Job overview

We have the exciting opportunity to appoint a full time Band 4 Assistant Practitioner - Speech and Language Therapy to work with adults with learning disabilities in the Community.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual who are keen to develop their skills as an Assistant Practitioner in this area.  You will work in a well-established, multi-disciplinary team, committed to providing the best quality service to our clients.  

You will support the speech and language therapy work within the Community Team for adults with Learning Disabilities (CTLD) based at Benton House, Newcastle.  The team provide services to adults with a learning disability who have complex physical health needs, challenging behaviours or mental health needs.  Physiotherapy and speech and language therapy are part of a life span service, which liaise with Children and Young Peoples services, for those living in the city.

The team includes psychiatry, psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, positive behavioural support and community nursing.

This is an excellent development opportunity for an experienced support worker or a current assistant practitioner who would like to gain further experience and develop their skills and knowledge of speech and language therapy within adult learning disability services.   

Main duties of the job

You will have a particular interest and enthusiasm to work in this area and you should be able to work well as part of a close team and independently.  You should have qualifications and experience relevant in this clinical field.  You will liaise closely with fellow professionals to address communication and eating/drinking difficulties as part of a holistic, service user centred service.  You will contribute to care plans and provide high quality service user centred care.

Under the support and supervision of a speech and language therapist, you will work to support patients to achieve their therapeutic goals by supporting their language and communication skills.  In practice, you will provide a range of communication interventions with the individual both directly and indirectly.  These interventions will take the form of 1:1 work, group work, resource making and admin tasks.  The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate excellent awareness of communication difficulties and have excellent IT skills. 

You will receive regular support, training and opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge.  We actively encourage professional development and provide opportunities for all in the speech and language therapy team to contribute to the development of the service. 

Working for our organisation

The Speech and Language Therapy Service in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is continuing to develop and grow to meet the needs of our patients and local communities.  You will join a large, dynamic team of Speech and Language Therapy colleagues in established, multi-disciplinary teams who are committed to providing the best quality service to our patients.  We actively encourage professional development and provide opportunities for all in the speech and language therapy team to contribute to the development of the service.

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return, we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.