Children's Speech & Language Therapy Assistant

We are looking for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant with enthusiasm for and experience of working with children with Speech, Language, and Communication needs with school age children. This role is to work within both the preschool and special school teams in Warwickshire - We have established teams of speech and language therapists and speech and language therapy assistants who work within special schools/early years settings.
The post holder will be part of a supportive team including other speech and language therapy assistants and speech and language therapists. The role is to follow treatment plans with children and parents/other professionals, make and disseminate resources, and support therapists with training., To provide support to Speech and Language Therapist in the delivery of services in a range of settings to children across Warwickshire.
To deliver packages of care to children across the county.
To develop high quality resources for speech and language therapy interventions.
To supervise less experienced staff., To independently undertake and timetable therapy programmes designed and directed by therapists with periodic liaison and direction as agreed.
To be responsible for the organisation and maintenance of therapy resources within the department.
To purchase and maintain technical equipment and library resources, including responsibility for inventories and booking systems.
To provide practical support with technical equipment for SLTs as required, including for meetings, interviews, etc.
To assist SLTs in the preparation and delivery of training packages to other SLTs, education staff, parents/ carers.
To assess children's response to treatment.
To undertake day to day supervision of less experienced staff.
To organise and catalogue resources for the team.
To design and prepare therapy materials as required, using a variety of methods and materials, including computer-based programmes.
To be responsible for audio-visual equipment, including booking systems and maintenance.
To provide demonstration and training to SALTs in the use of audio-visual equipment.
Independently to prioritise and manage own workload in consultation with Team Co-ordinator.
Undertake individual therapy programmes with children designed by SLTs.
Undertake a range of group therapy programmes in clinic settings, either independently or supporting the therapist.
To demonstrate and advise educational settings on the use of communication support systems and strategies.
Manage children's behaviour and motivate them to achieve positive therapy outcomes, including children who are challenging or have severe / complex difficulties.
Assess children's response to treatment and judge when to progress therapy.
To notify SLT if programme is not going to plan and suggest modifications.
To maintain detailed written records of their observations of assessments and therapy sessions for feedback to SLTs.
To use well developed interpersonal skills in order to form productive relationships with families, recognising the need for and ensuring sensitivity and care where there may be emotional stress or there are potential barriers to communication.
To provide routine advice and support related to the therapy programme for parents as appropriate.
To video record / photograph and edit therapy sessions if required.
To design and prepare individualised therapy materials (eg. Books, charts, games), using IT, specific software and other media.
To undertake supervision of less appropriately experienced staff.
Professional
To maintain clinical and non-clinical standards and work within the policy frameworks laid down (e.g. N.H.S., Trust, Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist's, Health Professionals Council) through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes.
To demonstrate ability to reflect on own practice, identify strengths and development needs and achieve goals set for personal and professional development.
To participate in the development of innovative clinical practice through member ship of "working teams".
To disseminate newly acquired information to other team members.
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.
To participate in clinical supervision in line with Department and Trust policy.
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
To be flexible to the demands of environments including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
To maintain highest standards of clinical records including up to date and accurate case notes, electronic data entry, recording and report writing in line with professional and Trust guidelines.
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate.
To be responsible for the security, care and transporting of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained - including equipment loaned to clients.
To organise suitable accommodation in clinics / schools.
To organise and transport treatment equipment required to work in locations. These may be unwieldy / heavy / bulky.
To work within a wide range of locations requiring careful calculation of driving time according to traffic and weather conditions in planning efficient work schedules.
To work within a wide range of environments with differing demands and expectation requiring the ability to modify personal and social approaches as required by environment.
To maintain the concentration required despite distractions., Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don't want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).
Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.
We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it's a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.
The Trust is part of a 'Foundation Group' through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don't need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.