Speech Therapist Jobs in the United Kingdom

Speech and Language Therapy Jobs Overview

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) work with children and adults who have difficulties with speech and communication. They may also have eating, drinking, and swallowing issues. SLTs provide treatment and support to people suffering from conditions such as language delay, cleft palate, voice disorders, and stammering. These conditions can be caused by various concerns, including injury, illness, mental health conditions, or learning and physical disabilities.

Professionals working in speech and language therapy jobs play a substantial and rewarding role in the UK's healthcare sector, enhancing people's lives and helping them to overcome everyday challenges. If you are compassionate, a creative problem-solver, and enjoy working with people, then a speech and language therapist career could be the right fit for you. Demand for healthcare and social care jobs in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) is increasing significantly, making now an ideal time to begin your job hunt.

A speech and language therapy job can offer you an ideal entry point for a lucrative career in the healthcare sector, with opportunities for excellent employment prospects. With the proper training and experience, you could progress into high-paying specialised areas of practice, or you could move into management, teaching, or research.

In this role, you'll work closely with families, teachers, and other healthcare professionals, including nurses, teachers, psychologists, and occupational therapists, to assess and implement specific patient treatment plans.

Typical speech and language therapy job duties include:

• observing patients and using tests to assess their conditions
• planning and developing therapy programmes
• monitoring and evaluating patient progress
• writing case notes and reports
• advising carers on implementing treatment plans
• supporting patients and families through treatment
• working closely with doctors, teachers, and other professionals

As a full-time SLT working in an NHS hospital or facility, you'll usually work 37.5 hours per week. You could also work in private hospitals, schools, health centres, day-care centres, prisons, rehabilitation units, or private homes. If you choose to work for a private employer, you may work evenings and weekends to suit a client's needs.

For more specific positions related to healthcare jobs, you can also explore:

• nursing jobs
• occupational therapist jobs
• nutritionist jobs

Education and Skills for Speech and Language Therapy Jobs

There are a few different avenues you can take to start your career as an SLT:

• study for a degree in speech and language therapy, approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT.) If you have a related degree, you may be able to enter a two-year accelerated postgraduate programme.
• earn a degree apprenticeship in speech and language therapy, where you'll combine workplace learning and academic study with an approved university and a partner organisation such as the NHS.
• volunteer in a healthcare or social care setting or a charitable organisation. This may help you before applying for training and will look great on your CV.

Each of these avenues will have its own entry requirements, but you will generally be required to have some GCSEs, including English and maths and A levels. To start practising as an SLT, you must first register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC.) You will also need to pass an enhanced background check to work with children, young adults, and vulnerable groups.

Speech and language therapy jobs require essential healthcare skills such as:

• patience and empathy
• creative and problem-solving skills
• ability to work well in a team
• organisation and flexibility
• attention to detail
• active listening and excellent communication
• computer literacy

Update Your CV for SLT Roles

Make sure your CV is up to date before you start looking for speech and language therapy jobs. It's critical to keep track of any new courses you've taken, volunteer work, or skills you've attained, as this can distinguish you from other applicants. Monster has some excellent CV writing tips and templates to help you craft a stand-out CV.

It's a good idea to highlight previous accomplishments and any soft or transferable abilities that would capture a potential employer's attention. Consider real-world scenarios and experiences in which you made a difference in someone's life or took the initiative in a difficult situation.

Remember to send a cover letter with your application, highlighting why you will be an excellent match for the position. For help with crafting a praiseworthy letter, we have lots of cover letter tips to get you started.

Preparing for Your Speech and Language Therapy Interview

An interview for this position may entail some situational and personality-based questions. As it is a challenging role, the SLT interview questions you'll answer will allow the hiring manager to evaluate your people skills, work ethic, and ability to work under pressure. Knowing what questions to expect can help you prepare and show up to the interview with professionalism and confidence. Remember to choose examples that are relevant to your knowledge and experience. Read our interview preparation articles for extra tips to increase your chances of landing the job.

How Much Does an SLT Job Pay?

Your salary depends on your experience and credentials and will vary regionally. Your pay will also differ between the NHS and private sectors. Under the Agenda for Change NHS pay scales, speech and language therapists start on Band 5 and make an average salary of between £25,654 and £31,533 per year.

With proper training and experience, you could progress to a senior or specialised role that falls into bands 6 and 7 and can pay up to £42,120. The NHS may offer benefit packages including pension schemes, health service discounts, and annual leave days.

Begin Your Search for Speech and Language Therapy Jobs

Help make a difference in the lives of others by becoming a speech and language therapist. Start searching today and sign up for your Monster profile to save jobs that suit your needs. You can upload your CV, receive new customised job alerts, and access valuable articles. It's also a fantastic way to help potential recruiters find you online.