Job overview
Are you a warm, organised, and compassionate individual looking for a role where you can make a real difference to people’s lives? Join our Speech and Language Therapy team and support adults with communication and swallowing difficulties.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our friendly and supportive team at Bedford Hospital. This rewarding role will see you working alongside experienced Speech and Language Therapists to support adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, helping them to improve their communication and swallowing skills, maintain their independence, and achieve their personal goals.
You will play an important role in delivering high-quality patient care as part of a wider multidisciplinary team. If you have excellent communication skills, enjoy working collaboratively, and are passionate about supporting patients through their recovery journey, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Please note that this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the position.
Main duties of the job
Working under the supervision and guidance of qualified Speech and Language Therapists, you will play a key role in supporting the assessment, rehabilitation, and ongoing recovery of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties. You will assist in delivering patient-centred care and help individuals achieve improved communication, swallowing function, and independence.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.
Main duties include:
- Deliver routine therapy activities in line with objectives set by the Speech and Language Therapist (SLT), working independently with patients who have a range of complex needs under SLT supervision.
- Carry out specified observations, including auditory and visual assessments, and gather relevant information to support the SLT’s assessment and clinical decision-making.
- Provide regular feedback to the SLT to support the review and adjustment of intervention plans.
- Demonstrate and explain therapy input to patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals as required.
- Prepare and organise therapy activities, resources, and equipment for individual and group sessions in line with programmes agreed with the supervising SLT.
- Monitor and analyse patients’ responses to therapy and provide feedback to the SLT, suggesting appropriate changes to treatment delivery where required.
- Work collaboratively with SLTs to support group sessions and deliver therapy programmes aimed at improving patients’ communication and swallowing outcomes.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Competent IT skills (+1 for evidence)
- Good interpersonal skills (+1 for ev)
- Able to work as a team member and also independently. (+1 for ev)
- Able to keep accurate and legible patient notes (statement, plus ev of acccutate note keeping)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of issues of confidentiality within the healthcare environment
Desirable
- Working knowledge of a range of common illnesses, injuries and conditions relevant to the specific area of work (1 for awareness, +1 for communication or dysphagia related issues/experience)
Experience
Essential
- Working in a team.
- Experience of being responsible for your own actions in a work environment.
- Experience of providing care to another person
Desirable
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Working with adults within ‘care giving’ setting.
- Experience of working in an SLT environment
Commnication
Essential
- Good verbal and non-verbal communication skills (+1 for evidnece)
- Able to pass on skills / knowledge to others in formal and informal environments (+1 for evidence)
- Able to communicate where there may be barriers to understanding (+1 for evidence)
Qualifications
Essential
- Education to GCSE standard or equivalent to include grade C in English
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- Working towards a qualification associated with SLT (1 for interested, 2 for started/applied)
Personal characteristics
Essential
- Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to adapt to the needs of a changing diverse environment
- Demonstrates self-awareness.
- Able to respond appropriately to pressure
- Ability to acknowledge own limitations and seek assistance / support as appropriate
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Speech and Language Therapy Support Practitioner with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Luton, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Speech and Language Therapist role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 Per Annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 05 Aug 2026.
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