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Original poster

Is speech and language therapy a good career for

32 replies

Diamondring · 19/01/2015 21:05

my dd? She is quite academic and likely to get a set of very good GCSEs. It appeals to her because it's a bit science-y, but also involved working with people.

What's the path into it? Undergraduate degree course? Any recommendations where best to go?

OP posts:
Original poster
Diamondring · 20/01/2015 09:10

Languages degree then Masters sounds like a good plan...
Possibly being naive but as she's still years away from working I thought putting off because of poor job prospects might be a bit defeatist?

OP posts:
SanityClause · 20/01/2015 08:46

I know a Speech Therapist, who is considering returning to work after being a SAHM for some years. She had mostly worked with children.

She won't return to that field because budget cuts to services make work more precarious and less rewarding (as not enough work can be done with the children, because they aren't seen often enough).

Possibly work with the elderly may be better funded?

longtallsally2 · 20/01/2015 08:39

I investigated this for my niece recently, as she was considering SALT. We spoke to two speech therapists, one on the NHS who was very pessimistic. Her particular service hadn't taken on any new graduates for years. There were plenty of experienced, qualified therapists available and plenty of qualified therapists, prepared to volunteer to get the experience, just no employment market for newcomers. That friend has been a speech therapist for 30 years, having qualified at Reading through their excellent undergrad course.

Another friend did a languages degree, then a masters in Speech Therapy and she was more optimistic. She felt that it was valuable for her having the degree as she could work in other areas, and that it hadn't held her back as a speech therapist - in fact she is doing very well on the career ladder.

By this time, my niece had decided to do something else altogether!

HTH

Essexmum69 · 20/01/2015 08:33

If thinking about the "Professions allied to Medicine" as they are termed, then physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, radiography, pharmacy.......
They all require a specific university degree in order to get state registration.
SALT are always in demand, but it is not quite my area so I cant advise on specific unis.

Original poster
Diamondring · 20/01/2015 07:01

Hopeful bump Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Diamondring · 19/01/2015 21:14

Thanks. What other related options are there?

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 19/01/2015 21:09

I think it could be very rewarding and if its what she really wants she should go for it, but as there have been so many cuts and most authorities operate on a shoestring I would tell her to be realistic and consider other related options if possible.