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Job summary

Main area
AAC
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
339-NMSK0848-RUH-A
Employer
North Bristol NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
AAC WEST, Bristol Centre for Enablement
Town
Patchway, Bristol
Salary
£25,760 - £27,476 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

North Bristol NHS Trust logo

Associate Assistant Practitioner - AAC

Band 3

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy. We highly recommend reading our Tips on how to apply page to give you an insight on how applications are scored & shortlisted by our Recruiting Managers. These tips have been provided to give you a better chance of being shortlisted for our vacancies.

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) are working towards merging as one organisation from July 2026. 

This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Should you join NBT as an employee prior to our organisations merging, your employment will be automatically transferred across to UHBW. Should your employment begin after our two Trusts merge, you will be employed directly by UHBW and therefore UHBW terms and conditions of service will apply 

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.


 

Job overview

AAC WEST, based at the Bristol Centre for Enablement (BCE), is an NHS funded department that provides technological solutions for individuals that require alternative methods to communicate. The service is commissioned by NHS England to provide Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) assessments and equipment to people living in the South West region who meet nationally agreed referral criteria.

AAC WEST are looking to recruit an Associate Assistant Practitioner to join their busy clinical team to support in the preparation of communications that have been prescribed  for active patients on the service case load. 

This role will be based from the Bristol Enablement Service (BCE) and as a development post, will be fully supported by a team of experienced AAC assistants and registered clinicians. It is a non patient facing role. The successful candidate will be a confident computer user who enjoys managing their own workload. 

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the job are as follows:

       Communication  Aid Programming- Preparing both high and low tech communication resources using specialist software to collate vocabularies which are provided by and on behalf of patients on the caseload

·       Equipment Preparation – Preparing equipment for clinical team to take to assessments and training sessions

·       To offer telephone support to patients and their support teams in the region on devices which have been loaned

·       To assist in the delivery of training sessions

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead.  We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered. 

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Support

·      -To manage and organise own clinical workload with the support of senior Assistant - -Practitioner and departmental manager

·       To be responsible for the preparation of communication equipment and materials for demonstration at assessments and emergency appointments as part of patient’s pathway through AAC WEST

·       To be responsible for the personalisation/ programming of communication aid as directed by clinical team

·       To be highly familiar in the specialist AAC software packages used in the department

·       To assist in the setting up of iPads for triage loans

·       To assist in the management of software accounts on communication devices

·       To be responsible for the processing of equipment following appointments

·       To provide basic technical support for equipment during an evaluation loan period as directed by senior colleagues

·       To support in the development of low tech resources as guided by departmental clinical team

·       To maintain accurate clinical notes regarding any interventions relating to client based activities

·       All activities will be delegated by a member of the clinical team or a more senior assistant. Support and advice will be available to assist in the delivery of allocated tasks

 

Training Support

·       To assist in the co-ordination of incoming training requests from local teams

·       To prepare equipment for training sessions

·       To collate feedback following training sessions

 

General Support

·       To assist in standard technical support scenarios where directed by a senior member of the team

·       To support in the general organisation of the busy clinical office ensuring communication aids are returned to their correct location at the end of each working day

·       Support in the ongoing maintenance of the departmental vans

·       To participate in departmental clinical governance projects by providing evidence/ data as requested

·       To assist in the induction process of new members of staff

·       To provide support to the Equipment Manager as necessary to:

·       Input data into the departmental computer system - BEST

·       Ensure that all equipment is safety checked and cleaned according to the relevant procedures

 

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • GCSE/O levels including English and Maths
Desirable criteria
  • A Levels

Employment

Essential criteria
  • Experience of using computer packages in work
  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of working in an environment where assistive technology is used.

Knowlege, Skills and Expereince

Essential criteria
  • Confident computer user with a current and working knowledge of Microsoft Office and social networking.
  • Ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team.
  • Demonstrable experience of learning new computer software skills
  • Excellent communication skills both verbal and written

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Interest in technology
  • Physically able to manually handle equipment
  • Flexible and enthusiastic approach to work and colleagues

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerBECHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Vicky Styles
Job title
AAC WEST Clinical Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0117 414 5850
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