Assistant Practitioner in Speech and Language Therapy

Job summary
We require a dynamic and innovative Assistant Practitioner to work within our friendly Community Speech and Language Therapy Team. You will have experience of working within community health settings and with Speech and Language therapists working in the field of acquired communication and swallowing disorder in adults.

This Assistant Practitioner post is based at the Princess Royal Hospital site in Telford within the Therapies Department but will work across the East of the county in a variety of settings to include community hospital wards, care homes and patient's own homes. There may also be the opportunity to hold clinics in person or via telehealth.

The successful applicant will work in support of and alongside our team of friendly an experienced Speech and language Therapists.

Main duties of the job

• To assess and implement treatment programmes for delegated patients in the Community Speech and language Therapy department.
• To hold responsibility for own caseload with access to and support from senior professional staff as part of a comprehensive process of patient assessment and management
• To work as a member of the Community SLT therapy team, providing a high standard service to Communication impaired and swallow disordered patients in community and outpatient settings.
• Performs assessment of delegated patients with simple presentations of physical and psychological conditions. In partnership with the patient, identifies needs, formulates objectives and provides and delivers an individual treatment programme.
• Prioritises own work with access to supervision of professional staff in the Community therapy department, including a range of community settings to include, community hospitals, care homes, outpatient clinics and patient's own homes. Clinical work is routinely evaluated
• May provide day to day supervision and delegation of tasks to therapy assistants within team and to students.
• Takes decisions to progress interventions according to level of competency and training within agreed protocols if required. Has the freedom to discharge patients without referring back to professional staff.
• Responsible for assessing and ordering appropriate specialised equipment for patients, including demonstration and safe issue of this equipment.

About us
Our Poppy's Promise Commitment

We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team -- clinical or non-clinical -- plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.

We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.

Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.

By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values -- ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.

Hospital Transformation Programme (HTP)

Our Service will relocate to The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2028 as part of HTP. This move will bring specialist services together in a modern, purpose-built facility to improve patient care and team experience.

We are actively recruiting, and successful candidates will be expected to move with the Service in early 2028. The relocation will follow a formal management of change process, including full consultation and support for staff.

Job responsibilities
For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.

Qualifications

• Evidence of basic education in literacy and numeracy of GCSE Grade 9 - 4 or equivalent qualification.

Skills

• Ability to work independently to an agreed protocol and modifying programmes, as appropriate.
• Organisational skills and the ability to manage and prioritise own caseload.

Experience

• Previous work experience within the Therapy Care Group or Health Care environment e.g., Community Rehab/Therapy teams
• Previous experience of working in Speech and Language Therapy community and/or outpatient setting
• Previous experience of working with patients with communication or swallowing impairment.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of therapy interventions acquired through training or experience within a healthcare setting to foundation degree level
• Knowledge of the role of the assistant practitioner and the boundaries of the position.
• Basic understanding of the patient condition and its impact on the therapy intervention.

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.