Job overview

This is a Fixed Term / Secondment until 31/03/2023. If you are a Hywel Dda University Health Board employee and are applying for this post as a secondment, agreement for the secondment is needed from your current manager prior to application.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Ceredigion Speech and Language Therapy Service to work as a Speech and Language Therapy Associate Practitioner. We have two posts available for enthusiastic staff to work with Speech and Language Therapists, Ceredigion Local Authority Advisory Teachers and staff within our mainstream schools to help develop communication friendly environments in our 3-4 year old nursery classes.

The posts will involve following individual and group speech and language therapy programmes. The successful candidates will work in identified mainstream schools across Ceredigion. 

Main duties of the job

The practitioners will have excellent communication and organisational skills and will work alongside Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals in developing our universal provision to children with speech, language and communication needs in our 3-4 year old nursery classes. The successful candidates will be enthusiastic and strive to develop communication friendly environments of the highest standard in line with the Talk with Me Welsh government programme.

Previous experience of working with young children will be advantageous. You will need to be able to work independently as well as being a team player and understand the importance of spending time with your colleagues from a range of agencies to ensure that the support given is integrated. You will need to be able to meet the travelling requirements of the job.

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;

48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is essential for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 06/10/2022.

Person specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential criteria

  • NNEB, NVQ, Diploma in Speech and language therapy or other relevant level 4 qualification or equivalent experience
  • GCSE grade C or above in English and Mathematics
  • Relevant prior experience
  • Knowledge of issues relating to confidentiality
  • Desirable criteria

  • Evidence of role related CPD
  • Attendance at relevant short courses
  • Experience

    Essential criteria

  • Working with children who have communication difficulties in a range of settings
  • Working with families and teams of professionals
  • Desirable criteria

  • Previous NHS experience
  • Experience of working bilingually
  • Experience of using alternative and augmentaive technology
  • Experience of working with children who have complex needs
  • Language Skills

    Essential criteria

  • Welsh Speaker – Level 4
  • Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

    By submitting your application to NHS Jobs/Trac, you are giving your consent for elements of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation; to be used by Recruitment for purposes of checking your Professional Registration online (where applicable).

    These processes are in line with Fair and Lawful processing in line with current Data Protection Legislation especially those in relation to your personal or sensitive personal data (sensitive personal data is defined as any declared physical or mental health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, trade union membership, political opinion, religious beliefs). As an organisation, we ensure that the legislation defining confidentiality is observed such as use of data for specific, defined purposes, and use of data that is relevant and not excessive whilst practicing data accuracy and security of all held personal identifiable information (PII)

    If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

    To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa , unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK . If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

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