Retraining as a Speech and Language Therapist - am I crazy?

[Killerpinkflamingo]

I’ve posted in Work, but I wanted to post here as well for traffic and honest opinions!

I’m 35 years old and have worked in University admin for 10 years. I have been in my current role for 2 years, and they have offered me a promotion to the next grade. If I had been offered this promotion a couple of years ago, I would have probably bitten their hand off. But things have changed over the past year or so.

I really, really hate my job. My department is full of egos, and there is a real blame culture. Two colleagues are off sick with no sign of replacing them, and my team (what is left of us) is awful. No support, and I dread the days. I think it’s got to the point where I am sick to death of the university, (and I am definitely sick of admin!) and want a change.

I have always wanted to be a Speech and Language Therapist. There is an MSc in Speech and Language Therapy at the uni that I would love to do. To get on the course, you need a first degree in any subject - which I have - and speech and language therapy work experience. I have interviews for volunteer positions at the Children’s Hospital, and with a charity called Speak with IT, who offer therapy to people who are suffering aphasia after a stroke. My idea was I could quit my job, and apply for some part time work around these volunteer positions, so that I can get experience and apply for the MSc, hopefully to start in September. My current job is a nightmare to get time off from, and some of the volunteering is during the week - I highly doubt they would let me have regular time off so I could volunteer for something completely unrelated to my job.

My partner is completely supportive and wants me to do this - he says I’ve been stressed and upset for the past year and he wants me to do something that makes me happy. We have no kids, so I just need a job that gives me enough money to pay my half of the rent/food etc. Every time I think about throwing myself into this Speech and Language Therapy plan, I feel so enthusiastic and excited - I haven’t felt like that in ages. But at other times I have doubts - am I mad to give up a salary? I feel like I might be a bit insane to walk from a job with a decent salary, pension and benefits - but I really am so utterly miserable and can’t see this promotion doing anything but bringing more stress and misery. Any words of advice would be very much appreciated!

A few posters have said they are Speech & Language Therapists and have said what a wonderful and rewarding job it is (I'll try and find the thread) so if you're in a position to do it, go for it :)

I'm a speech and language therapy assistant and it really is a wonderful job. I would say if you have the opportunity and the support go to it. There's lots of different types of SLT jobs, adult or children. I work with children both NT and those with learning difficulties/ASD.

I came from a nursing background in the acute sector where everything is manic and everyone is stressed, tired and overworked. Now working in community and the difference is unbelievable. I wouldn't hesitate at retraining if I were in your position.

Id be really interested to work with people with autism. Itdoes look a fascinating job.

I often wonder similarly about OT but there's onky 3 year courses here

A friend of mine started the MSc at 37 and is in the 2nd year now. It's a really hard programme and she's working incredibly hard balancing it with it two small children but is really enjoying it and is so happy about having her career change well under way.

I'm not a SLT but work closely with them and with OT too ( for later poster). They are fantastic jobs and I would do either in a heartbeat. The state of the NHS is another matter at the moment but I still love my job as an allied health professional. You can always go private!! You only live once, follow your dream!

You have some great work experience lined up. Working with children is also great experience with young children and how they pick up language e.g. friends children or volunteering at playgroups etc. Good luck!

SLT here! I work with children and families, and various educational settings. It's a great job as far as the clients go, and seeing people improve or achieve something because of YOUR help is incredibly rewarding! You also have a lot of freedom in how you manage your caseload and approach different situations which is both scary and exciting! Chatting with colleagues about different approaches when you're a bit stuck is really interesting as well.
Unfortunately the profession, as everywhere else, is getting hit with less funding and higher expectations. Some work is now passed on to support practitioners (fabulous and incredibly skilled people!) or schools/nurseries are asked to take on the management of communication needs following training from yourself which means that some things are less hands on and more consultation for the qualified SLTs.
I'd say go for it because there's a great need, lots of different fields to work in, and the flexibility to go private down the line.
Good luck!

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! I’ve been lurking on mumsnet for a while and I’ve seen how mumsnetters post such fabulous advice It is great to hear people who work in the field speaking so positively about it! I think I need to be brave and take a leap of faith. I’m feeling even more excited about this now!

Go for it! The only thing I'd say is that SALT MSc courses are very competitive, and even with good experience and qualifications you may not get a place the first time you apply. Do you have a plan B - do the course at a different uni/work for a year and apply again - in case you don't get on the course? I hope you won't need one, but it's something to consider, especially if you are going to quit your job.

I retrained as an OT at 30 and don’t regret it. Go for it. Good luck!

There is a huge shortage of SALTs. The one I work with is bloody brilliant. I'd do it I think it's a good choice.

You are young and have a long working life ahead if you. Absolutely go for it!

@MightyAtlantic that’s what I am concerned about - I know how competitive the course is, and I know that I may not get a place, even with experience. That is why I am a bit wobbly about quitting my job, I think. But - if I stay in this job, I won’t be able to get as much volunteer experience as I want anyway due to being full time, and my employers being very difficult when it comes to booking annual leave. And I’m so miserable there. I think I should leave and try my best - if I don’t get on the course this time, I can get a job elsewhere, work for a year and try again. Just need to be brave and hand my notice in now...

@Killerpinkflamingo I’m an SLT - I work in the community in a (wonderful) neuro rehab team, so working with people who have had strokes, and who have acquired and progressive neurological conditions. I initially did a French degree and was going to to the msc, but living in London found it difficult to get much work experience whilst doing paid work. Because the msc is so competitive, I decided it would be easier to do the 4 year course. It was still pretty tough!

Anyway, I massively recommend the career. I love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else. If you have any questions at all, I’d be happy to answer them if I can.

Also an SLT - I really enjoy my job (paediatric clinic and schools). Lots of my colleagues trained later with the MSc so definitely worth doing :)
There is a lot of negatives to working in the NHS but at the end of the day I can honestly say that I enjoy my job which it sounds like you can't so I would go for it!

(I'm also happy to answer any questions - I'll talk shop any time :))

Do it! I trained as a physio at 30, I had 3 small kids then, the course was tough but worth it. I worked in a specialist Learning Disability team for 8 years with SALTs it's a lovely profession.

DS sees a SALT once a fortnight, and she is brilliant. The progress that he’s made with her help is mind blowing. It must be so rewarding to do!

I thought I’d come back to this thread and give an update. I got an offer for the MMedSci in Speech and Language Therapy yesterday, and I start in September 😃 I’m so, so happy! Thank you for all your advice and encouragement. I can’t wait to start my new career!

@Killerpinkflamingo Hey! I've actually just come across your post online after doing a google search. I'm in a very similar position to your original post. I've been thinking of retraining in SALT for a while, but I have no relevant experience and I've been told that because of this and the fact that it's been so long since I did my degree (I'm 32), I'd need to think about doing a PGcert or PGDip before even being eligible to apply and I'm stuck! I just wondered what it was that you did in the end to get your place? Congrats btw! I hope it's been going okay? I guess 2020 was probably a difficult time to start a new course!

@CaliDreamer Hi! My course is at the University of Sheffield. Their entry requirements were: a 2:1 degree in any subject, and work experience with at least two different client groups that SLTs work with (so basically, adults and children).

My degree is in Media and English, and I graduated in 2006! They didn’t mind at all that it was so long ago, and I don’t have to do any top up courses or anything.

I didn’t have any relevant experience, so I got it by volunteering. Firstly, I got voluntary work in the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. They open their applications for volunteering at the end of September, so I applied, was invited to interview and got it So that was one afternoon a week (until the pandemic put a stop to that!).

I also found a charity called Speak with IT, who provide computer therapy for people who have had a stroke. I found them through Google, when I was researching Speech and Language Therapy. I applied to volunteer through their website, and did a couple of Saturdays a month.

It’s also worth remembering that, for Sheffield at least, its not the quantity of the volunteering that is important, it’s the quality. I had only been volunteering for a month when I went for the Masters interview - but because I could reflect on what I had learnt, and discuss real life experiences, I got a place

I hope this helps! Best of luck

Oh, and I forgot to say - thank you for the congratulations! It is going well and I am really enjoying it, but I definitely DID NOT make it easy for myself by starting an intensive masters course in the middle of a pandemic