# Speech and Language Therapy Assistant - Band 3/4 > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/speech-and-language-therapy-assistant-band-34/cea0984b-8365-4fd2-b0be-d69d220e3c6f - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/speech-and-language-therapy-assistant-band-34/cea0984b-8365-4fd2-b0be-d69d220e3c6f.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust - **Location:** West Suffolk Hospital - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Profession:** Speech and language therapy assistant - **Salary:** £25760.00 to £31157.00 - **Contract type:** Permanent: Band 3 or Band 4 depending on experience - **Employment type:** Part time, Flexible working, 22.5 hours per week (M-F (core hours between 8am-6pm)) - **Closing date:** 2026-10-20T22:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-10-06T15:25:18.766Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/-v8303623 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8303623?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.wsh.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Community Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Band 3/4 (development post) We require a part-time Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our School Age Complex Needs pathway. This 22.5 hours per week post is based in Ipswich special schools and the surrounding area, with some work in homes or alternative provision. Appointment is at Band 4 for applicants with previous employment as an NHS SaLTA, or Band 3 for those with relevant experience who will be supported to complete SaLTA competencies. Working under the supervision of Speech and Language Therapists, you will also work independently with children and young people with complex needs in one-to-one and small-group sessions. You will liaise with teaching staff, parents/carers and health and education colleagues, supporting communication outcomes within EHCPs. Key skills include good communication, organisation, patience, creativity, positivity, ability to follow guidance and ask for support, and confidence using Microsoft packages/electronic records. Experience with complex needs, Makaton, symbols, TalkPads, Intensive Interaction or Attention Autism is welcomed; training and supervision are provided. Ability to travel during the working day is essential. ### Main duties of the job Main duties of the job The successful candidate will: - Deliver therapy packages to children and young people with complex communication needs, including behavioural challenges, under the guidance and support of Speech and Language Therapists. - Be able to work independently as well as with colleagues - Be able to work effectively and flexibly with a variety of people, across settings to achieve best outcomes - Communicate therapy outcomes / next steps to relevant therapy partners and the therapy supervisor. - Organise therapy sessions by timetabling sessions with therapy partners - Offer support to the wider team as required e.g. by making resources for therapy sessions, programming Talkpads and other technology, supporting organisation of toys and resources and supporting delivery/booking of therapy groups, gathering information, and assisting with home visits. - Be comfortable managing competing demands. - Use our computer systems (Systm One) to record clinical notes, daily. - Use Microsoft packages, Outlook, Word, Teams etc to keep in touch with service users and colleagues, participate in training and to communicate within the team - Support delivery of training packages to parents/carers and educational staff (both face to face and virtually). - Safeguard students, support other staff to do so - Support teamwork & best practice within the school and across the pathway - Attend/participate in team meetings ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please see the full job description for more information The primary purpose of this role is to deliver speech, language and communication therapy programmes, devised by speech and language therapists, to individual or groups of children and young people (CYP). Supporting and training others (educational staff, parents/carers and less experienced colleagues) is a key component of this SLTA role. This community-based role involves working mainly in special school settings but may include visits to specialist units (SSUs), nurseries or homes, according to service need. The client group comprises of children with varied communication difficulties, children with Special Educational Needs and complex presentations. Therapy is typically delivered face to face but may also be via digital methods (e.g. via Microsoft Teams). ### Applicant requirements 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. ## Person Specification ### Personal Qualities **Essential** - Ability to prioritise care - Flexible approach to working duties - Ability to travel to rural locations ### Skills & Abilities **Essential** - Good communication skills - Able to write concise and accurate notes. - Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening, tact and empathy. - Ability to be flexible, creative and use initiative. - Able to work as part of a team. - To work independently as well as under instruction - Computer literate *able to use MS packages (Word, Outlook) - Ability to keep client confidentiality. **Desirable** - Use of universal child assessments or scales such as WellComm - Good negotiation skills - Able to share sensitive and complex information with families and professionals. - Able to discuss analyse and reflect on observations. - Able to use MS Teams & Excel ### Experience & Knowledge **Essential** - Experience of working with children of preschool or school age - Interest & awareness of children’s language development - Aware of the importance of safeguarding children - Knowledge of the role of a speech and language therapist **Desirable** - Experience of working with parent/carers - Experience of CYP with special or complex needs - Knowledge of some aspects and types of speech language and communication difficulties - Experience of NHS record keeping such as S1 or equivalent ### Education & Qualifications **Essential** - Level/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent - Good general education including 5 GCSEs including Maths & English **Desirable** - NNEB training - Other qualification in related area e.g. child development studies, language, or psychology ## Documents - [job description (pdf, 528.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10672535) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.