Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner / Support Worker

You will work very closely with the Speech and Language Therapists working within the Head and Neck Cancer / Voice team, based at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. In addition you will also work as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team within this specialty. Work will include supporting specialist staff with patient assessments, ongoing therapy programmes and training, delivery of prehabilitation for patients due to undertake radiotherapy, supporting with ordering of specialist equipment, facilitating patient support groups. You can expect to receive regular supervision from a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and be encouraged to take an active part in service improvement, clinical governance and continuing professional development as appropriate to your role. You will also be supported by our experienced team of therapists, plus clerical support, which is based in our offices at The James Cook University Hospital.Working for our organisation We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our staff in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:

• Your Leadership Impact
• Service Improvement for Beginners
After you complete these one and a half days of training, you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team., It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [email protected] Right to Work in the UK The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process. Please note that not everyone needs a 'Skilled Worker' visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead. We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post. The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza. Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert. Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly. Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants. IMPORTANT - Please ensure you read the 'Guidance Notes for Applicants' document attached to this advert before you start to complete your application form. This document provides detailed advice regarding the completion of your application form. The guidance document also provides in detail what identification and certificates you must provide at interview should you be shortlisted. As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references from their last continuous 3 year employment and/or training/education. The referees MUST be a Line Manager/Supervisor. Applicants are requested to ensure email addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references and references from colleagues are not acceptable. Use of Artificial Intelligence in applications - please ensure you read the Guidance for Applicants document attached to this vacancy, Unfortunately we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated person who has previous experience of working within an Adult Speech and Language Therapy service in the NHS. Following successful funding to support a 12 month service development within the specialist area of Head and Neck cancer, we are looking for an enthusiastic person who is willing to learn and develop in this role. There is a possibility that permanent funding may be secured if post objectives are achieved. They will possess excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work both independently and within a multi-disciplinary team. This is a band 4 post, however, as this is such a specialist area we are willing to consider suitable Band 3 applicants who would work through a number of training objectives to achieve the desired competencies for progression. Experience of working with cancer patients and within speech therapy services is desirable. You will support therapists to provide a clinical Speech & Language Therapy service to people who have communication and/or swallowing impairments including voice disorders and particularly with patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer.