Careers Advice

Abbie Yates

22 Oct, 2024

As a speech and language therapist, working in Specialist Medicine and Dementia at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, I hold the greatest pleasure of advocating for patients whose voices can’t be heard. It’s both a responsibility and a privilege. I once supported a lady with aphasia to tell her husband in her own words that she had cancer and to express how she wanted to be cared for in the last few months of her life, using...

Christopher McNab – NHS and Probation Service specialist speech and language therapist

23 Sep, 2024

As a NHS specialist speech and language therapist, working across London and in the probation service, much of my career has been focused on introducing and developing speech and language therapy support for 18 – 25-year-olds with communication difficulties, across different clinical populations. Many of the people I see in the Probation Service are neurodivergent or are experiencing challenges relating to their mental health. While some...

Ian McGowan, Newly qualified speech and language therapist

21 Aug, 2024

I didn’t always know I wanted to be a speech and language therapist. The idea came to me later in life. Having worked in finance and taught English in Spain, I then undertook a rewarding role in cancer research for six years in the USA, and it was here that I knew I wanted more direct involvement in patient care. I began looking into speech and language therapy programmes, was accepted to Queen Margaret University in Scotland, and the rest,...

Gouri Venu – newly qualified speech and language therapist

22 Nov, 2023

I’m from a lusciously green and culturally rich place in India called Kerala, and grew up in Dubai. I’m definitely missing the beaches and sunshine, but am excited to see what the future holds for me in the UK! I am a newly qualified SLT, on the NHS Integrated Care Systems (ICS) rotational post, currently working at King’s Mill Hospital. I work with individuals who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Recognising that...

Tor Spence – speech and language therapist

22 Nov, 2023

I’m a speech and language therapist (SLT) specialising in working with the larynx (voice box) and the upper part of the respiratory system — including the throat, mouth and nose. My patients are adults and children who may have a hoarse voice, a feeling of a lump in the throat, persistent dry cough, swallowing problems, or breathlessness associated with voice box dysfunction. The classification of voice disorders is quite complex; it...

Shikha Patel – Highly specialist speech and language therapist and clinical lead in voice and complex dysphagia

22 Nov, 2023

When I graduated from my degree in biomedical science I knew I didn’t want to work in a lab. I felt I was better suited to a patient-facing role and knew that I could do this within the NHS, but not specifically what the role would be. I started working in head and neck surgical theatres and saw many adults and children with head and neck cancer, dysphonia (also known as hoarseness), glue ear, and cleft palate. Hearing these patients’ stories...

Senlika Steulet – Principal speech and language therapist

22 Nov, 2023

I graduated with a dual degree in speech therapy and audiology and subsequently completed my masters in speech pathology – all at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Since then, I’ve worked across both fields of speech and language therapy and audiology in South Africa before moving to the UK when I chose to continue my career as a speech and language therapist (SLT). I gained 20 years’ experience within the NHS, education, and...

Nigel Cheng – Speech and Language Therapist specialising in voice

15 Sep, 2023

I was doing a French and linguistics degree before studying speech and language therapy. After completing the first semester, I found myself rethinking my career path. I sought advice from my mentor/friend back in Hong Kong, who used to teach me English when I was little and she believed I’d excel in speech and language therapy because of my good listening skills. After doing some research, I decided to take a leap of faith and apply for a...

Aisha Sanosi, highly specialist speech and language therapist

30 Aug, 2023

While studying health and social care at college I had the opportunity for a two-week placement at a local hospital, shadowing a range of allied health professionals including speech and language therapists (SLTs). I observed therapy for a lady with aphasia (difficulty with language or speech) following a stroke. I fell in love with it straight away and knew that it was the career for me! I love helping others. My mum’s a nurse and my...

Community & Development, My working life - Claire Thomas (Head of therapy, specialist SLT)

01 Mar, 2023

I was a year and a half into working as head of therapy at a specialist dyslexia school in Somerset when the pandemic hit. Shortly after the first lockdown began, we were informed that the school would be shutting due to insolvency. My first thought was for the students who were now without education and their support network. Then I had a mad dash to set up remote private therapy for my students, while trying to figure out what my next...

Community & Development, My working life - Kathleen McPolin (SLTA and children's author)

01 Mar, 2023

I went straight into office-based work when I finished school, and it wasn’t until I had my own boys that I realised I really wanted to work with children. I studied at night classes to receive my NVQ Level 3 in early years, then went on to study childhood studies and graduated to teach this subject. Over the following year I worked part-time as an early years assessor. In 2009 I started working as a Sure Start early years assistant. I...

Community & Development, My working life - Va Wellings (Retired SLT)

01 Mar, 2023

I attended the Kingdon-Ward School of Speech Therapy and qualified in 1953, so it seemed like losing my right arm when I stopped practising as a clinician in 2017. Lockdown has prompted me to reflect on my years in the profession. During my studies I was driven to our local station by my mother. If the train was in she would hoot to the driver who would kindly wave, permitting me to alight. Those were the days! The college was situated in...

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