Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy is seeking to appoint a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to support the Traded Services team working within primary schools in Bolton.

You should have excellent communication skills and experience of working with children and young people with speech, language, and communication needs. The role is based within our Traded Services Team.

Experience of working with children in a school or a team is essential and you should have a professional attitude, be able to use your initiative, and have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to work as part of a dynamic team.

Experience of speech, language and communication strategies such as ELKLAN and Signalong would be very beneficial. You should be eager to learn new skills.

You will be required to work independently in schools, and manage your time effectively to ensure you have fully prepared for the session in advance.

We are looking for someone who has the passion to support children to develop speech and language skills within their educational setting.

There is a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant group who provide peer support and CPD activities. You will attend team meetings and receive appraisals to support your own professional development. Hours required are 16 hours per week.

If you feel you have the skills, we would love to hear from you.

You will be working within a team of Speech and Language Therapists and with other Speech and Language Therapy Assistants. The main role will be to work collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists in the teamcarrying out observations of children and informal assessments and also delivering speech and language therapy programmes and resources to school staff. You will overcome barriers to communication by using your knowledge and awareness ofculturaland linguistic differences.

Successful applicants will need to work autonomously, demonstrating initiative and modelling therapy activities and therapeutic strategies to school staff working with children. You will observe school staff carrying out Speech and Language Therapy programmes and develop their skills and knowledge throughmodelling and a coaching approach.You will also be required to liaise with school staff supporting children on the caseload.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust provide services across the north west side of the Greater Manchester area ranging from hospital services in Bolton to community services across Bolton, Salford, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 5,700 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare. The Trust offer a range of flexible working patterns to enable our staff to balance their work and personal life.

Our Traded Service provides speech and language therapy to over 32 primary schools in Bolton. We are constantly expanding and developing to provide a high quality, flexible and responsive service to provide the best possible outcomes for children and young people. We are a dynamic and welcoming team who offer ongoing training, support and supervision to all members regardless of job role.

To deliver and demonstrate programmes of work to teaching assistants in schools, ensuring they know how to deliver the programme and answering any questions they may have.

To carry out a therapeutic programme of work devised by a Speech and Language Therapist, alone and without direct supervision, working with Teaching Assistants in the child’s setting.

To use own knowledge and initiative in the consideration of the child/young person’s needs and abilities, and adjust programme levels accordingly within a specified range

Ability to motivate children and adapt clinical practise to reflect cultural and linguistic differences.

To develop skills in motivating children, young people and their families and settings to engage in the therapeutic process

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies