Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
This post is for a speech and language therapy apprentice. This post is open to band 4 clinical support staff who have completed the 2 year assistant practitioner apprenticeship (SLT pathway).
Main duties of the job
This is a developmental role over 2 years. You will work towards successful completion of a BSc (Hons) degree in Speech and Language therapy and recognition by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Speech and Language Therapist. You will develop and
maintain knowledge, skills and competencies related to the role of a Speech and Language therapist through your apprenticeship through work-based learning in a variety of clinical settings and through completion of the Speech and Language therapy training programme at
the University of Essex, incorporating a minimum of hours (75days) of clinical placement.
The Speech and Language Therapy Apprenticeship course combines and integrates academic and work-based learning through close collaboration between NELFT and the University (HEI) as the education provider. You can expect to spend two days per week in university during term
time (Colchester campus) and there will be two 6 week block placements and one 3 week block placement. You will engage in the usual delivery of the service for days you are not in university or placement as an integral member of your team.
Working for our organisation
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
We are kind. We are respectful. We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To attend University and clinical placements as set out in the apprenticeship programme.
• To engage closely with the Work Based Mentor, as well as clinical supervisors and practice educators to support learning in the workplace (tripartite reviews) and whilst undertaking practice placements.
• To complete and pass academic modules and clinical placements to the required standard in order to progress through the programme.
• To undertake a wide range of academic assessments including written assignments, presentations, practical demonstrations, viva voce, and completion of a portfolio.
• To ensure timely achievement in accordance with the academic programme requirements
• To complete and pass the End Point Assessment/s.
• To organise and manage a dedicated clinical caseload in each placement, which will include gaining knowledge and experience of providing Speech and Language therapy assessments and interventions for patients with a variety of speech and communication needs.
• To demonstrate application of the Speech and Language therapy skills across a wide range of clinical settings via clinical placements.
• To demonstrate patient-centred care based on underpinning evidence-based principles.
• To accept increasing clinical responsibility as required clinical competencies are demonstrated under supervision of team leader and work-based mentor attached to the apprenticeship programme.
Certificates of Sponsorship
Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.
Use of AI
Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade A*-C/4-9, or equivalent).
2. Relevant Foundation Degree or equivalent level 5 qualifications with SLT evidence (typically AP)
3. Applicants are expected to demonstrate evidence of recent academic achievement (within last 5 years) such that they may be deemed capable of study
4. Must meet relevant university entry criteria for relevant route.
5. Care Certificate
6. Permanent member of NELFT staff and have completed your probationary period
7. Right to work in the UK for the duration of the planned apprenticeship
8. Not be undertaking any other government funded training programme
9. Be working a minimum of 30 hours per week for NELFT in a relevant professional practice setting
Experience
Essential criteria
10. Currently working as a Speech and Language therapy assistant or in a similar speech and language therapy support role.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
11. An awareness of NHS priorities
12. Ability to assist patients to achieve safe working environments for treatments to be carried out and perform treatments in a variety of settings
13. Understanding of the scope of the role of the apprentice and Speech and Language therapy assistant in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
14. A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
15. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity.
16. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
17. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.