Developmental Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Foundation Trust in Huddersfield is seeking a Developmental Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner. You will work closely with children and young people with communication needs, support treatment plans, and collaborate with healthcare professionals. Previous experience in health or social care is essential, along with relevant qualifications. This role offers a supportive environment and the opportunity to make a significant impact on young lives. Salary is between £27,485 and £30,162 per annum.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a rehabilitation assistant/support worker in health or social care.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good understanding of rehabilitation concepts.

Responsibilities

• Support work with children having speech, language, and communication needs.
• Implement treatment plans under supervision.
• Coordinate with parents and healthcare professionals.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Initiative

Education

Level 4 or 5 Assistant Practitioner Qualification

English and Math GCSE (grade 9-4)

Job description

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Developmental Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 16 January 2026

An Assistant Practitioner is 'a worker who competently delivers health and/or social care to and for people. They have a required level of knowledge and skill beyond that of the traditional health care assistant or support worker. The assistant practitioner would be able to deliver elements of health and social care and undertake clinical work in domains that have previously only been within the remit of registered professionals. The assistant practitioner may transcend professional boundaries. They are accountable to themselves, their employer, and more importantly, the people they serve.' (Skills for Health 2009: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk)

The post holder will undertake highly skilled support work with children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs. This may include working with children on an individual basis or as part of a group. It will also include working in partnership with others who are involved in the child's care, for example parents and carers, teachers, and other healthcare professionals.

Administrative duties and general patient care across departments are required.

This post would be considered a developmental post for applicants.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will undertake highly skilled support work with children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs. This may include working with children on an individual basis or as part of a group. It will also include working in partnership with others who are involved in the child's care, for example parents and carers, teachers, and other healthcare professionals.

Working to agreed protocols and guided by standard operating procedures, the post holder will be key in the treatment and care of children and young people and also their parent/carer where relevant. The post holder will be working under indirect supervision of registered practitioners in the team. Work will be carried out in a variety of settings including health centres, schools, nurseries, patients' homes or other community settings.

Activities will include

• Assessing to protocols
• Implementing treatment to protocols.
• Monitoring, evaluating and adjusting treatment within the scope of protocols.
• Assisting registered practitioners with complex treatment.
• May involve assessing for, ordering and issuing basic equipment.
• May include leading and assisting with group sessions
• May take responsibility for the training of others, including delivering training.
• May involve delegating tasks to others.
• May involve supervising the routine tasks of others.

About us

We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and patients' homes. We also are proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.

We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.

We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.

We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS, yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community.

Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.

Job responsibilities

Following appropriate clinical skills training and assessment of competence in the workplace (if not already possessed), supported by theoretical knowledge, the post holder will be able to undertake the following duties:

Analysis, Problem Solving & Service Planning – act within the limits of your competence and authority (GEN63). This includes making judgments about significant changes in a child's presentation, observation and engagement skills, and whether or not to report to a registered practitioner. It may involve recognition and appropriate response to emergency situations and outcomes from tests. Form a professional judgement of an individual's health condition (CHS118) – undertake assessment or reassessment according to protocols and guidelines and formulate an appropriate treatment plan.

Able to make a judgement of an individual's progress and act within protocols to problem solve. Patient Care (Plans & Implements Therapeutic Activities).

Perform hand hygiene to prevent the spread of infection (IPC2) – ensure full compliance with local hand hygiene policy.

Prepare individuals for healthcare activities (GEN4) and support individuals undergoing healthcare activities (GEN5).

Determine a treatment plan for an individual (CHS41) following assessment to protocols.

Plan activities, interventions and treatments to achieve specified health goals (CHS44) following protocols and within the scope of the assistant practitioner role, seeking advice appropriately.

Assist the practitioner to implement healthcare activities (GEN8) – e.g. assisting registered practitioners in the delivery of therapy programme.

Contribute to care planning and review (AG2) – make changes to interventions and treatments after reviewing patients based on established knowledge and skills and following protocols. Also includes attendance at case conferences and meetings when reports will be made to registered practitioners and referral to other agencies.

Contribute to the discharge of an individual into the care of another service (GEN17).

Implement individualised care plans to meet the needs of children and young people (CS6) – implementing and monitoring an individualised care plan, and supporting the child/young person to take an active part in it.

Provide support to individuals to develop their communication skills (CHS157).

Develop activities and materials to enable individuals to achieve specified communication goals (CHS156) – developing and adapting delegated therapy programmes to achieve communication goals.

Support individuals with communication and interaction difficulties (GEN85).

Provide advice and information to children and young people and those involved in their care on how to manage their own condition (CS3).

Monitor and manage the environment and resources during and after clinical/therapeutic activities (GEN7) – including participation in infection control procedures when preparing and cleaning clinical areas, and undertaking responsibility for stock control (including monitoring & ordering) of clinical & non‑clinical supplies.

Carry out and provide feedback on specific plan of care activities (HSC25) – act on own initiative when delivering patient care, with mechanisms in place for supervision/reference when needed. Follow standard operating procedures (competencies). Exercise a degree of autonomy depending on the complexity and risk of procedures undertaken. Plan straightforward tasks and work guided by standard operating procedures and agreed protocols.

Form a professional judgement of an individual's health (CHS118) – make judgments requiring a comparison of options within protocols.

Promote effective communication with, for and about individuals (HSC31) – patients, other team members and other services/agencies in a manner appropriate to the setting and the individual's needs. This may involve adapting methods to overcome barriers to understanding. Communication may be verbal, written or electronic.

Communicate with, and complete records for individuals (HSC21) – maintain contemporaneous medical records (written & electronic) in line with Trust policy. This includes the ability to take accurate referral information.

Relate to & interact with individuals (HSC233) – using encouragement, sensitivity, support and interventions as necessary. Maintain effective communication with your team and others you come into contact with. Able to give appropriate feedback to referrers as to the relevance of and response to the referral.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Training

• English and Math GCSE grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Level 4 or 5 Assistant Practitioner Qualification awarded by a recognised university
• Knowledge of the client group and evidence of related training
• Previous competency-based training in a relevant field
• Level 5 validated education programme e.g. Certificate in Higher Level 5 Apprenticeship – NB Grade progression is dependent on achievement of this and defined service specific competencies

Knowledge, Experience & Expertise

• Previous extensive experience as a rehabilitation assistant/support worker in a health or social care or education field.
• Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team in health, social care or education
• Experience of teaching and instructing / basic counselling skills
• An understanding of the needs and issues concerning illness and disability
• A good understanding of the concept of rehabilitation.
• Experience of working in hospital, patients' homes and other community settings.
• An ability to work on own and make appropriate decisions, seeking help appropriately particularly in unforeseen circumstances.
• An understanding of the issues when working in service user's own homes
• Understanding & knowledge of specialist equipment
• Understanding of wider interagency issues

Communication and Relationships

• Demonstrates positive attitudes and behaviours.
• Able to work independently with service users without direct supervision
• Able to use initiative but be aware of limitations of role.
• Problem solving/decision making skills based on patient/client needs.
• Tactful, diplomatic, supportive and resourceful.
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to work well in a team
• Have an awareness of all Trust policies and procedures.

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.

Employer name

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Princess Royal Community Health Centre, Broad Street Plaza

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year (per annum), pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Reference number

372-COM2558-A

Job locations

Princess Royal Community Health Centre, Broad Street Plaza