Band 4 Speech & Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner - Salisbury

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in Salisbury is seeking a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner to work with adults and older individuals with mental health conditions. The role involves supporting communication assessments and contributing to therapy groups under the supervision of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist. Ideal candidates should have experience in health or social care and be skilled in communication, empathy, and teamwork. This position offers a valuable opportunity to develop competencies within a supportive, multi-professional environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals with mental health conditions.
• Understanding of communication barriers related to language and learning disability.
• Ability to work under supervision and be part of a multi-professional team.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals with communication and eating/drinking difficulties.
• Assist in the preparation and running of therapy groups.
• Conduct assessment activities within the agreed scope of practice.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Team collaboration

Education

Relevant health or social care qualification

Job description

Job overview

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioners will work with adults and older people with mental health conditions in our in patient units in Wiltshire. You will be proactive in supporting the development of Easy Read and accessible information, deliver communication assessment, therapy and training and input into the eating drinking and swallowing clinical pathway.

You will be part of a developing speech and language service and part of the wider Allied Health professions team, which includes Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Dietetics. You will work with the Speech and Language Therapist to develop your competencies in a number of different areas using the Royal College of Speech and Language Framework and the AHP competency framework for support workers.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

• work under the direction of a HCPC registered Speech and Language therapist to support with individuals with mental health conditions and difficultly with communication and/or eating and drinking safely, in a variety of settings including in-patient wards including PICU, acute adults, specialist older peoples wards and the community where appropriate.
• have a delegated caseload which will be regularly reviewed with your professional supervisor.
• work routinely with people who may also experience additional communication barriers relating to language, social communication, physical health, neurodiversity and learning disability.
• be an integral member of the AHP team and wider multi-professional team.
• provide support and assist in the preparation and running of therapy groups.
• carry out assessment activities within agreed scope of practice.
• utilize a wide range of strategies/interventions to meet the communication/eating and drinking difficulties of service users under the supervision of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist.
• support development and delivery of training on universal strategies within the ward environment for language & communication.
• maintain a Continuing Professional Development portfolio and work towards greater competency, using the Assistant competency framework with your supervisor.