Speech Therapy Assistant Course. Part time. Portobello Institute

Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Part time (Health Service Skills)

This Health Service Skills Certificate with an emphasis on Speech and Language Therapy provides training for Care Assistants and Speech Therapy assistants and equips them with the skills and knowledge to care for clients in a safe and hygienic environment. You will gain a knowledge of varying roles of the speech and language therapy assistant in clinical practice and an awareness of ways to assist the speech & language therapist in the preparation and implementation of therapeutic programmes.

Speech and language therapy assistants work with Speech Therapists to help people to minimise or overcome impaired speech, voice, language or swallowing difficulties. They also help people with psychiatric disorders, people who have suffered from head injuries and those who are learning to cope with a degenerative disease.

On the Speech and Language Therapy Assistant course, you will gain a knowledge of the application of a wide range of communication styles and codes to speech and therapy practice. You will study the influences of physical, sensory, perceptual, cognitive and behavioral factors on receptive and expressive Communication. You will also gain an understanding of the need to provide supports to enable and enhance interpersonal communication, about group dynamics and group processes in therapy and the role of the speech therapy assistant in the safe management of eating, drinking and swallowing disorders.

Qualifications gained

FETAC Level 5 Major Award, Health Service Skills DHSSX

Entry requirement

Entry to this course is by direct application to the college. There are no previous academic requirements.

Course structure

This is a part time course. Delivery is by blended learning with a combination of distance learning modules and modules delivered by attending part -time classes for duration as listed in the dates given. Learner can start this blended learning programme at any stage by starting their distance learning modules. They will then take-up the first contact module Care Support in October 2013.

In October, students will study the Care Support module.

In January, students will study the Theory and Practice modules of the programme.

*Common Award - Any module that the learner begins prior to October 2013 must be completed in full prior to end of Nov 2013 to be submitted to FETAC.