A world without the ability to communicate is a lonely place, which is why speech and language therapy is a lifeline for so many who struggle with speech and language needs. If you’re looking into speech and language therapy as a career, here’s everything you need to know, including interviews from SaLTs from Elysium about their career progression.
What does a speech and language therapist do?
As well as providing treatment, care and support for children developing their speech, SaLTs also care for adults affected by strokes or psychological trauma. Not only that, but they also help patients to overcome other complications, such as eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
Speech language therapists make a vast difference to a huge number of lives each year, combining the latest medical treatments with relationship building to get the best results for each patient.
How much does a speech and language therapist earn?
Newly qualified SLTs earn around £31,000 a year, while experienced roles have salaries of around £55,000. Actual salaries will vary by location and organisation. The typical working hours for a speech and language therapist are 40 hours per week, usually on weekdays, although some organisations may require weekend work.
Understanding the role of a SaLT
The role of a SaLT is a varied one, assessing, diagnosing, and treating adults and children who are living with a range of conditions, including:
- Difficulty producing sounds
- Hearing impairment
- Stammering and other voice disorders
- Developmental language disorder
- Cleft lips and palates
- Learning difficulties (mild, moderate, and severe)
- Associated physical and mental health issues
- Complications following neurological and degenerative issues, such as a stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and head injuries.
In the majority of cases, treatment will be a long-term process, giving SaLTs the chance to become a part of their patients’ lives, witnessing the benefits of their work in improving quality of life.
A day in the life of a speech and language therapist
A day in the life of a speech and language therapist is just as varied as the conditions they help to treat. However, a typical day in the life can include:
- The critical evaluation of patients to diagnose the issue and identify the underlying causes
- Creating an individual treatment programme that matches the needs of the patient
- Patient monitoring
- Liaising with family and other health workers
- Casework management and individual admin tasks
- Developing better assessment methods
- Training on new techniques and research methods
Lucy Ireland is a Quality Improvement Lead and Speech and Language Therapist at Elysium. Here, she walks us through some of her daily tasks:
“When I’m working as a Speech Therapist within the team, I’ll assess an individual, perhaps do a clinical evaluation of their swallowing at lunchtime and over a number of days, connect with the team about that, put in place a care plan with clear recommendations developed with the patient themselves and their family as well,” says Lucy. “Then that will be imparted to the whole team to enact. So it’s not the case that as a speech therapist, I deliver that every single day. But actually the team take ownership for those care plans and for the delivery.”
Is becoming a speech and language therapist right for you?
Speech language therapy is an extremely rewarding career path for those with empathy and patience. However, it isn’t without its challenges. Progress in tackling speech problems can be slow, with patients requiring a lot of attention and dedication. As Lucy says,
“It’s quite physically demanding job in that you’re working with people that can at times can be quite agitated and can be aggressive, so you need to be mindful of that and be responsive to it and be supportive towards yourself, your colleague and your patients.”
Every patient will present different challenges, and it’s down to the SaLT handling their case to formulate the best treatment plan. Creativity and adaptability often go hand-in-hand with treating speech and language conditions, as well as the excellent organisational and communication skills that will let you work as part of an effective and efficient team.
It goes without saying that anybody who is thinking about becoming a SaLT needs a desire to make a difference to the lives of others.
If that sounds like you, then here are the best ways to kickstart a career in speech and language therapy.
Educational pathways to becoming a SaLT
Becoming a speech and language therapist is not a quick career path. It’s a specialist role, one that requires a number of equally specialist qualifications before you can land your first post.
Here are the qualifications and experience you need to start your career in SaLT.
The entry requirements for an undergraduate degree (BSc/BA in Speech and Language Therapy)
The entry requirements for a speech and language therapy degree are the same as most university degrees. You need at least five relevant GCSEs, graded between A-C or 9-4. English language, science, and maths are all essential. An understanding of psychology, care, development and biology will also give you a head start.
A-levels (or equivalent qualifications, such as BTEC, HNC (with science, relevant NVQs, or HND) are typically a must to get you to the next step. Two or three A-levels are considered to be the norm, particularly in subjects including English, languages, sciences (such as human biology and physics), and/or psychology.
With those qualifications in place, you can secure a place at a university offering a BSc/BA undergraduate degree in Speech and Language Therapy.
Postgraduate degree (MSc/PGDip in Speech and Language Therapy)
If you have a degree in a related field (psychology, linguistics, or biology, for example) but not a BA in Speech and Language Therapy, then you can follow it up with a postgraduate qualification. An MSc/PGDip in Speech and Language Therapy can last up to three years, and will give you the grounding and skills you need to find your first role.
Degree Apprenticeships (emerging route)
A new and emerging route to becoming a SaLT is a Degree Apprenticeship. Arranged in conjunction with your employer, you’ll need both A-levels and GCSEs to get onto a Degree Apprenticeship. At the end, you will hold a valid Health and Care Professions Council registration (HCPC), allowing you to practice for your sponsor.
Gaining valuable experience
Qualifications aren’t the only thing you need to start working in speech and language therapy; experience is also highly valuable and sought after.
Both universities and employers put a lot of stock in an applicant’s drive and readiness to put themselves out there. Both paid and voluntary experience in health and care settings will show your commitment, as well as giving you a head start in getting to grips with the role. Speech and language therapy assistant roles can provide an excellent starting point to a career in the language therapy service.
Charities that work with people experiencing difficulty communicating are often on the lookout for passionate volunteers to support their work. It’s also worth contacting hospitals, care homes, and schools to see if they have any programmes that you can observe or assist with.
Professional registration and bodies
When it comes to registration, there are two professional bodies: The HCPC and the RCSLT.
The HCPC, or Health and Care Professions Council, is the governing body for all SaLTs. Registration with the HCPC is mandatory. Undergraduate or postgraduate degrees must be HCPC-approved for you to work as a speech and language therapist in the UK. It’s non-negotiable.
Alongside the HCPC, you might also consider becoming a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
By joining the RCSLT, you get access to a wealth of resources and professional support from peers. There’s also the opportunity to take advantage of greater opportunities for continuing professional development, thanks to courses, seminars, and more.
Career progression and specialisation
Becoming a speech and language specialist may be the culmination of years of study, but it’s just the beginning of a therapist’s career in speech and language therapy practice.
There are numerous fields where a SaLT can choose to specialise and focus their attention. Developmental issues, such as special needs in children or learning disabilities in adults, are two such areas, each requiring dedication and skills honed to suit patients’ needs.
Similarly, you can specialise in vocal disorders, as well as physical issues such as cleft lips and palates, or treating difficulty with swallowing (known as dysphagia). It’s also possible to gain expertise working with specific age groups, working primarily in paediatrics or geriatrics, for example.
And that’s just for starters. SaLTs also have an opportunity for continual professional development that can take them in a number of directions. Teaching, academia, and research are all open to those who favour theory and discovery, while management roles (such as the head of local services), advanced clinical practitioner posts, and even private practice are in reach for anyone who wants to continue delivering treatment on the front line.
Whichever path you choose, a career in speech and language therapy is always evolving.
Is becoming a speech and language therapist worth it?
Becoming a speech and language therapist is not a quick or easy career path, but it is a highly rewarding one.
Once you’ve achieved your GCSEs, A-levels (or equivalent qualifications), an HCPC-accredited undergraduate degree and a post-graduate qualification, you’ll be on your way to a career that will not only change your life, but the lives of every patient you come into contact with throughout each working day.
Speech and language therapy is a lifeline for those who can’t communicate and their families, giving them back their means to be heard, to control their environment, and to live a more normal life. That’s the power you have as a speech and language therapist, the power to bring people back in touch with the world around them.
Take the first step towards a career in SLT by looking at Elysium’s latest vacancies today.