Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Integrated Care System; Thatcham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

A health services organization in Thatcham, UK, is seeking a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. This part-time role (22.5 hours/week) involves collaborating with therapists to provide communication interventions for children with special needs. Candidates must hold an NVQ level 3 or equivalent and have at least 3 years of experience working with children. Opportunities for personal and professional development are available in a supportive environment.

Benefits

27 days' annual leave plus opportunities to buy/sell leave

Flexible working options

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at retailers and restaurants

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years experience working with children, especially with special needs.
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
• Car driver with ability to travel to multiple sites.

Responsibilities

• Support therapists to provide services to promote development for children.
• Collaborate with families and professionals to ensure effective therapy delivery.
• Document and manage a defined workload under supervision.

Skills

Experience working with children

Creative and flexible approach

Communication skills

IT proficiency

Education

NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

If you have experience in working with children, especially those with special needs, this is an ideal opportunity for you to develop your skills further. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, creative and flexible and who is qualified to NVQ level 3 to work within our Children, Young People's Integrated Therapies Families (CYPIT) service. We have a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant post available in West Berkshire schools and special schools. The role involves working largely with Speech & Language Therapists to carry out communication interventions but also will involve liaison and work with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. This is a part time role (22.5 hours per week) working all year round.

Our CYPIT service supports children and young people from birth to 19 years of age across Berkshire. We are an integrated therapy service, offering easy access to services through a single point of access and web-based advice via an on-line resource. We are establishing integrated approaches to the care that we offerfamilies and the successful candidate would be able to take an active part in ongoing service developments.

Our teams are enthusiastic, flexible and forward-thinking, embracing the use of social media to engage with our service users and exploring digital solutions to make us more accessible to children and their families.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will support therapists to provide a service which promotes the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families.

You will work collaboratively with the therapists in your team as well as families and other professionals to deliver effective and safe integrated therapy.

• A key member of the CYPIT service providing essential support to therapists, to enable the service to deliver a high-quality therapy service to children and young people in Berkshire.

Carry out a range of work tasks and interventions independently under the direction of a CYPIT Therapist (with and/or without direct supervision)

Contribute to and deliver support and training to schools, parents and carers as part of service delivery.

Responsible for a specific defined workload as agreed with your allocated supervisor. This will involve planning, organising and documenting of key activities, as well as supporting any project work or service development.

Contribute to the assessment of children under the supervision of a qualified clinician, as well as provision of direct therapy and training.

Provide leadership and training as agreed with supervisor to junior staff, patients, carers and other professionals as relevant to your skills and knowledge.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

NVQ level 3 (or equivalent)

Proficient IT skills (e.g. using a range of software, Word, Excel)

Minimum 3 years experience working with children, in particular those with special needs

Ability to self-motivate

Car driver with ability and readiness to travel to multiple sites

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Caroline Pethick on 07795 617511 or email: [e-mail] wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Education to a sufficient level to give evidence of ability to absorb and interpret complex information e.g. ( GCSE / A levels) NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject or equivalent
• Evidence of accredited training or equivalent
• Well-developed literacy and numeracy
• IT skills - proficient in the use of word/ e-mail
• Evidence of using other IT based programmes e.g. Boardmaker, symbols, etc.

Continuous Professional Development

• A CPD portfolio which demonstrates attendance at short courses, formal training, and experience in addition to NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

Previous Experience

• Minimum 3 years' experience working with children.
• Experience of working with families from a wide variety of backgrounds including age and ethnicity.
• Experience of working with children and young people, in particular those with special needs (e.g. LSA, voluntary work, nursery, previous assistant experience etc.)
• Experience working with children in an educational setting for at least one year and/or previous experience supporting Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and/or Speech and Language Therapy

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Evidence of a value system which puts the child at the heart of actions.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people in a broad sense.
• Knowledge of the English education systemAble to use IT to support and innovate development
• Able to use IT to support and innovate development
• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to act as a role model and leader to others; in adopting change imbedding new practice supporting junior staff and act as an ambassador for the CYPIT service
• Willingness and ability to take direction from others, and also to recognise when can act autonomously
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the therapy role within specialist paediatrics.
• Ability to work in a calm and confident manner in stressful situations
• Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Additional Requirements

• Car Driver and willingness to work across Berkshire, as required
• Ability to express clearly in writing
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to attend additional training to support service delivery.

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.

CYPIT School Age Service lead CYPF Management West

£27,485 to £30,162 a yearper annum, pro rata