Job summary
- Main area
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 395-HV044-25
- Employer
- NELFT NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Hainault Health Centre
- Town
- Chigwell
- Salary
- £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/07/2025 08:00
Employer heading

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 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
Job overview
We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our team within NELFT. We are looking for an enthusiastic, innovative and motivated individual to join our friendly department to support clinical work. The post holder will work within the Adult Speech and Language Therapy team and provide an effective service to patients across NELFT community sites, covering the London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge.
While the role may involve working across all boroughs, typical day-to-day work will be focused on Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge.
The successful candidate will have a great opportunity to gain new skills and experience, and work in an exciting, supportive and dynamic team.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be working with a range of medical conditions and supporting adult patients with acquired disorders of swallowing and/or communication. They will have a key role in working closely with the Speech and Language Therapists as well as MDT staff to ensure holistic patient care. The ideal candidate must be able to work independently as well as part of a team and have good time management and prioritisation skills.
Clinical support will be provided by the Band 5/6/7 and Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapists. CPD is actively supported through regular clinical supervision, appraisals and excellent training opportunities. The post holder will be encouraged to participate in service initiatives and complete formal Quality Improvement training.
Working for our organisation
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place great 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 undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including 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. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
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).
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).
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Detailed Job Description and Main responsibilities
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 closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
References
Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly.
Person specification
Demonstration of Trust Values
Essential criteria
- We are kind
- We are respectful
- We work together with our communities.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
- Completed Associate Practitioner Course or relevant experience
- Relevant experience in a healthcare setting and base level of theoretic knowledge
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a health or social care subject
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with adults
- Experience of working with a Speech & Language Therapist
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working within a health service or local authority community setting
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural urban environment
- Experience of working with a team of different professionals
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities
- Knowledge of patient/client conditions that have an effect on communication and swallowing skills
- Knowledge of multiprofessional working
- Understand the need for professional conduct
- Health, safety and risk awareness
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge & understanding of communication difficulties that can be acquired as an adult
Skills
Essential criteria
- Basic awareness of IT and IT skills
- Ability to work under own direction
- Ability to work under pressure and with flexibility
- Competent listening and observation skills
- Good level of communication skills (written & verbal)
- Good coordination and organisational skills
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to teach skills to patients
- Able to contribute to the training of other staff/students
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Able to travel effectively throughout the London boroughs to meet need of the role
- Able to work in isolation
- Positive interpersonal skills
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
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mark Allinson
- Job title
- Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 300 1903
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