Allied health course - no jobs!

[DownstairsMixUp]

I'm shortly due to finish my course which I was told was quite an in demand profession. I absolutely love it and have been reassured through university that jobs would come up by February and there's been nothing in my field at the band I need to start on (band 5)

I have waited till mid May but I'm reluctant to keep dipping into my savings so I'm thinking I'll have to just go for any job until jobs in my specific profession come up.

Has anyone else had this experience? How did you manage to bridge the gap if so? I'm 35 and have two children so desperately need some work!

[Hairyfairy01]

Absolutely, I don't blame you at all. I suspect I may be in a similar position next year.

[DownstairsMixUp]

It is a shame for the nhs but I can see why it's falling to pieces. Nhs offering a lot less but a harder caseload and a lot of red tape. I was so set on working with the nhs but the benefits of private salt was too good to turn down!

[Hairyfairy01]

Fabulous news but what a shame for the NHS whom, in my area at least are crying out for SALT's. Good luck in your career OP.

[DisforDarkChocolate]

Fabulous news @DownstairsMixUp

[DownstairsMixUp]

Update: got a job outside nhs, better pay to! As much as I love the nhs this role sounds better suited to me x

[sandycloud]

Don't just look on nhs jobs. Look on the rcslt website too. Lots of independent schools and practices post there.

[Tinytigertail]

We've had a few NQs who have joined us as B4 SLTAs and moved into their B5 from there. The issue our Trust has, is a chronic shortage of B6 SLTs, so this creates issues for training new B5s. There are lots of Private companies out there you could do some work for. Good luck!

[OwlTherapist]

So sorry to hear your job struggles. We have a fab MDT Team and have freelance and employed roles available. Look up The Owl Centre online and pop an application form across if you’re interested or email me directly [email protected]

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thanks caria, the placement I'm on now are quite familiar with me as I've had two placements with them! Absolutely love it there and they've encouraged me to apply when the vacancy comes up, it's just not come up! Voluntary is something I could do though whilst I'm waiting for roles to apply for so not a bad idea!

[DownstairsMixUp]

I'm quite mobile! Have my own car can travel around 40 mile circle of where I live, i have a disabled son so it's about as far as I can to to work around the care provisions he has. Not in a position to relocate right now as im close to a relative who I help with, but they are 86 and the plan is to leave this area once their time has come. I have noticed the area we want to go seems to have a lot more vacancies going for it to as I've had a snoop at the schools/jobs/houses.

Not looked at ald but I would 100% consider and will look into that now. I think, mostly adults for me is I never enjoyed the dysphagia and that seemed to be a massive part of the adult placements I was on. Maybe that's put me off!

[PermanentTemporary]

There's a lovely band 5 rotation post in paeds and ALD going in Birmingham, any good?

[cariaaad]

SLT here. We've had a few previous students who have initially volunteered with us starting just before graduating then have gone on to get band 5 jobs when they've come up. It's good to get your face known and show what you can do. I understand this is tough though if you need to start earning ASAP. You could ask around to see if this is possible.

[PermanentTemporary]

Im an slt. How mobile are you? I was lucky enough to have a clinical band 4 come up locally just as I was despairing. I grabbed that and within 2 weeks interviewed for a band 5 in the same Trust.

I think you have to prioritise. Locality, client group, band - pick two! Are you prepared to relocate? That was going to be my next step. There is a lot more remote working available now which might help, though I can't imagine being a fully remote band 5 tbh.

What about adult ALD posts? That way you'll be doing lots of communication and working with developmental conditions, but with a different client group.

I assume you're in touch with groups of schools like the Ambitious about Autism schools? And there is more structured private stuff out there now, but yes it might be harder to get a proper training post. You only need one though.

[DownstairsMixUp]

Hiya, I think you misunderstood. :) someone asked me if I had a preference and I said. I'm just happy to work as a children's therapist and happy to explore all fields. Social communication is just an area I enjoy a lot but I'm not waiting for that to specifically come up.

[BendingSpoons]

It depends a bit on area. We struggled to recruit to our B5 posts earlier in the year, but it's central London. The demand for private therapy is huge, so you could look at that, especially if you price yourself a bit cheaper. Also see if anywhere is taking on bank staff or jobs outside the NHS e.g. employed by a school or an independent company.

[Cheeseandlobster]

@DownstairsMixUp

No band 4 roles going at the mo in my field, there's band 3 admin stuff!

Im slt and want to work with children, ideally social communication! All my placements bar one have been adult as adult just didn't grab my interest as much!

Mental health - I also like this area to but again nothings up currently - I'm wondering if it's a bad time of year to look!?

Ahp here too. Sorry but you are being too picky. Gain some experience first in an area you might not be so keen on then keep looking. That's what I had to do

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thank you. Definitely something to consider if it gets much harder!

[QuintanaRoo]

@DownstairsMixUp

I did think of private work but would anyone want to work with me as a newly qualified?

I think so. There’s meant to be a real shortage of nhs positions so the wait lists must be long. If I had a kid with a long nhs list facing us I’d pay for someone who was qualified……you’re up to date which is a bonus.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I did think of private work but would anyone want to work with me as a newly qualified?

[Diagonalsleeper]

https://www.integratedtreatmentservices.co.uk/careers/speech-and-language-therapy-vacancies/

[orangekiwiloot]

In SLT there's no bad or good time really. There's much less band 5 jobs in general compared to some fields as the pool in each team is so small. We only have 3 band 5 posts for a massive geographical area. It's just pot luck when they come up. Most of our staffing is part time band 6. This time of year there's more competition as all the graduates are looking.

Check RCSLT and also the jobs groups on Facebook as different jobs come up there that you don't see on NHS jobs. In peads there's more private enterprises / contract work than in adults.

[Dinopawus]

Could you look at education settings or charities? Charity jobs are often advertised on third sector jobs.

[QuintanaRoo]

How about private work, is that possible? People will pay who don’t quite meet nhs threshold or don’t want to wait.

[DownstairsMixUp]

No band 4 roles going at the mo in my field, there's band 3 admin stuff!

Im slt and want to work with children, ideally social communication! All my placements bar one have been adult as adult just didn't grab my interest as much!

Mental health - I also like this area to but again nothings up currently - I'm wondering if it's a bad time of year to look!?

[Dinopawus]

Depending on your field, MH is a good shout as lots of vacancies and so opportunities for SLT & OT, less so for physios. Community is worth considering too.

But what job would you really truly like to do? Even if it's dead man's shoes try to make links with the dept so that the staff know you are keen if any hours become available.

I'd recommend keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date too and making connections with roles and topics that interest you.