Children's Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

NHS; West Midlands Combined Authority; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health trust is seeking a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to support children with communication needs. Responsibilities include implementing therapy programmes under the guidance of therapists and supporting parents and educators. The role requires a relevant qualification and experience with children. This position offers a salary of £27,485 to £30,162 per year and may include flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable evidence of recent short courses in speech, language, and communication.
• Experience in working with a range of speech, language, and communication difficulties.

Responsibilities

• Implement therapy programmes under guidance of speech and language therapists.
• Support parents and educators to enhance their skills and confidence.
• Modify therapy to meet children's needs.

Skills

Working with children

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Empathy

Problem-solving skills

Education

GCSE or equivalent qualification including English

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant qualification or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary

We are inviting applicants with experience in working alongside Speech and Language Therapists with children or young people with speech, language and communication needs to join our team as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. The role will involve working with children primarily in mainstream early years, reception and Key stage 1.

In no more than 100 words please tell us how you have made a difference for a child with speech, language and communication needs and/or improved their family's lives.

As a successful applicant you will be committed to providing high quality care and sharing your innovative ideas for service delivery.

It is essential to us that you enjoy coming to work and feel satisfied with the difference you are making to children and young people\'s development and skills.

Main duties

• To implement, under the guidance of speech and language therapists, therapy programmes with children with speech, language and communication difficulties.
• To support parents and educators to make changes to be confident in their knowledge and skills.
• To make adaptations to therapy and training programmes to meet the needs of children and young people, their parents, carers and educators, and to escalate any required adaptations that are out of scope of this role to a speech and language therapist.

About Us

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust provides community-based health services for adults and children in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and some services in surrounding areas too. These range from district nursing, health visiting and running four community hospitals through to providing very specialist community care through talented and dedicated staff.

Patients, carers and the public play a vital role in helping us to develop and improve our services and we are constantly looking for ways to work with local communities, patients and the public to innovate and improve. Have a look at the Have Your Say section of our website to find out how you can feed back your experiences and help us to continually improve.

Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust is an exciting place to work. It offers a wide range of employment opportunities for many people. Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust positively encourages applications from all areas of the community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. We are committed to ensuring people who work for the community trust have a good working life - and a good work life/home life balance.

These posts in Children\'s SLT provide therapists with the opportunity to work directly with children, families and education setting partners in the community, mainstream schools, early years, and in special schools, delivering both assessments and a range of interventions.

Details

Date posted: 25 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 4

Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum/pro rata

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 11 months

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number: 825-7469059-OPS

Job locations: Coral House, Longbow Close, Shrewsbury, SY1 3GZ

Job Description

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached for further information on the role.

Person Specification

Essential

Training and Qualifications

• To be educated to GCSE or equivalent level, including qualification in English language.
• Holds a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant qualification, such as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant BTEC or equivalent, or holds an NVQ4, BTEC, HNC or higher apprenticeship in a relevant field of child development and has significant experience in working with children with speech, language, and communication needs.
• Shows demonstrable evidence of attendance at recent short courses in speech, language, and communication.

Experience

• Practical experience in working with children and/or young people with a range of speech, language, and communication difficulties.
• Significant experience working with or within a Speech and Language Therapy Service.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of different therapeutic interventions and techniques and ability to evaluate their use.
• Good understanding of the development of language and communication.
• Ability to work unsupervised in the delivery of therapy.
• Good analytical and reflective skills.
• Good organisation, negotiation and problem solving skills. Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy. Awareness of relevant national policies and procedures pertinent to children\'s Speech and Language Therapy, eg School and Preschool Curricula and current best practice, Children\'s and Families legislation, Children\'s Safeguarding.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy.
• Awareness of relevant national policies and procedures pertinent to children's Speech and Language Therapy, eg School and Early Years Curricula and current best practice, Children's and Families legislation, Children's Safeguarding.

Other

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the job.

Disclosure and other

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.