Assistant Practitioner

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic SLT/Dietetic Assistant Practitioner to join the Critical Care therapy team at Aintree Hospital. This role is ideal for someone passionate about supporting patients with nutrition, swallowing and communication needs within a complex critical care environment. You will work across Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetics, with a strong emphasis on learning and development, using the ICS capability framework to support the progression of skills and competencies across both professions. Alongside this specialist role, you will also support other AHPs on the unit and work closely with another Band 4 Assistant Practitioner who supports Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual who thrives on teamwork, development and making a meaningful difference to patient outcomes.

Clinical Responsibilities within the job description will be tailored to Dietetic and Speech and Language Therapy needs.

Main duties of the job

The Assistant Practitioner will play a key role in supporting Speech and Language Therapists and Dietitians in the assessment and management of acutely unwell patients within critical care. Working under supervision, the post holder will assist with therapeutic activities related to nutrition, swallowing and communication, supporting patients with eating and drinking and contributing to the collection and review of nutritional and clinical information. The role involves close collaboration within the multidisciplinary team, helping to prioritise workload, maintain specialist resources, and contribute to service monitoring and improvement. Strong communication, organisation and a willingness to learn are essential. The post offers regular supervision, shared learning and development opportunities within a supportive critical care AHP team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate should have a minimum of two years’ therapy experience in a health care setting and will be responsible for their own ward-based caseload providing direct Therapy intervention for an identified patient group under the supervision of a registered Therapy practitioner.

We would also welcome applications from candidates with relevant therapy experience who would be keen to progress into a Band 4 role via the Trust supported apprenticeship scheme.

If you do not already have the AP qualification, Foundation degree or equivalent, you will need an NVQ Level 3 in health care along with both Maths and English qualification at level 2 (GCSE equivalent grade C or above) in order to be considered for the Band 4 Apprenticeship programme.

If you do not possess the AP qualification the successful candidate will complete the apprenticeship AP training programme.  The Apprenticeship will run for approximately 24 months and will involve day release 1 day per week at Hugh Baird College.  Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship the staff member will be uplifted permanently to Band 4.

Salary will be renumerated (Annex 21) to reflect the training element of the post and will only be transferred to a band 4 pay scale on successful completion of the AP apprenticeship.