Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

www.healthjobsuk.com - jobboard; Welwyn Garden City; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Welwyn Garden City seeks enthusiastic SLT Assistants to join their team. Candidates will deliver therapy to children and work collaboratively with educators and health professionals. This role offers opportunities for professional development and a supportive working environment. Competitive benefits include generous annual leave and flexible work arrangements.

Benefits

Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33)

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work/Car Lease Schemes

Health and wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children, including those with communication difficulties.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Skills in adapting communication for effective interaction with children.

Responsibilities

• Assist SLTs in delivering individual therapy programmes.
• Develop resources for therapy sessions.
• Work alongside teachers and other health professionals.

Skills

Knowledge of normal child development

Excellent organisational skills

Good communication skills

Experience with AAC

Education

GCSE standard in English and Maths

Documented evidence of training to NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Knowledge in child development and health conditions

Job description

Due to additional investment in to our Children’s Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service, we would like to offer you a fabulous opportunity to come and join one of our Locality SLT teams as Band 4 SLT Assistants (SLTAs).

We are looking for creative and enthusiastic SLTAs to join our well established SLT service, and we have sessions available in our community and schools teams, in both mainstream and specialist settings. Our posts are across Hertfordshire and our key centres are centrally based in Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Watford, Hertford, Waltham Cross, Hatfield and Stevenage.

The SLT service in Hertfordshire is long established, and we have a reputation for being forward thinking and committed to ongoing service improvement. We embrace change and are driven by the evidence base, neuro-affirming approaches and functional, communication friendly practices.

Our service is jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.We have excellent joint working relationships with our partners in education and a wide range of stakeholders, and we work in partnership with them to deliver interventions at Universal, Targeted and Specialist levels across Hertfordshire. This successful working relationship has helped contribute towards us being awarded with new investment.

*Proposed interview date: 16-Oct-2025*

Main duties of the job

The successful applicants will assist SLTs in clinics, mainstream & specialist schools. The role involves delivering individual programmes, group working, developing resources, using IT & undertaking some administrative duties. You will have opportunity to work with teachers, teaching assistants and health visitors, and to work alongside SLTs and other assistants.

Applicants should have knowledge of normal child development alongside experience of working with children, including those with communication difficulties. Experience of working with, and using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is beneficial. We are looking for applicants who are creative, flexible, possessing good organisational and communication skills and with an ability to work on their own initiative.

We are a friendly and supportive service and have an excellent reputation for the support we provide our staff. We offer:

• A thorough induction period where you will have the opportunity to observe and shadow your team
• Access to regular group clinical supervision and line management supervision
• Informal support from a peer/buddy
• Access to a range of professional development learning opportunities e.g. bitesize tutorials
• A well-established appraisal system
• Opportunities to work alongside other therapists/assistants to deliver evidence based episodes of care to children/young people
• Opportunities to develop specialist skills as a link assistant
• Opportunities to develop your career

Working for our organisation

Thank You for Considering a Role at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.

We’re delighted that you're exploring a career with HCT. As an organisation, we’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and rewarding work environment.

At HCT, we put patients, their families, and carers at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is simple yet powerful: Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our dedicated staff take pride in being Innovative, Caring, and Agile, working together to turn this vision into reality.

Working with us comes with a host of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and work-life balance:

• Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33 with long service)
• Flexible working arrangements to help balance personal/ professional life, including up to 5 days of carers leave (pro rata)
• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 confidential support for personal or work-related issues
• Cycle to Work/Car Lease Schemes to make your commute healthier or easier
• Blue Light Card/NHS Discounts on a wide range of shopping, holidays, and services
• Health and wellbeing support , including free flu jabs, Physiotherapy referrals, eye care vouchers, etc
• Occupational Pension Scheme with competitive benefits
• Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlements

We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and communities to apply.

If there’s high interest in this role, we may close applications earlier than the advertised deadline.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) provides integrated Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession, and we are jointly commissioned by health and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway of care from early years through to schools, specialist provisions and further education settings.

You will be joining an innovative and agile service, committed to delivering high quality care and transforming lives and you will work as part of a locality team, meeting the needs of CYP with speech, language and communication needs.

Successful candidates will need to be enthusiastic and motivated. Good communication and organisational skills are essential. You must be a team player but also be able to work autonomously.

If you are keen to be part of our well established, dynamic and friendly team we would love to hear from you. Please also look at our website for information about our service.

Applicants wanting to work full time or part time will be considered. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,303 and a maximum payment of £2,198 per annum pro rata (pro rata where applicable and dependent on base location).

Whilst it is not a legal requirement, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust encourages and supports all staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.

Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Educated to GCSE standard in English and Maths
• Documented evidence of formal knowledge and training to NVQ level 3 or equivalent
• Documented evidence of training and knowledge in child development and childhood health conditions

Knowledge and experience

• Describe your experience of working with children and young people in health, education or community settings
• Describe any experience you have in supporting therapy, care or education programmes under professional guidance
• Describe any experience you have in working with other professionals to support a child/young person
• What is your understanding of confidentiality and information governance
• Knowledge of Makaton, or similar, signing systems

Skills

• Tell us about your communication skills and how you use these in your everyday work
• Give an example of how you have adapted your communication in order to work effectively with children, families or professionals
• Describe your IT skills
• Tell us about training you have been on that has helped to develop your skills
• Tell us about your ability to undertake delegated tasks
• Describe how you manage your workload and prioritise tasks when working independently
• What is your experience of supporting others, e.g. students, peers

Driving

• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

We will communicate any interview arrangements with applicants via e-mail so it is advisable that you check the email address you give on your application on a regular basis.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. All new appointments (excluding Medical & Dental roles) are subject to a 26 week probation period.

We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners. For more information, contact [e-mail]

Applications from qualified job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications, subject to you meeting minimum criteria of the role and salary threshold. Please visit the Gov.UK website for detail.

If applicable to the role, staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In submitting an application form, you authorise Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority Transfer process should you be appointed to the post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.