Assistant Practitioner Speech and language Therapy - Shrewsbury

Are you motivated, compassionate, and ready to support adults with complex communication and swallowing needs at some of the most critical points in their care? We are seeking a dedicated Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our Adult Acute and Macmillan Speech and Language Therapy Team within Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin community and hospital NHS group. This role offers a unique opportunity to work in fast‑paced clinical environments, supporting patients with a wide range of acquired conditions.

Working independently with the support of qualified Speech and Language Therapists, you will support the delivery of high‑quality assessment and intervention for adults in acute and oncology settings. Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting SLTs with assessment tasks, including case history gathering and preparation of clinical materials
• Assisting with dysphagia management under clear clinical guidance
• Implementing communication strategies at the bedside, in clinics, and across oncology pathways
• Supporting patients undergoing cancer treatment, including those with head and neck cancers
• Maintaining accurate, timely clinical records in line with Trust policies
• Liaising with families, carers, nursing staff, and the wider multidisciplinary team
• Contributing to resource development and service improvement initiatives

You will work across acute wards, oncology units, outpatient clinics, and other relevant hospital settings. We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team — clinical or non-clinical — plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.

We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care. Effective communication is central to safe and high‑quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.

By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values — ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.

To assess and implement treatment programmes for delegated patients in the Inpatient and Macmillan Speech and Language Therapy Teams. To hold responsibility for own caseload with access to and support from senior professional staff as part of a comprehensive process of patient assessment and management. To work as a member of the Inpatient and Macmillan SLT therapy teams, providing a high standard service to communication impaired and swallow disordered patients in inpatient, community and outpatient settings.

Performs assessment of delegated patients with simple presentations of physical and psychological conditions. In partnership with the patient, identifies needs, formulates objectives and provides and delivers an individual treatment programme. Prioritises own work with access to supervision of professional staff in the Inpatient and Macmillan therapy teams. May provide day to day supervision and delegation of tasks to therapy assistants within team and to students. Takes decisions to progress interventions according to level of competency and training within agreed protocols if required. Has the freedom to discharge patients without referring back to professional staff. Responsible for assessing and ordering appropriate specialised equipment for patients, including demonstration and safe issue of this equipment.