Children's Speech & Language Therapy Assistant

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Children\'s Speech & Language Therapy Assistant to work with school-age children across Warwickshire. You will deliver treatment following written plans, share resources with families, and travel between schools as required.

The role involves independent therapy delivery, resource development, and supervision of less experienced staff within a supportive team of SLTs and assistants. Closing date: 13 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of speech and language therapy practices and procedures.
• Ability to plan and deliver therapy activities to targets set by SLTs.
• Experience in creating high-quality resources for therapy.
• Experience supervising other staff and working with families.

Responsibilities

• Independently timetable therapy programmes designed by therapists with liaison as needed.
• Organise and maintain therapy resources and inventories.
• Purchase and manage equipment and library resources for the department.
• Provide support and training to SLTs and education staff.
• Assess childrens response to treatment and progress therapy appropriately.
• Maintain detailed written records of assessments and therapy sessions.
• Demonstrate and advise educational settings on use of communication strategies.
• Travel between schools across Warwickshire to deliver services.

Skills

SLT procedures

Communication skills

Time management

Team working

Presentation skills

Verbal vs non-verbal

Therapy activities planning

Feedback to therapist

Education

GCSE English and Maths

Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care

Care Certificate

PCIT/ACIT training

Basic Makaton

Job description

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Children's Speech & Language Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 13 November 2026

We are looking for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant with enthusiasm for and experience of working with children with Speech, Language, and Communication needs with school age children. This role is to work within the mainstream schools team in Warwickshire as part of the SEND reforms (Experts at Hand)

The post holder will be part of a supportive team including other speech and language therapy assistants and speech and language therapists. The role is to deliver treatment following written plans, clearly share skills and information with parents and other professionals within the schools, and to make and disseminate resources. It is a requirement to travel independently to various schools.

Main duties of the job

• To provide support to Speech and Language Therapist in the delivery of services in a range of settings to children across Warwickshire.
• To deliver packages of care to children across the county.
• To develop high quality resources for speech and language therapy interventions.
• To supervise less experienced staff.

About us

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2

We appreciate you completing the survey.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• To independently undertake and timetable therapy programmes designed and directed by therapists with periodic liaison and direction as agreed.
• To be responsible for the organisation and maintenance of therapy resources within the department.
• To purchase and maintain technical equipment and library resources, including responsibility for inventories and booking systems.
• To provide practical support with technical equipment for SLTs as required, including for meetings, interviews, etc.
• To assist SLTs in the preparation and delivery of training packages to other SLTs, education staff, parents/ carers.
• To assess childrens response to treatment.
• To undertake day to day supervision of less experienced staff.
• To organise and catalogue resources for the team.
• To design and prepare therapy materials as required, using a variety of methods and materials, including computer-based programmes.
• To be responsible for audio-visual equipment, including booking systems and maintenance.
• To provide demonstration and training to SALTs in the use of audio-visual equipment.
• Independently to prioritise and manage own workload in consultation with Team Co-ordinator.
• Undertake individual therapy programmes with children designed by SLTs.
• Undertake a range of group therapy programmes in clinic settings, either independently or supporting the therapist.
• To demonstrate and advise educational settings on the use of communication support systems and strategies.
• Manage childrens behaviour and motivate them to achieve positive therapy outcomes, including children who are challenging or have severe / complex difficulties.
• Assess childrens response to treatment and judge when to progress therapy.
• To notify SLT if programme is not going to plan and suggest modifications.
• To maintain detailed written records of their observations of assessments and therapy sessions for feedback to SLTs.
• To use well developed interpersonal skills in order to form productive relationships with families, recognising the need for and ensuring sensitivity and care where there may be emotional stress or there are potential barriers to communication.
• To provide routine advice and support related to the therapy programme for parents as appropriate.
• To video record / photograph and edit therapy sessions if required
• To design and prepare individualised therapy materials (eg. Books, charts, games), using IT, specific software and other media.
• To undertake supervision of less appropriately experienced staff.

Professional

• To maintain clinical and non-clinical standards and work within the policy frameworks laid down (e.g. N.H.S., Trust, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Health Professionals Council) through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.
• To demonstrate ability to reflect on own practice, identify strengths and development needs and achieve goals set for personal and professional development.
• To participate in the development of innovative clinical practice through member ship of working teams.
• To disseminate newly acquired information to other team members.
• To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
• To participate in clinical supervision in line with Department and Trust policy.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To be flexible to the demands of environments including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
• To maintain highest standards of clinical records including up to date and accurate case notes, electronic data entry, recording and report writing in line with professional and Trust guidelines.
• To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
• To be responsible for the security, care and transporting of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients.
• To organise suitable accommodation in clinics / schools.
• To organise and transport treatment equipment required to work in locations. These may be unwieldy / heavy / bulky.
• To work within a wide range of locations requiring careful calculation of driving time according to traffic and weather conditions in planning efficient work schedules.
• To work within a wide range of environments with differing demands and expectation requiring the ability to modify personal and social approaches as required by environment.
• To maintain the concentration required despite distractions.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A - C English and Maths or equivalent
• Minimum Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent such as Higher Apprenticeship or willingness to work towards attaining it
• Care Certificate or willingness to work towards attaining it
• PCIT/ACIT training.
• Basic Makaton.

Experience

• Significant experience of working with children with communication difficulties.
• Significant Knowledge and experience of using IT software to create high-quality resources.
• Experience of working with Speech & Language Therapists supporting children with a range of communication needs.
• Experience of working with groups of children.
• Experience of supervising other staff in the workplace
• Experience of preparing activities and materials appropriate for children
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of child development
• Demonstrate knowledge of behaviour management techniques
• Experience of developing systems/processes for use by others
• Experience of training others

Skills

• Demonstrate knowledge of speech and Language therapy procedures.
• Demonstrate well-developed communication skills and an ability to match communication skills and content to the needs of the situation.
• Demonstrate good time management and organisational skills
• Demonstrate an understanding of the attributes for team and collaborative working.
• Demonstrate good presentation skills (written, verbal and using IT).
• Demonstrate knowledge of verbal vs non-verbal communication.
• Plan and prepare therapy activities to support the targets set by the therapist: group or individual
• Feedback progress to the therapist accurately with a good understanding of the factors that may be affecting progress

Personal Qualities

• Excellent communication skills: able to adapt language to overcome barriers to understanding with children or families with communication difficulties.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal abilities - observing, listening, diplomacy, sensitivity and empathy.
• Demonstrate problem solving and negotiation abilities taking account of others perspectives and expectations.
• Demonstrate an ability to work independently.
• Demonstrate a realistic sense of own limitations and professional development needs
• Demonstrate ability to motivate children.
• Demonstrate adaptability and ability to work flexibly.
• Monitors stock levels and will make necessary requests for purchases
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Flexibility of working in a number of environments with a number of Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals
• Supervises others carrying out programmes
• Able to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances as they occur.

Other

• Car driver and current licence holder
• Police Check
• Pass Occupational Health Check
• Able to carry equipment and adapt to a range of physical environments and demands.
• Light physical effort required to sit on floor or small furniture in school and to carry equipment.
• Frequent need for travel between settings

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Post will be located at one of the SALT community clinics

SALT clinics in Warwickshire

To be based in one of our main localities across the county

Post will be located at one of the SALT community clinics

SALT clinics in Warwickshire

To be based in one of our main localities across the county