Bank Speech and Language Assistant Practitioner | Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Bank Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant working across Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. This role will give the successful applicant opportunities to work within specialist inpatient and/or community services to support adults or children with physical and mental health conditions, Learning Disabilities and/ or brain injuries. We are looking for a highly motivated and creative individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

You should have good organisational and time management skills. You will be proactive in supporting the development of easy read information, work as part of the integrated approach modelling communication strategies, deliver communication assessment, therapy and training; and input into the eating, drinking and swallowing clinical pathway.

The assistant will support the work of a Speech and Language Therapist and be a part of a range of well established Speech and Language Therapy Teams. You will also have the opportunity to work across a range of Speech and Language Therapy services based within the division.

The post holder will work under the direction of a Speech and Language Therapist within the service. The assistant will be required to work in a number of roles.

The post holder will :
1. Communicate effectively with all members of the speech therapy team and carry out work as outlined within professional competency frameworks for assistants.
2. Work under direction from a qualified and registered speech therapist.
3. Work directly with children or adults with learning disability/mental health condition/ brain injuries and have related difficulty with communication therefore will need to use skilled communication techniques to overcome these barriers. The post holder will work routinely with people who may also experience additional communication barriers to their learning disability, mental health conditions, physical health, disability and challenging behaviours. The Assistant will need to ensure that communication is accessible and person centred and support paid and unpaid carers to support the individual effectively.
4. Develop and advise others within MDT on the development of accessible information for service users.
5. Complete client records and client sensitive information according to professional guidance and MCFT Trust policy.
6. Be an integral member of the MDT.
7. To attend relevant professional meetings at the request of a senior clinician.
8. To share and disseminate information in a professional manner with other members of the broader multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary speech therapy team.
9. Maintain and develop competency in IT skills.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Analytical and Judgmental Skills
1. To make appropriately detailed observations in regard to physical health, communication, behaviour and emotional presentation to contribute to therapy assessment and assess progress in relation to therapy goals.
2. To observe general behaviour, functional ability and responses of patients when engaged in therapy activities to make routine records of the information following each intervention and to report to the appropriate member of the multi-disciplinary team.
3. Following appropriate training respond appropriately to changes in the person's condition or needs and make changes to care plans within own area of competence, as delegated by the registered speech therapist
4. To understand the scope of their own role and when to refer to the speech therapist

Planning and Organisational Skills
1. To organise own time and prioritise workload with support from supervising speech and language therapist.
2. To deliver therapy programmes in the most appropriate setting for the person and in a timely manner
3. To provide individual activity and performance data in a timely manner on request

Responsibilities for Policy and Service Development
1. To support a learning environment within the speech therapy service through practical assistance and input into the education and development of student health professionals who are undertaking training within the service. This at the request and guidance of a qualified speech therapist.
2. Make a key contribution to the multi-professional team to ensure the continued development of the service and maintain a knowledge and understanding of current legislation, policies, procedures, codes of practice and guidelines relevant to role
3. Participate in audit, quality projects and research as appropriate
4. Participate in changes in clinical practice as directed by the registered speech therapist
5. To adhere to MCFT Policies and procedures
6. To engage in MCFT PDR process ensuring objectives are met and a personal development plan is maintained and evaluated
7. To attend mandatory training and relevant courses/ training deemed appropriate for role
8. To maintain CPD portfolio and work to Assistants competency framework
9. To participate in service development, research and audit as required

Responsibilities for Finance
1. To purchase items requested by the speech therapist e.g. through petty cash
2. To maintain equipment in safe working order and that minimises cross infection according to Trust policies

Responsibilities for HR
1. The post holder will actively participate in their own PDR and appraisals maintain a CPD portfolio in line with professional standards

Responsibility for Information Resources
1. To provide reports or client related data at the request of a clinician
2. To keep client records in accordance with professional standards and Trust policies

Research and Development
1. To participate in research and clinical development as requested by senior Clinician

Risk management
1. The post holder will be required to lone work and will need to adhere to Trust policy and developed individual risk management strategies