Children's Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Our team supports children and their families with their speech, language and communication needs in Havering, London's eastern-most borough. The role involves close collaborative working with our colleagues in Paediatrics, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapies, and CAMHS. You will also work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with families, Health Visitors, School Nurses and the Local Authority.
This role involves delivering group and individual therapy under the guidance and support of qualified therapists. There are also opportunities to support service-development alongside colleagues in the wider team.
While gaining experience working with a general paediatric caseload in clinic, nursery and school settings, this post will include opportunities to work with therapists in different parts of the service such as stammering, speech disorders, AAC, selective mutism, complex needs and autism. Your skills will be nurtured by supportive and experienced colleagues across the team.
Based in Romford with established transport links from London: We are 17 minutes by train from London Liverpool Street and 20 minutes from Stratford on the new Elizabeth Line, we also have good transport links to Essex and Kent.
We welcome applicants who wish to develop their skills as a valued member of a vibrant and supportive team., Your key responsibilities will include:
Working with preschool children in local clinics, running groups and providing one - to - one therapy following a care plan written by the therapist. There may also be need to support in schools when the need arises.
Supporting children and families with social communication difficulties, language difficulties and disorder or speech sound delays
Working as part of a multi-professional team in partnership with families.
Coaching / Training families and professionals.
Reporting back to therapist on children's progress and supporting their targets.
Carrying out administration duties relating to supporting children with communication needs
Preparing resources for sessions and training
The successful applicant will be greatly supported with one-to-one supervision at least monthly (more often to begin with), group band 4 supervision and safeguarding supervision. We provide a range of CPD opportunities such as team training and individual training, as well as observation opportunities in a range of interventions ensuring we keep up to date with practice and learn new skills.
As a member of our team you will be included in our monthly team meetings and annual away days. You will also be invited to regular team socials and bring and share lunches.

Working for our organisation
You would be joining a friendly, dynamic, supportive and inclusive team which passionately advocates for the needs of our clients. Professional development is encouraged to further your skills, while support and advice from experienced colleagues is accessible whenever required.
We are a flexible service with options for compressed hours and working in a way that suits the needs of the service and yourself.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735 p.a. pro rata for part time)., The post holder will achieve this by working as a member of the team of speech and language therapists working in the Havering Speech and Language Therapy Service. He / She will work using their own initiative with supervision and support available from a designated therapist. He / she will implement speech and language and communication care packages to the speech and language caseload of children with developmental delays and disorders of speech, language and communication under the direction of the supervising therapist. Work may be in clinics or schools and will include demonstrating therapy tasks and setting up therapy sessions in schools and clinic.
Use of AI
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability
Please see the attached Job description and Person specification for more information about this role and working at NELFT. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
+ A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
+ A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our efforts to support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a 'Top 10 Family Friendly Employer' from the Working Families Charity.
+ Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
+ Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that's a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.
Supporting our Armed Forces
We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Gold Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. We have supportive policies, guaranteed interview schemes for veterans. reservists and military spouses and give additional leave to our Reservists so that they can attend their annual camp.

Joining #TeamNELFT means you'll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We're CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video