speech therapist

[Feelingsensitive]

I am interested in becoming a speech and language therapist. Does anyone do this and would you tell me what you do/don't like about your job? I already have a science degree and a nursing background but ahvent worked for the last 7 years. I have seen an MSc I could apply for but not sure if thats the way to go. Should I try and get an assistants role first. If so, how do I do this? All help and advice welcome. Thanks.

I meant not worked for 4 years.

I'm an SLT (now working at band 7/ highly specialist after 8 years qualified) and I did my training on one of the Master's courses. The competition is really tough as the courses are NHS funded and you get a small bursary (or at least I did).

When I studied they wanted evidence of recent study and commitment if it meant a career change. I held down my full time job and volunteered for the Stroke Association on a weekend working with people who had language difficulties after a stroke, but even that wasn't enough when I applied so I also observed an SLT in paediatrics for a couple of days.#

However work shadowing is increasingly hard to come by, so

RCSLT often do 'taster days' for people interested in joining the profession so might be worth emailing them: RCSLT

Re becoming an assistant, contact your local SLT department and ask if there are any vacancies, or opportunities for observation days. They can be quite competitive too though; some Trusts (including mine) will sponsor employees who wish to go on to achieve qualified status so it's little suprise

Things I like (bearing in mind I work with adults): the variety - everyone's brain is different and so two patients with brain damage in the same place can present differently; and have different communication needs. Helping people to see how important the ability to communicate is. Meeting some truly amazing, brave, people and having the privelege of helping them come to terms with a major life change and the next phase of their life. It can be extremely rewarding.

Things I don't like: It's a relatively new profession (post war) and so there is a lot of rapid development and change in the ideas and theory of speech therapy as a 'science'. What you are doing in therapy one day, can be labelled 'ineffective' the next. The NHS as you will know isn't always a fun place to work. Older doctors will see you as a silly 'girl' with very little to contribute to patient care, because you are not the person that gets them back on their feet and out of a hospital bed. All hail the Physios and OT's

Was so demoralised by this I left to do a secondment for a year in an unrelated NHS job..but am going back in a couple of months with some much needed perspective.

Hope that's given you at least a bit more info to go by!

Oh - good luck

Thanks so much. Your information is invaluable. Do you think my age would present as a barrier to getting a job? I am somewhat paranoid about this. Thanks again.

No most definitely not, there are a lot of 'mature' entrants to the profession - prob about 30% of my students. It is one of the few health related professions that is still 9-5 Mon-Fri - although that is not likely to last for too much longer if you work with adults (especially with dysphagic patients).

The generally held view is that those with a bit of life experience can offer a great deal and are good at handling difficult situations - not being able to ask for the loo or tell someone you love them or being able to enjoy a meal can all be highly emotive subjects. I should think with a nursing background you have experienced all this too. That isn't to say that younger entrants can't be empathetic of course

Thanks again. I am going to start job hunting to find something that gives me relevant experience. The closing date for the MSc starting next year is 10th November this year. That gives me 6 months to try and get some relevant voluntary work in. If I don't get in I can try again next year gives me another year. Last question if you don't mind. Do most people work in the NHS or is there scope to work in the private sector and if so what is this like? I ask as someone who has worked in the NHS previously, I am well aware of its limitation and woudl like to think I could puruse a diufferent avenue at some point if I wished.

Thanks again. I am going to print this off and keep it.

Probably about 98% work in the NHS; ASLTIP is the registered body for independent therapists. I had a couple of years where I did a session a week private work alongside my NHS sessions, and whilst this worked well, as patients were reassured by the fact that I was still employed in the NHS, when I sat down and added in all the extra things I did (prep for sessions, reports, publicity, answering emails) I actually made about the same as I did for my NHS work but with a zillion times more hassle.

There is much more scope for private work if you see children tho' - mine was just adults.

It would not generally be something you did until you had quite a bit of experience though, as you tend to get the medicolegal or insurance work, caseloads tend to be more complex, and since unlike the NHS there is often no-one else around if you need a quick chat with someone to make sure you're on the right lines, you do need to be confident in your decisions.

ASLTIP have an email support group but it's not quite the same as sticking your head round someone's door!

Do stick with it - I didn't get in the first year I applied but was lucky the next time

Thanks again. I am off to send an email about the taster days. I am very excited now.