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Job summary

Main area
Speech and language therapy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity cover)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
395-BD014-26
Employer
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Axe street
Town
Barking
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 plus HCAS per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/02/2026 23:59

Employer heading

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust logo

Speech & Language Therapy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 4

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 five 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

Job overview

A fixed term maternity cover vacancy for paediatric Speech and Language Therapist assistant practitioner has arisen at NELFT NHS Foundation Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established, supportive and experienced Speech & Language Therapy Team who can offer support if you have an existing interest and experience in speech and language therapy. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to be part of our team and contribute to the future of our service. 

Our team is based in Barking and Dagenham and is part of the Integrated Paediatric Therapy Department which includes Speech and Language Therapists, Paediatricians, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Psychologists amongst other key professionals. 

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of qualified Speech and Language Therapists to support the implementation of therapy programmes. This will include carrying out supervised direct and indirect therapy with children presenting with speech, language and communication disorders and helping with projects to further develop our service. You will work with pre-school and school aged children in clinic in a range of settings either face to face or though video sessions.

Working for our organisation

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:
We are kind.
We are respectful.
We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

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 focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15%of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,714 and a maximum payment of £5,941 - per annum, pro rata for part time).

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI 
during the recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post:

  1. To contribute to the provision of speech and language therapy clinical care pathways across Barking and Dagenham
  2. To assist the Speech and Language Therapists in providing a high standard of service through the implementation of therapy programmes and interventions
  3. To prepare the therapy environment, including the making and preparation of therapy materials and activities, ensuring equipment is available and in good condition.
  4. To carry out administrative tasks as requested by the supervising therapists including arranging appointments and maintaining the electronic patient records.
  5. To work closely with clients, carers, families and professionals to embed inclusive speech, language and communication practice both across settings
  6. To provide mentoring of colleagues and peer support
  7. To contribute to both multi-disciplinary team working to ensure co-ordinated service provision
  8. To attend relevant training courses, meetings and special interest groups in order to maintain skills and knowledge required of an assistant Speech and Language Therapist working in the field of paediatrics

    Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application. 

Person specification

Training

Essential criteria
  • Qualification relevant to working with preschool and school age children and/or equivalent NVQ level 3 or ETEC with children
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills
  • Inservice training, short courses and work experience
  • Appropriate level of literacy and numeracy- demonstrated in written application
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of carrying out speech and language programmes
  • Ability to prioritise own caseload
  • Experience of safeguarding children/ practice related to safeguarding children

Safeguarding

Essential criteria
  • Experience of safeguarding children/ practice related to safeguarding children

Communication

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate factual information to clients, families, MDT members and other professionals in a written and verbal form
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working with early years and school age children

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Employers for CarersApprenticeships logoAge positiveDisability confident employerHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldEmployers Network for Equality & InclusionTop 10 Employer 2023

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.

Application numbers

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure consideration.

If you require any additional support during the application process please contact [email protected]. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment journey.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Narelle Jacobs
Job title
Interim Speech and language Therapy lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0300 300 1751
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