Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The Sirona Speech and Language Therapy School Aged Team is a friendly and supportive team that delivers a variety of core and commissioned clinical Speech and Language Therapy Services across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. We offer regular training opportunities to our staff, a buddy system for new starters, regular line management, whole team and smaller team meetings. A large and supportive team means that there is plenty of opportunity for development and progression internally.

You will work as a Band 4 Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner within our commissioned services team, working across a number of primary and secondary schools, offering an enhanced Speech and Language Therapy provision that is above the core NHS offer. You will work with Specialist Speech and Language Therapists to support the students and staff for those children whose needs sit outside the core NHS service. The post holder should have interest and experience in supporting children/YP in both primary and secondary schools.

Main duties include:

• Work within primary and secondary schools to deliver specific skilled support along with speech and language therapy programmes to children/young people and their families to improve outcomes and help them reach their full potential.
• Monitor children/young people's response to therapy intervention and feedback to the therapist, jointly setting new targets as required.
• Work closely with the Speech and Language Therapist within your commissioned school.
• Prepare equipment, materials and resources to support the Speech and Language Therapy team.

We welcome and encourage all applicants and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities we support. We strive to improve diversity and inclusion and to provide equal opportunities for all. We create development opportunities for all our colleagues and apprentices.

Qualifications:

• Recognised childcare / health care / social care qualification at NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Training in Makaton / Hanen / Attention Autism or other relevant SLCN interventions.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge:

• Relevant experience of working with children in an Early Years, educational or health setting.
• Ability to work without direct supervision carrying out observations and/or therapy activities in clinic/educational settings and/or home settings as required.
• Ability to plan and prioritise own timetable for sessions, whilst showing initiative.
• Proficiency with IT tools (e.g., MS Outlook, MS Teams, Excel) for team functions and clinical use as required.
• Ability to demonstrate therapy programmes and use of equipment to parents and educational staff.
• Ability to relate to children and their families with special needs, cultural and language difficulties, and/or challenging behaviour.
• Ability to communicate effectively with therapy colleagues, multidisciplinary team members and other agencies (e.g., education, social services).
• Experience of working with children and young people with difficulties in communication, social communication and activities of daily living (or any combination), and their families.
• Experience of working as an assistant practitioner.
• Familiarity with a range of communication approaches such as Attention Autism, Voice Output Communication Aids, Picture Exchange Communication System and other low-tech communication aids.
• Experience of working with children/young people who require adapted/alternative methods of communication (e.g., Makaton).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.