About this role
Job summary
A vacancy has arisen for a Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Assistant to join the Adult Community SLT Team. The service provides assessment and clinical interventions to patients with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties; this includes people with Stroke, Parkinson's disease and other progressive neurological conditions, dementia, learning disability, voice and dysfluency. Interventions are delivered both face-to-face (outpatient clinics and home visits) and using telehealth virtual platforms. The role also supports our well-resourced alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) pathway, offering both high- and low-tech options to patients.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to work with people with acquired communication difficulties, who has a proven ability to work on their own and within a team. You will have strong communication, organisation and IT skills and a flexible approach to ensure you deliver positive experiences to patients as part of their healthcare journey. A knowledge of and commitment to the principles of the Equality Act and promoting diversity is required.
For this post you will need to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car.
Main duties of the job
To provide clinical and administrative support to the community Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) (Adults) service, working with patients with a range of acquired communication difficulties.
To see patients and clients independently, under the supervision and guidance of a qualified Speech & Language Therapist (SLT), implementing programmes of care for individuals and groups with acquired speech, language and communication difficulties. This includes people with stroke, Parkinson's disease, Motor Neurone Disease and other progressive conditions, and dementia.
To create and develop communication aid and therapy tools and resources for the service, and as requested by the SLT team.
To maintain the Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) equipment and resource bank held in the SLT department at St Mary's Community Health Campus. This activity is support by the AAC Pathway Lead.
To manage telephone calls and emails with patients contacting the service with queries about their therapy. You will provide advice or arrange a telephone call back if you need to seek advice from qualified staff.
This role requires excellent communication skills, applying these skills to engage with patients with complex and at times challenging needs, to ensure the most appropriate care and support is provided.
About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence
Job description Job responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
NVQ 3 Diploma in relevant speciality or evidence of equivalent experience of working within health care setting GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent.
Experience Essential
Experience of working with adult patients in a health or social care setting Proven skills in being flexible to meet competing priorities Experience of working with members of the public both face-to-face and on the telephone An ability to follow care plans as determined by a qualified SLT. An ability to carry out routine observations and to advise a qualified SLT where a change in care may be required. An ability to prioritise workload. Able to work as part of a team. An ability to use general IT applications.
Desirable
Experience of working in an environment where clients demonstrate challenging behaviour An awareness or experience of using patient systems. Experience of using virtual platforms. Experience of working with people with communication disorders. Experience of inter-agency working in health or social care settings
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.
Employer details Employer name Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address St.Mary's Community Health Campus (Portsmouth)
Milton Road
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO3 6AD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)