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to travel between locations to carry out your work and to attend trainings and meetings.
• Willing to undertake further education, training and development relevant to post

Skills

• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills
• Basic IT skills
• Awareness of a variety of assistive technology systems
• Modules 2 and 7 of the EDCL
• Excellent IT skills including use of programmes such as Boardmaker/Widgit and use of digital camera/clipart

Knowledge

• Basic understanding of the multi-disciplinary team in management of speech, language and swallowing needs.
• Basic understanding of potential causes and presentations of speech, language and swallowing difficulties in the adult population.
• Knowledge of the NHS
• Relevant knowledge of health/social care generally

Experience

• Experience of working within health and social care
• Experience of working with people with disabilities in a relevant setting
• Significant experience working in an assistant/support worker role
• Experience of using technology (e.g. digital cameras, computer programmes) to make resources/support materials

Enjoy a better quality of life in one of the UK's most welcoming counties.

Whether you're taking the first exciting steps in your career, itching for a new challenge or searching for a better place to raise a family, Lincolnshire welcomes everyone.

Discover a range of rewarding health and social care careers in a county that's friendly, fascinating, affordable and brimming with everything you need to live a happy life.

Important Information: All new employees will be subject to a charge if a DBS check is required for the post. The Disclosure & Barring Service application form (formerly CRB) will be provided by LCHS and the fee will be deducted from your salary over a maximum of a 3 month period.

Any existing employees who require a DBS check as part of the application process will be subject to a charge for that DBS check.

We are a Disability Confident employer ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

Support and/or assistance with completing an application form is available from the Human Resources Team by calling 01522 572889.

We encourage and support vaccination update as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19.

Candidates are advised to read the attached guidance on using AI technology. When you complete your application, you are required to declare that the information in your application form is true and complete.

Please note, for applicants with previous NHS service: If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, LCHS reserves the right to close this advert prior to the closing date.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Jennifer Burnett

Job title Adult SLT Operational Lead

Email address [e-mail]

Telephone number 07840842 081

Additional information

For general enquiries please contact Jennifer Burnett, Adult SLT Operational Lead.

If you have more specific queries about the acute setting of the role, please also contact Charity Harrison-Greaves, Acute Lead on:

01522 512 512 #582972

[e-mail]