SLT Health Care Support Worker - Speech & Language Therapy Adult Acute

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Speech and Language Therapy Adult Acute Services at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for a Band 4 Health Care Support Worker (HCSW). The post will be based across acute and rehabilitation wards.

The successful candidate will support patients with communication and swallowing difficulties by implementing treatment programmes under the direction of a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT). You will work as part of the SLT acute team, contributing to patient care and supporting therapy delivery, with regular supervision, support, and training opportunities provided.

All roles will be assessed for sponsorship eligibility in line with current Home Office requirements. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) can only issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) where these are met.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

• Location: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (acute and rehabilitation wards)
• Contract Type: Permanent, Full time
• Hours: 36 hours per week, 5 days over 7
  
  

Key Responsibilities

You will support the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy services by carrying out therapeutic programmes designed by SLTs for patients on an individual and group basis. You will work directly with patients, implementing treatment plans, adapting activities to meet individual needs, and preparing patients for therapy sessions, including positioning and initial engagement with patients and carers. You will use your judgement to make appropriate adjustments while maintaining the intended level of intervention.

You will provide both clinical and administrative support to SLTs, including preparing therapy materials, maintaining patient records, collecting and recording clinical data, and ensuring accurate documentation and statistical information. The role also involves undertaking delegated tasks such as telephone screening, basic assessments, observations, and obtaining valid consent for treatment programmes under defined protocols.

Communication is a key aspect of the role, as you will liaise with patients, carers, and multidisciplinary teams, acting as a patient representative when appropriate. You will provide feedback on patient progress and contribute to team discussions to support effective care delivery. You will also support patients with feeding plans, ensuring compliance and escalating any issues to SLTs or ward staff.

In addition, the role includes indirect clinical support duties such as managing and prioritising your own workload, organising clinic schedules and appointments, maintaining therapy resources and communication aids, and supporting stock management. You may also provide guidance and informal supervision to less experienced support workers and contribute to staff induction and training activities, particularly in areas such as Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) systems.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Formal training and/or experience in a relevant discipline (e.g. SVQ Level III or equivalent in health, therapy, or care support)
• Good working knowledge of IT systems, including document preparation, data inputting, and digital communication (e.g. email)
• Understanding of supporting patients with communication and swallowing difficulties
• Ability to follow clinical guidelines and implement delegated therapy programmes
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage workload effectively
• Good communication and interpersonal skills for working with patients, carers, and multidisciplinary teams
• Willingness to undertake training and development as required, including specialist areas such as AAC
  
  

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies
  
  

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact: Cairstiona O’Rourke, Clinical Specialist SLT on 0141 451 6368 or Cairstiona.orourke@nhs.scot

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process:

This post may close early due to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible.

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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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