RCSLT honours: all change in 2009
In autumn 2008, the RCSLT Council set up a working group to review the terms of reference for the Honours Committee, which decides on honours recipients, and the criteria for honours.
As a result of the group's work, the RCSLT has amalgamated its honours and fellowships into one award of fellowship and has developed a new assistant of the year award.
This amalgamation of honours and fellowships will reduce the confusion between the two and bring the RCSLT in line with other organisations, such as the Royal College of Physicians.
RCSLT Fellowship
This special award acknowledges and honours RCSLT members who have contributed outstanding service to the RCSLT or who have shown outstanding scholarship within the profession in the context of research and publishing, teaching, clinical expertise and management.
For all categories nominees require a substantial record of service, which needs to be sustained over a period of not less than eight years.
This award entitles holders to use the designatory letters 'FRCSLT' after their names.
Honorary Fellowship
This award acknowledges and honours non-SLTs and SLTs from overseas who have contributed outstanding services to speech and language therapy and for the benefit of those with communication disabilities.
Holders in this category can use the designatory letters 'Hon FRCSLT' after their names.
Assistant of the Year Award
This new award acknowledges the outstanding work of RCSLT assistant practitioner members for the benefit of people with communication disabilities.
The criteria for eligibility for this award could include exceptional service to support speech and language therapy; creativity and innovation; relationship building, sensitivity and appropriate management of difficult client situations; or contribution to improving quality of the service to clients.
The Sternberg Clinical Award
This annual £1,000 award (donated by RCSLT Senior Life Vice President Sir Sigmund Sternberg) is for innovative work.
The initiative should be new to a location and of demonstrable benefit to the service, the clients and the profession. It should have been in existence for at least six months and started within the previous two years.
Nominations for the 2010 awards have been extended until 28 June 2010. For more information about the 2010 awards, email Bridget Ramsay or tel: 0207 378 3001.