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Job summary

Main area
Learning Disabilities
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
351-SPS1438-MF
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Water Meadow View
Town
Preston
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
15/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Band 4

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in Winter 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. We have an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care. 

Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart.

The post holder will work under the direction of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to deliver a range of interventions to support assessment and intervention of the Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN) of service users with learning disabilities and a mental health diagnosis referred to Water Meadow View. 

The post holder will work directly with a range of Service Users to support assessment and to deliver/model therapeutic interventions on an individual basis and in groups within the inpatient environment and other environments as appropriate.

Service requirements may involve some flexibility of work hours, and the post holder is expected to respond to service user need relating to this.

When you join us, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career.

Main duties of the job

To work semi-autonomously within an agreed framework, as part of the MDT and in collaboration with a caseload of service users, their significant others (as appropriate), colleagues and partner organisations, to promote the communication. 

Specifically to:

  • Support the SLT in the assessment of individuals SLC
  • Implement SLC goals as part of an overall care plan
  • Promote and support the development of inclusive communication environments
  • Contribute to the planning, implementation and modification where necessary of individual and/or group interventions to promote communication and inclusion.
  • Advise on strategies to reduce the impact of SLCNs on people’s physical and mental wellbeing and behaviour.
  • Share insights with MDT colleagues in respect of the impact of a service user’s SLCNs on their health, wellbeing, behaviour and opportunities for social inclusion
  • Enable service users to engage in mainstream activities such as employment/vocation, education, leisure, social networks and community connections
  • Respond to service user’s ongoing and changing mental health needs and monitor a service users risk factor, communicating any changes to MDT colleagues, as necessary.
  • Contribute to the evaluation of the outcomes of interventions and ensure support regarding health & wellbeing is effective and acceptable to the individual client and, if appropriate, their carers/families.
  • Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area. 

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.
  • Qualification in health or care e.g. NVQ Level 4; Training to Diploma or foundation level; Assistant practitioner qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of SLT
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of the client group with which the post holder will work e.g. Mental health, Learning Disabilities

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with people with a broad range of Mental Health conditions and/or learning disability.
  • Previous experience working in therapy/care settings e.g. inpatient settings or social services agency/department or education
  • Working with people to facilitate learning of skills or gaining of independence

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

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
Louise Eland
Job title
Project Support
Email address
[email protected]
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