Speech and Language Therapy Assistant

NHS

  • Preston
  • £27,485-30,162 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 day ago
Water Meadow View is a new mental health inpatient unit for adults who have learning disabilities, which is due to open in Winter 2025 on our site in Whittingham, Preston. We have an exciting opportunity for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join us and support the Multi-Disciplinary Team to deliver outstanding person centred care.Water Meadow View will offer clinical excellence, support, and safety, with patient-centred care at its heart.The post holder will work under the direction of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to deliver a range of interventions to support assessment and intervention of the Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN) of service users with learning disabilities and a mental health diagnosis referred to Water Meadow View.The post holder will work directly with a range of Service Users to support assessment and to deliver/model therapeutic interventions on an individual basis and in groups within the inpatient environment and other environments as appropriate.Service requirements may involve some flexibility of work hours, and the post holder is expected to respond to service user need relating to this.When you join us, you'll be making a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability by delivering person centred, compassionate care, in a purpose built, co-produced environment, with opportunities to for you to learn and develop throughout your career.Main duties of the jobTo work semi-autonomously within an agreed framework, as part of the MDT and in collaboration with a caseload of service users, their significant others (as appropriate), colleagues and partner organisations, to promote the communication.Specifically to:
  • Support the SLT in the assessment of individuals SLC
  • Implement SLC goals as part of an overall care plan
  • Promote and support the development of inclusive communication environments
  • Contribute to the planning, implementation and modification where necessary of individual and/or group interventions to promote communication and inclusion.
  • Advise on strategies to reduce the impact of SLCNs on people's physical and mental wellbeing and behaviour.
  • Share insights with MDT colleagues in respect of the impact of a service user's SLCNs on their health, wellbeing, behaviour and opportunities for social inclusion
  • Enable service users to engage in mainstream activities such as employment/vocation, education, leisure, social networks and community connections
  • Respond to service user's ongoing and changing mental health needs and monitor a service users risk factor, communicating any changes to MDT colleagues, as necessary.
  • Contribute to the evaluation of the outcomes of interventions and ensure support regarding health & wellbeing is effective and acceptable to the individual client and, if appropriate, their carers/families.
  • Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
About usLancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.DetailsDate posted02 September 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 4Salary£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annumContractPermanentWorking patternFull-timeReference number351-SPS1438-MFJob locationsWater Meadow ViewPrestonPR3 2JHJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification. Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.
  • Qualification in health or care e.g. NVQ Level 4; Training to Diploma or foundation level; Assistant practitioner qualification
KnowledgeEssential
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of SLT
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of the client group with which the post holder will work e.g. Mental health, Learning Disabilities
ExperienceEssential
  • Experience of working with people with a broad range of Mental Health conditions and/or learning disability.
  • Previous experience working in therapy/care settings e.g. inpatient settings or social services agency/department or education
  • Working with people to facilitate learning of skills or gaining of independence
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • GCSE/level 5 or above in English and Maths or equivalent.
  • Qualification in health or care e.g. NVQ Level 4; Training to Diploma or foundation level; Assistant practitioner qualification
KnowledgeEssential
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of SLT
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of the client group with which the post holder will work e.g. Mental health, Learning Disabilities
ExperienceEssential
  • Experience of working with people with a broad range of Mental Health conditions and/or learning disability.
  • Previous experience working in therapy/care settings e.g. inpatient settings or social services agency/department or education
  • Working with people to facilitate learning of skills or gaining of independence

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