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Job summary

Main area
Therapy
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Fixed term: 10 months (End date 31/5/2026)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (7-day working on rota)
Job ref
364-A-9014
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Harland Centre
Town
Westcliff-on-sea
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum pro rata for part time, plus 5% HCA
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/06/2025 08:00

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Therapy Assistant (SLT/OT)

Band 3

About Us

EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:

  • We are among the largest employers in the in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.
  • We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.

EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.

Our vision and values

Our Vision

“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.

Our Purpose

“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.

Our Values

  • We Care
  • We Learn
  • We Empower

Our strategic objectives

  • We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
  • We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
  • We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
  • We will help our communities to thrive.

Our services

  • Mental Health Services
  • Community Health Services
  • Learning Disabilities Services
  • Social Care

Find out more about the services we offer in our service directory. 

Job overview

In this exciting new role, the post holder will support Occupational therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) in the management of activities of daily living (ADLs) and swallowing/communication needs for people with dementia, in the South-East Essex area.

Working under the supervision of the OT, the post holder will assist with assessment/review of patients and with the ordering of specialist equipment to enable patients to maximise their independence, remain in their own home and prevent admission to hospital.

Working under the supervision of the SLTs, the post holder will assist with assessment/review of patients with swallowing/communication needs in order to support safer swallowing, maximise nutrition/hydration, prevent hospital admission and to help maintain quality of life. 

The post holder will also provide education/training to patients, their families, care homes and care agencies when required.

Experience with dementia and end of life care would be an advantage.

Main duties of the job

·       To take responsibility for a caseload as designated by the Clinical lead for OT or SLT, or their deputising senior.

·       The role will be shared between caseloads for OT and SLT as needed.

·       To work independently, facilitating individual work planned with registered OT/SLT.

·       To carry out joint visits with OT/SLT as required

·       To assess patients within their home environment and arrange provision of agreed equipment, or aids to daily living on behalf of OT.

·       To review patients within their home environment (inc. care homes) regarding their tolerance of diet and fluid by observing patients, reviewing notes and liaising with family/carers.

·       To review patients’ tolerance of diet and fluids via telephone by liaising with family/carers.

·       To demonstrate to patients/carers the correct and safe use of the equipment and advise on safety in the home environment, as applicable.

·       To demonstrate to patients/carers  correct and safe eating and drinking advice

·       To provide Communication Partner Training to families/carers as required

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

            Season Ticket Loans

            NHS discounts for staff

            Excellent Training facilities and opportunities

            Buying and Selling annual leave scheme

            The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas

            Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work

            Day One Flexible Employer

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·       To form professional relationships with patients and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

·       To instruct and guide individual patients in the use of therapeutic activities.

·       To report effectively to the team on patients’ performance / progress in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure.

·       To provide relevant information, written and oral, for documents relating to patients’ progress.

·       To correspond with external agencies on clinical matters, under direction of qualified staff.

·       To use tact and persuasion to maximise patient outcomes and goals, as well as discuss sensitive issues.

 

Documentation

·       To ensure that up-to-date written / electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with the Professional Trust Standards.

 

Professional

·       To adhere to the HCPC Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and the Trust’s Code of Conduct for non-qualified staff and all other relevant policies and procedures.

 

Training Staff and Students

·       Participate in the induction and training of students.

·       Participate in the dissemination and sharing of information and skills with staff, students and volunteers.

·       Participate in relevant training opportunities, specifically for catering staff and domicillary care agency staff in regards to food and fluid modification.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good general education including Maths and English A-C
Desirable criteria
  • Care Certificate

Good IT skills

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge in basic IT programmes
Desirable criteria
  • Experience using NHS software

Car Driver

Essential criteria
  • Access to car for work purposes and driving licence

Communication Skills

Essential criteria
  • Effective communication skills both written and spoken
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working in a patient/customer facing role

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

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
Sue Smith
Job title
Clincal Lead SLT
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07583136584
Additional information

Ruth Solomons - [email protected]

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