Careers Advice

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...

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...

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....

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...

Community & Development, My working life - Susie Williams, Specialist SLT (stroke)

01 Mar, 2023

Hello, my name is Susie. I lead the speech therapy team on the stroke unit at Ipswich Hospital. Ever since I was a student SLT, I’ve been interested in academic research. When I graduated, I threw myself into clinical work, as I enjoyed working with patients and families. I always tried to base my practice on the best available evidence but found myself asking clinical questions for which there weren’t always clear academic...

Becoming a speech and language therapist

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