Job summary
We are recruiting We are an innovative and dynamic speech therapy team, who have established and expanded Learning Disabilities SLT services across Suffolk, and are looking for an enthusiastic person to join us as a Speech Therapy Assistant.
This post offers an exciting opportunity for a skilled and dedicated person to join our Speech & Language Therapy team, delivering services for adults with Learning Disability & Autism. We are seeking an assistant practitioner who is passionate about delivering quality services, and who has experience of working with people with complex communication needs. Successful candidates will also have opportunities and excellent support to develop clinical competencies relevant to their role.
If your values are optimistic, appreciative and kind and you are interested in making a difference to the lives of people with a learning disability either by supporting people to communicate or to have safe and enjoyable mealtimes, this job will give you this experience.
Due to this post being within the community it is essential for the successful candidate to be able to drive and have access to a vehicle.
Interviews planned w/c 13th April.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will support qualified speech and language therapists deliver specialist assessments and interventions for people with a learning disability who present with complex communication difficulties and/ or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. The role may include working alongside MDT colleagues to support people who present with behaviours that challenge. Organising and delivering training packages and undertaking signing trainer training will also be a key component of this role as part of our Inclusive Communication service. The post holder will also support service delivery through office-based tasks such as making person centered communication and dysphagia resources and completing timely admin and clinical correspondence. There will also be an element of advocating for those with communication and /or dysphagia needs via networking and attendance at local and regional advocacy events and meetings.
We encourage all staff to develop their dysphagia competencies relevant to their role to support people referred with swallowing problems.
You will be based in one of our community clinics, though there is likely to be an element of remote working. Some countywide travel may be required at times.
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here -
Details
Date posted
24 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
432-HR1312-25
Job locations
Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Job description
Job responsibilities
For full details of theresponsibilitiesand duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For full details of theresponsibilitiesand duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Qualified Associate Practitioner/ Nursing Associate diploma level or equivalent qualification e.g. NVQ level 3, plus short courses or relevant experience up to diploma level
* Car Driver: Ability to travel to different places of work/driving licence.
Desirable
* Competencies at level of Assistant Dysphagia Practitioner, or equivalent
* Evidence of attendance at relevant specialist courses: (e.g. Makaton, positive behaviour support, intensive interaction)
Experience
Essential
* Experience of working in acute/community health care settings, or equivalent caring experience
* Experience of liaising with other agencies/other staff groups
* Experience of working with adults with a learning disability and/ or neurodevelopmental differences.
Desirable
* Experience of working with people with eating/drinking/swallowing/ communication difficulties
* Experience of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
* Experience of delivering training to groups
* Experience of prioritising own work independently and problem solving as appropriate
Knowledge
Essential
* A good understanding of the role of speech and language therapists working with people with swallowing and communication difficulties.
* Knowledge of different methods of communication.
* Knowledge of range of communication/ swallowing difficulties and differences experienced by people with a learning disability.
Desirable
* Knowledge of alternative/ augmentative communication systems (powered and paper based)
* Knowledge of the roles of MDT colleagues in community teams.
* Awareness of NHS legislation and legal frameworks e.g. Mental Capacity Act.
* Knowledge of safeguarding policies and processes.
* Knowledge of the wider needs of adults with a learning disability.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Qualified Associate Practitioner/ Nursing Associate diploma level or equivalent qualification e.g. NVQ level 3, plus short courses or relevant experience up to diploma level
* Car Driver: Ability to travel to different places of work/driving licence.
Desirable
* Competencies at level of Assistant Dysphagia Practitioner, or equivalent
* Evidence of attendance at relevant specialist courses: (e.g. Makaton, positive behaviour support, intensive interaction)
Experience
Essential
* Experience of working in acute/community health care settings, or equivalent caring experience
* Experience of liaising with other agencies/other staff groups
* Experience of working with adults with a learning disability and/ or neurodevelopmental differences.
Desirable
* Experience of working with people with eating/drinking/swallowing/ communication difficulties
* Experience of working as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
* Experience of delivering training to groups
* Experience of prioritising own work independently and problem solving as appropriate
Knowledge
Essential
* A good understanding of the role of speech and language therapists working with people with swallowing and communication difficulties.
* Knowledge of different methods of communication.
* Knowledge of range of communication/ swallowing difficulties and differences experienced by people with a learning disability.
Desirable
* Knowledge of alternative/ augmentative communication systems (powered and paper based)
* Knowledge of the roles of MDT colleagues in community teams.
* Awareness of NHS legislation and legal frameworks e.g. Mental Capacity Act.
* Knowledge of safeguarding policies and processes.
* Knowledge of the wider needs of adults with a learning disability.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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Employer details
Employer name
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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