Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

Job overview

Barnet Children’s Integrated Therapy (CIT) has a vacancy for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) team. This innovative programme began in June 2024 and is delivered by a team of Speech and Language Therapy Assistants and senior Speech and Language Therapists. Together, we provide training, coaching, and support to education staff across Barnet. The successful candidate will receive full training and support to deliver screening assessments and interventions to children and provide training, modelling and coaching to education staff.

This role involves delivering universal and targeted support to children, families, and education staff as part of an integrated early language support service. ELSEC is a pilot project, funded by NHS England and the Department for Education, aiming to test the impact of early identification and support for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) in Early Years and Primary settings.

To learn more about the programme, please visit the Department for Education website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/earlier-support-for-speech-and-language-for-20000-children

Please note: This vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline if a high number of suitable applications are received.

Main duties of the job

1. Deliver screening assessments and provide training and coaching to staff in Early Years and Primary School settings. This includes training staff on how to carry out screening assessments and deliver targeted interventions. Work closely with teachers, teaching assistants, and other allied health professionals to support implementation. Regularly report on progress and share updates with senior Speech and Language Therapists.

2. To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate with children who may have barriers to communicating or understanding.

3. To help the team with both administrative, and clinical work, thereby supporting the smooth running of the team.

4. To be responsible for making resources, maintaining equipment, keeping clinical notes, and keeping clinical and office spaces in good condition.

5. To be responsible for organising and prioritising your own work and adhering to Trust policies and procedures, especially in relation to child safeguarding.

6. To have a duty to report any accident/incident via Trust procedures.

7. To monitor and record children’s progression towards therapy aims.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See attached job description for further information:

Clinical Skills

1. Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.

2. To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.

3. To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of a Speech and Language Therapist.

4. To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.

5. To work frequently without direct supervision in a variety of community settings e.g. community clinics, nurseries, children’s centres, schools, homes, etc.

6. To use judgement to modify and adapt activities to suit each situation.

Communication

1. To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.

2. To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.

3. To anticipate barriers to communication (internal and external) and take action to improve communication (in self and others)

4. To develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations.

5. To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.

6. Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision

7. To be proactive in seeking out different styles and methods of communication to meet needs of clients and others