Speech and Language Therapist
Support young people with communication problems
What does a Speech and Language Therapist do?
A Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) provides treatment and support for children, young people and adults who have problems with communication, as well as eating, drinking and swallowing.
SLTs lead a varied working life. In education settings, they will:
Assess children and young people’s communication needs
Prepare and execute tailored treatment programmes
Liaise with other healthcare professionals
Carry out individual or group therapy sessions
Create reports and maintain records
Liaise with families and guardians
This is a mission-critical position for many schools’ SEND support programmes.
What qualifications do I need to become a Speech and Language Therapist?
To become a Speech and Language Therapist, you must undertake an undergraduate or postgraduate degree accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or a degree apprenticeship in Speech and Language Therapy.
What types of schools do Speech and Language Therapists work in?
SLTs can be found in all school settings, from nurseries to sixth form colleges.
Speech and Language Therapists will operate in both mainstream and special schools, Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision settings.
Where can a job as a Speech and Language Therapist take me?
The first year of your career as an SLT will be spent working towards full certification as a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. This initial year will also offer you the chance to specialise in supporting particular disorders.
Working as an SLT in schools will allow you to move across to roles in the NHS.
Several years of work experience will put you in contention for a Senior Speech and Language Therapist role. This will involve greater people management duties.
Eventually, a Senior SLT could achieve the post of head of a Speech and Language Therapy service.