About this role
Job summary
Are you a warm, organised, and compassionate individual looking for a role where you can make a real difference to people's lives? Join our Speech and Language Therapy team and support adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our friendly and supportive team at Bedford Hospital. This rewarding role will see you working alongside experienced Speech and Language Therapists to support adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, helping them to improve their communication and swallowing skills, maintain their independence, and achieve their personal goals.
You will play an important role in delivering high-quality patient care as part of a wider multidisciplinary team. If you have excellent communication skills, enjoy working collaboratively, and are passionate about supporting patients through their recovery journey, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Please note that this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the position.
Main duties of the job
Working under the supervision and guidance of qualified Speech and Language Therapists, you will play a key role in supporting the assessment, rehabilitation, and ongoing recovery of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties. You will assist in delivering patient-centred care and help individuals achieve improved communication, swallowing function, and independence.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.
Main duties include:
Deliver routine therapy activities in line with objectives set by the Speech and Language Therapist (SLT), working independently with patients who have a range of complex needs under SLT supervision. Carry out specified observations, including auditory and visual assessments, and gather relevant information to support the SLTs assessment and clinical decision-making. Provide regular feedback to the SLT to support the review and adjustment of intervention plans. Demonstrate and explain therapy input to patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals as required. Prepare and organise therapy activities, resources, and equipment for individual and group sessions in line with programmes agreed with the supervising SLT. Monitor and analyse patients responses to therapy and provide feedback to the SLT, suggesting appropriate changes to treatment delivery where required. Work collaboratively with SLTs to support group sessions and deliver therapy programmes aimed at improving patients communication and swallowing outcomes.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Education to GCSE standard or equivalent to include grade C in English NVQ level 3 or equivalent
Desirable
Working towards a qualification associated with SLT (1 for interested, 2 for started/applied)
Experience Essential
Working in a team. Experience of being responsible for your own actions in a work environment. Experience of providing care to another person
Desirable
Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team Working with adults within 'care giving' setting. Experience of working in an SLT environment
Commnication Essential
Good verbal and non-verbal communication skills (+1 for evidnece) Able to pass on skills / knowledge to others in formal and informal environments (+1 for evidence) Able to communicate where there may be barriers to understanding (+1 for evidence)
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of issues of confidentiality within the healthcare environment
Desirable
Working knowledge of a range of common illnesses, injuries and conditions relevant to the specific area of work (1 for awareness, +1 for communication or dysphagia related issues/experience)
Skills Essential
Competent IT skills (+1 for evidence) Good interpersonal skills (+1 for ev) Able to work as a team member and also independently. (+1 for ev) Able to keep accurate and legible patient notes (statement, plus ev of acccutate note keeping)
Personal characteristics Essential
Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to adapt to the needs of a changing diverse environment Demonstrates self-awareness. Able to respond appropriately to pressure Ability to acknowledge own limitations and seek assistance / support as appropriate
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Bedford Hospital
Bedford
MK429DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)