Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Retford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Retford is seeking a part-time Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to support patients in maximizing their communication potential. The ideal candidate will have experience working with individuals with communication disabilities and mental health diagnoses. Responsibilities include assisting Speech and Language Therapists and promoting communication strategies across wards. The salary ranges from £24,937 to £26,598, with an additional high secure allowance of £7,000.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals with mental health issues or intellectual disabilities.
• Experience in healthcare settings and multidisciplinary teams.
• Basic understanding of Speech and Language Therapy.

Responsibilities

• Support patients to maximize their communication potential.
• Work directly with patients under the supervision of a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Co-deliver group interventions for communication support.

Skills

Good communication skills

Teamwork

Time management

Adaptability and flexibility

IT skills

Education

Good level of literacy skills (e.g., GCSE in English or equivalent)

Relevant qualification equivalent to NVQ level 3

Job description

Go back Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 07 October 2025

We are seeking a part time Speech & Language Therapy Assistant to join our established team.

The Speech and Language Therapy team work across Rampton High-secure hospital, as part of the Therapies, Education and Rehabilitation Services, and integrated into the care pathways. We work with patients with Dysphagia or Speech, Language and Communication Needs, providing assessment and management, working towards shared therapeutic goals collaboratively with the patient and their multidisciplinary team.

We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated individuals who have an interest in working with people with communication disabilities and mental health diagnoses. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who has experience in intellectual disabilities and/ or mental health and skills in supporting people with additional communication needs.

Main duties of the job

Support patients to maximise their communication potential.Work directly with patients under the direction of a Speech and Language Therapist.Co-deliver group interventionsDevelop and create adapted communication resources.Model good communication strategies across the wards.Promote and support environmental communication approaches across the hospital

About us

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.

Job responsibilities

Work flexibly and collaboratively as a team with the Speech and Language Therapists wider Therapies and Education Service and who Multidisciplinary team.

Show initiative and motivation in daily tasks.

Communicate confidently with patients, SLTs and other professionals.

Work effectively and flexibly in a fast paced and challenging environment.

Participate in CDP opportunities and integrate learning.

Contribute to a supportive and rewarding therapeutic environment.

Promote the role of communication support within the forensic setting.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Spec for full details.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary / skill level is below the minimum required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Person Specification

Physical Requirements

• To undertake relevant mandatory training and engage in the management of violence and aggression.
• Ability to escort and maintain custody of patients both within and outside of secure environments.
• Ability to respond to serious and emergency incidents.

Qualifications

• Good level of literacy skills, e.g. GCSE in English or equivalent.
• Relevant qualification equivalent to NVQ level 3

Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems or an Intellectual disability
• Experience and understanding of working in a team setting.
• Experience of working as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of working within healthcare settings
• Experience of using communication support techniques.

Knowledge

• Has a basic understanding of the purpose and role of Speech and Language Therapy
• Awareness of Rampton hospital and its purpose.
• Knowledge of Mental Illness or ID

Skills

• Ability to manage own time
• Awareness of the importance of good communication skills for self and others
• Good IT skills, including ability to create graphics, tables, presentations
• Ability to reassure and persuade clients to engage
• Self-Motivated
• Adaptable and flexible
• Ability to work positively with individuals experiencing mental illness and with high levels of risk behaviour.
• Awareness of the scope of practice and boundaries for support practitioners

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.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearplus additional high secure allowance £7000