AAC Assistant Practitioner

Ace Centre is a national charity offering a range of Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) services for people with physical and communication impairments and those who support them.

We are looking to recruit an AAC Assistant Practitioner to join the friendly and supportive multi-disciplinary team of therapists, teachers, engineers, and technicians in our North office, based in Oldham.

This role would suit a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant or Teaching Assistant. It is an exciting opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in relation to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) across a wide range of settings. We work closely with colleagues in health, education, and social care to provide a genuinely person-centred service in a variety of locations, including hospitals, community locations, people's own homes, schools, and colleges.

You will support clients across the North West region and the role will involve travel and occasional overnight stays.

Essential requirements:

• Minimum NVQ level 4 or equivalent knowledge, training and experience.
• Experience of working in an education, health or social care setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with the use of ICT, including MS Office.
• Empathy/understanding with Ace Centre client group.
• Commitment to develop and maintain your knowledge of AAC and AT resources and strategies in order to deliver Ace Centre services.
• Able to work flexibly when required, including occasional overnight stays.
• Car driver with own use of own car and appropriate business insurance.
• Willing to travel across the geographical area covered by Ace Centre to deliver your role.
• Enhanced DBS certificate.

Desirable:

• Education, health or social care related qualification.
• Experience of working with individuals with physical and/or communication disabilities, their families and professionals who support them.
• Knowledge of a range of AAC and AT solutions and applications.

As an AAC Practitioner, you will work closely with our AAC Consultants (therapists and teachers) and independently with a small caseload. You will play a key role in supporting children and adults with communication difficulties, helping them to achieve specific goals using AAC tools and strategies to solve communicative challenges.

You will assist in the delivery of Ace Centre's assessment, training, and information services as directed by AAC Consultants or AAC Engineers.

Your key tasks will include:

• Preparing communication equipment and materials for demonstration and loan to clients as part of the assessment process.
• Providing training for clients and carers on programming and maintenance of communication equipment.
• Assisting with the installation of client equipment and training following assessment.
• Providing onsite/telephone and remote implementation support to clients following initial assessment.
• Making required modifications/adaptations to resources and take backups following adaptations.
• Developing and delivering assessment-related, client-focused training materials.
• Creating bespoke resources as requested.
• Maintaining client and equipment records on all relevant databases.
• Providing general AAC advice and information as requested/required.

Closing date for applications is 3rd November 2026.

Interviews will be held on 12th & 13th November 2026.

Ace Centre offers excellent CPD opportunities, a competitive salary and membership of a generous pension scheme with Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

We are an equal opportunities employer; we welcome enquiries from everyone and value diversity in our workforce.

Pay: £29,541.00-£37,563.00 per year

Benefits:

• Free parking
• On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Oldham OL8 3QL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• A-Level or equivalent (required)

Experience:

• working in an education, health or social care setting: 1 year (required)

Language:

• English (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person