Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Lancing; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A trusted healthcare provider in Lancing seeks a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to work 30 hours per week with children in various settings. This role involves supporting therapy activities, collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team, and requires NVQ 3 or equivalent experience. Enthusiastic candidates with excellent communication and IT skills who enjoy working in a team are encouraged to apply. Competitive salary and training included.

Benefits

Health and wellbeing programs

Flexible working options

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience working with children and families with SLCN.
• Experience with children with communication difficulties.
• Experience in multi-disciplinary team working.

Responsibilities

• Assist in group work with children.
• Support staff in using specific materials to support children.
• Make therapy-related materials and IT resources.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Enthusiasm

Ability to relate to children and young people

Organisational skills

IT skills

Flexibility

Self-reflection and professional development

Education

NVQ 3 or above, City and Guild or equivalent experience

Tools

Online patient records system

Job description

We have a vacancy for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant (SaLTA) to work within our team for 30 hours per week. This role will involve working with the Pre school complex needs and the special schools team.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and well‑organised person with experience of working with children and young people with speech and language or learning/complex needs.

Our SaLTAs are a highly valued and vital part of our friendly, professional and dedicated team working in a range of community settings, including a child development centre, special schools, early‑years settings and mainstream schools.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be required to be involved in some or all of the following:

• 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
• Setting up/ clearing therapy or training rooms
• Cleaning therapy equipment in accordance with Sussex Community NHS Trust Infection Control Policy
• Assisting in group work with children
• Working with individual children under the guidance of a 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 wellbeing.
• 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

In addition to previous experience working with children and families with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). The attributes that would make you a good candidate for this role would include:

• Excellent communication skills- including the ability to teach and support others (eg. 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 is based at Worthing hospital and Special schools within Worthing locality it will also require travel to nurseries across the locality from Littlehampton to Shoreham. 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)