Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

NHS; Horsham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in Horsham is seeking a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to support children with speech and language needs. The role includes creating therapeutic resources, assisting in therapy sessions, and offering administrative support. Candidates should possess a relevant qualification and experience working with children. Flexibility and excellent communication skills are essential. Competitive salary range of £24,937 to £26,598 annually. The position is on-site with training provided.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Supportive team

Positive staff survey results

Qualifications

• Experience working with children with communication difficulties.
• Ability to relate well to children and young people (0-19 years).
• Experience with IT use in educational settings.

Responsibilities

• Assist in group work with children.
• Make IT-based resources such as visual timetables.
• Support school staff in using specific approaches to support children.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Organisational skills

IT skills

Ability to work in teams

Flexibility

Education

Formal relevant qualification i.e. NVQ 3 or above

Tools

Patient records system

Job description

The Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service in the Central area of West Sussex is looking to recruit a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant (SaLTA) to join our team. We have a vacancy for a Band 3 SaLTA to work across our mainstream schools, special schools and Special Support Centre (SSCs) pathways. We are seeking an enthusiastic and well‑organised person with experience of working with children and young people with speech and language or learning needs.

Our SaLTAs are a highly valued and vital part of our friendly, professional and dedicated team working in a range of community settings.

Main duties of the job

• Making materials to be used in therapy, sourcing pictures online, using software packages etc
• Making IT based resources e.g. visual timetables
• Filing and other administrative tasks
• Assisting in group work with children
• Working with individual children under the guidance of a Speech & Language Therapist
• Guiding and supporting school/setting staff in using specific approaches/ materials to support children with SLCN as directed by the responsible therapist

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief network
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values – Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence – guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Job responsibilities

• Excellent communication skills - including the ability to teach and support others (e.g., setting staff, parents, other professionals)
• Enthusiasm and an ability to relate well to children and young people (0‑19 years)
• Enjoy working as part of a team
• Excellent organisation and administration skills
• Excellent IT skills - you will feel comfortable learning to use our online patient records system, learning to use software to develop tailored resources to support children and learning to deliver interventions virtually as well as in person
• The ability to be flexible and respond to a number of different demands that may be office‑based or involve travelling to and working within different settings and with different people
• Ability to self‑reflect and actively engage within a process of continuing professional development

The post will require travel to schools across the Central Sussex locality. Full training and ongoing supervision will be provided within the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Formal relevant qualification i.e. NVQ 3 or above, City and Guild or recognised clinical qualification OR equivalent experience

Experience

• Experience of working with children
• Experience of working with IT
• Experience of working with children with communication difficulties
• Experience working with children with special needs
• experience working with children and young people with complex neurodisability

Skills and Knowledge

• Understanding of child development
• Awareness of communication difficulties in children
• Child protection issues
• Ability to work with others and independently
• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary team working
• Augmentative Assistive Communication Systems

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.

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum (pro rata)