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Speech and language therapist
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£21,200 + per year
If you are interested in science and health, and you can get on well with a wide range of people, this job could be for you.
As a speech and language therapist, you would assess and support people with communication problems as well as those with issues surrounding eating, drinking and swallowing.
In this job you will need to be able to create positive working relationships with your clients. You will need to be good at solving problems. You will need good people skills, to be sensitive and understanding with clients, and to motivate them to complete their course of treatment.
To get into this job you will need a degree in speech and language therapy or human communication. To get onto this course you will usually need to have done some voluntary work, to gain some understanding of the role.
WorkDesc
The work
Your clients could include children and adults with:
- stammering (dysfluency) or voice problems
- difficulties making themselves understood through speech
- problems understanding language.
These challenges may be a result of, for example, an injury, stroke, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, a mental health problem or learning difficulty.
You would work with clients to maximise their ability to communicate, which may be in one-to-one or group sessions. Your duties would usually involve:
- talking with clients, observing them and using tests to assess their specific difficulties
- planning and developing individual therapy programmes
- supporting clients through treatment and adapting their programme where necessary
- working closely with colleagues (such as doctors and teachers) to get the best results for clients
- advising and coaching parents/carers on ways to support their children at home
- keeping detailed records of clients' progress.
You could be based in a hospital or community setting, working for services ranging from mainstream and special schools, to child development centres or specialised adult rehabilitation units or clients' homes.
HoursDesc
Hours
You will usually work around 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Part-time work and job sharing opportunities may also be available.
You would usually be based in a hospital’s therapy department, running a clinic and visiting patients on wards. You could also work in the community, for example in a health centre, day nursery or school.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries can be between £21,200 and £27,500 a year
- With experience, this can rise to around £34,200
- Senior therapists or team leaders can earn around £40,200.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You will need a degree in speech and language therapy or human communication (approved by the Health Professions Council (HPC)) before you can start work as a speech and language therapist.
To get on to a degree you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) plus three A levels (possibly including English and biology). Check with course providers for exact entry details because alternative qualifications, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may also be accepted.
When applying for a course you will need to show your understanding of speech and language therapy, so it is a good idea to arrange some work experience that involves observing a qualified therapist. Contact the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust for further advice.
For a list of approved courses see the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and HPC websites (links in the More Information section below).
Approved full-time courses can take between three and four years to complete and most places are funded by the NHS. Those starting their studies on approved physiotherapy courses from September 2012 will receive a non-means tested grant of £1,000, an additional means tested bursary of up to £4,395 per year (£5,460 for students in London) and a reduced rate non-means tested loan.
Check the NHS Business Services Authority’s website for eligibility criteria and details.
If you are a graduate with a degree in another area, such as a science or language-based subject, you may be able to qualify by completing a two-year accelerated postgraduate course in speech and language therapy.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a newly qualified therapist, you would usually begin your career in the NHS managing a varied and general client caseload.
Once you have at least one year's experience you could go on to specialise and work with a particular client group, such as children with special educational needs or adults with learning disabilities. Alternatively, you could focus on a specific clinical area, such as dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing disorders). If you have bilingual skills, you may be able to work with diverse communities.
There is a range of post-registration courses available that can help you improve your skills and develop your career. For example, several universities and training centres offer postgraduate certificates, diplomas and Masters qualifications in subjects such as:
- language and communication impairment in children
- communication and severe learning disability
- human communication and working with deaf people
- Cleft lip and palate studies.
Throughout your career you will need to keep up to date and pursue opportunities that allow you to continue your professional development (CPD). The RCSLT website has details of activities that can help you achieve CPD and remain registered with the HPC.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a speech and language therapist you will need to have:
- the ability to create positive working relationships with clients of all ages
- a keen interest and ability in science
- creativity with the ability to turn therapy into a game when working with children
- an ability to solve problems
- good powers of observation
- the ability to motivate and encourage clients to continue with treatment
- the ability to teach parents or carers how to work on speech exercises with children
- excellent communication and listening skills
- sensitivity and an understanding manner
- good team working skills and the ability to work alone
- the ability to manage your time and a varied client base.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
NHS Careers 
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
2 White Hart Yard
London
SE1 1NX
Tel: 020 7378 1200
www.rcslt.org
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
Health Professions Council
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU
Tel: 020 7582 0866
www.hpc-uk.org
Skills for Health
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most jobs in the NHS, working closely with children and their families. You may also find opportunities within the private sector (in hospitals or clinics) and in local authorities, voluntary organisations, independent schools and prisons.
With experience you could become self-employed and practise as an independent therapist (check the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice website for further advice and information).
In the NHS there is a clearly defined career structure – your prospects will depend on your skills and willingness to accept increased responsibility. You may need to relocate to progress.
With experience, and perhaps with further qualifications, you could move into teaching and research.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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