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Job summary

Main area
SLT and Dietetics Assistant
Grade
Band 3 AfC
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday- Friday)
Job ref
346-DDM-009-26-A
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
West Park Hospital
Town
Darlington
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
26/03/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Allied Health Professions Assistant

Band 3 AfC

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

Are you interested in a career working in the field of older people with mental health problems? Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust are currently looking for an enthusiastic assistant to join our inpatient services within Durham Tees Valley. The post holder will be part of a dynamic SLT and Dietetic Mental Health service for Older People, with well-defined peer support, supervision systems and CPD opportunities. 

The post will cover both functional and organic MHSOP inpatient ward across Darlington and Teesside. 

You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Please note, this role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa and therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular role.

Main duties of the job

A key focus of this role will be to support multidisciplinary working with the wider inpatient teams to help embed SLT and dietetic provision. You would be involved in delivering groups, supporting with patient communication and eating, drinking and swallowing plans and supporting engagement with individualised dietetic care plans/interventions.

The post holder should be motivated and excited by the opportunity to represent the SLT and dietetic service, where our role and input are valued as part of the patient's holistic care planning. The post holder will ideally have previous experience of working with older people. You will also have excellent organisational, verbal, literacy, computing and observational skills.

Working for our organisation

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work with delegated service users who remain the responsibility of the Registered Speech and Language Therapist and Dietitian, often working without direct supervision in a variety of inpatient settings.

To provide speech and language therapy and dietetic support to service users having mental health and/or learning disabilities.

To engage service users and their carers compassionately in therapeutic programmes of care to support them in achieving their identified goals and to promote independence and well-being.

To provide the best possible experience for service users and carers.

To show commitment to and participate in quality improvement activities.

To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

To promote at all times a positive image of the Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetic Service and the wider Trust.

There are varied opportunities for training and development, with CPD needs being identified and monitored through appraisal

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Relevant NVQ Level 3 in care or equivalent (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
  • Appropriate AVCE in Health & Social Care
  • Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of paid or voluntary work with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working alongside AHP therapists

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
  • Awareness of the needs of individuals from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds
  • Understanding of therapeutic terminology (within agreed timescale)
  • Understanding of a variety of therapeutic approaches (within agreed timescale)
  • Awareness of health & safety issues (within agreed timescale)

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
  • Record Keeping (within agreed timescale)
  • Time management and ability to prioritise effectively
  • Breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantBetter Health at Work Gold Award

Applicant requirements

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Olivia Storey
Job title
Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Donna Adamson (Lead Dietitian) – [email protected]

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