Job summary
- Main area
- Rehabilitation
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 164-7926244
- Employer
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- National Rehabilitation Centre
- Town
- Loughborough
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
NRC Speech and Language Therapy Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
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A new, exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and compassionate Speech and Language Therapy Assistant to join our Speech and Language Therapy Team. Based at the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), you will play a key role in supporting adults undergoing specialist rehabilitation, helping to make a meaningful difference to their recovery and quality of life.
Working under the supervision of a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, you will be a valued member of the interdisciplinary team. You will carry out delegated clinical tasks and manage a defined caseload, supporting the delivery of high-quality, intensive, and patient-centred Speech and Language Therapy for adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
The role will involve implementing and progressing therapy programmes, monitoring and documenting patient progress, and providing feedback to the wider team. You will also contribute to service development activities and support the delivery of training and education where appropriate. This is a dynamic and rewarding role within a specialist rehabilitation environment, with scope to develop skills and experience.
For questions about the role please contact: SLT Team Lead, Emma Dent - [email protected]
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Main duties of the job
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The postholder will support the Speech and Language Therapy team to provide high quality, evidence-based Speech and Language Therapy to adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties. This will include: screening patients on admission, implementing communication / dysphagia therapy programmes, facilitating communication groups, providing training to staff and relatives and contributing to service development projects.
There will also be non-clinical responsibilities such as the monitoring and maintenance of communication aids / dysphagia rehabilitation equipment and providing administrative support to the Speech and Language Therapy Team.
To understand the role in more detail, please read the attached job description and person specification documents.
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Working for our organisation
With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job Responsibilities:
To work with the qualified Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and the multidisciplinary team to maximise communication opportunities and support swallowing, eating, and drinking needs.
To work under the supervision of a qualified speech and language therapist and accept responsibility for a delegated workload.
To implement and modify therapy / treatment/ rehabilitation programmes for patients with communication or swallowing difficulties under the guidance of SLTs, applying knowledge of strategies and techniques appropriately.
To discuss and report patient’s performance and outcomes of therapy to SLTs, including any deterioration in their condition, as part of the continuous assessment, evaluation of needs, next step recommendation process.
To work as part of the multidisciplinary team supporting the Speech and Language Therapy team by carrying out joint therapy sessions when required
To design, produce and implement low-tech communication aids, boards and other visual strategies for use with patients.
To support qualified SLTs in the assessment and provision of other communication aids, including high tech AAC, as required.
To jointly or independently provide agreed basic training and education to professionals and family members with regards to communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
To assess, provide, and demonstrate use of a wide range of equipment and maintain stock levels and servicing requirements of equipment, including communication aids.
To lead group sessions such as communication groups / education sessions.
Contribute to service development projects, clinical governance, and audit projects as requested.
Please refer to the job description and person specification attached to the advert for the full details of the vacancy.
Person specification
Physical Skills
Essential criteria
- Highly developed auditory discrimination, perceptual and transcription skills, whilst interpreting multi-sensory information.
- Able to use a computer keyboard and relevant computer programmes.
Other requirements specific to the role (e.g. be able to drive or work shifts)
Essential criteria
- Able to travel to areas within and beyond the Trust if required.
- Car driver with access to car insured for business use.
Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to diploma level or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working as a band 3/4 Speech and Language Therapy assistant
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Experience of working with adults with acquired speech, language and communication needs.
- Experience of supporting people with feeding and swallowing difficulties
- Awareness of the impact communication difficulties may have on the ability of the clients to function in every-day life.
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experienced in the use of a wide range of technology as part of therapy and/ or to aid communication.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a neuro rehabilitation setting with a multidisciplinary team.
- Experience of facilitating/ running groups.
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential criteria
- To demonstrate excellent communication skills (such as active listening, verbal, non-verbal and written).
- To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.
- Good interpersonal skills – including observation, listening, empathy, sensitivity, tact and diplomacy.
- To develop skills in motivating patients and their families and / or carers to engage in the therapy.
- To understand the roles of others and recognise own boundaries.
- The ability to work collaboratively with patients, families, carers and colleagues.
- To demonstrate flexibility in approach to work and responsive to changing demands of the service and patients.
- Commitment to self-development through attendance of relevant training
Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential criteria
- Good auditory and perceptual skills, e.g. ability to notice changes in patient presentation including speech and communication.
- The ability to use own initiative, but know when to seek advice.
- The ability to work both under direct supervision and also autonomously/ without supervision.
- To complete risk assessments and continually evaluate risk in relation to all aspects of safety regarding self, patient and colleagues.
- To demonstrate the ability to reflect on own strengths and development needs, actively participating in supervisions and appraisals/performance development reviews.
- To understand an individual patients’ needs/preferences, including consideration of cultural and linguistic differences.
- To demonstrate an understanding of the implications of disability on peoples’ lives.
Planning and Organisation Skills
Essential criteria
- The ability to manage and prioritise own workload.
- Flexibility to re-organise diary/sessions as required to meet more urgent service demands.
- The ability to participate in the organisation and administration of training programmes.
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s “We are here for you” behavioural standards.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Dent
- Job title
- Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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