Assistant Practitioner in Speech and Language Therapy

• 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.

Essential

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

Essential

• 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.

Essential

• 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.