Message for students and newly-qualified practitioners

What is going on? Is it true that speech and language therapists are not getting jobs?
In August 2006, the RCSLT carried out a survey of NHS speech and language therapy service managers to find out more about the effect of the current NHS financial difficulties on SLT services. The results of this survey suggest that many SLT departments are not expecting to recruit to their team in the coming year and that, while there have been very few redundancies in SLT so far, quite a few vacant posts are "frozen" (they are not being recruited to at the moment). This doesn't mean that they definitely will not recruit, and a significant number of departments still expect to advertise jobs in the coming year, some of which may be suitable for newly qualified practitioners.

So am I going to get a job when I qualify?
We can't give you a straight answer to this question, unfortunately. Some newly qualified practitioners will get jobs but your personal circumstances will play a role in determining whether you are more or less likely to get a job.

What do you mean by "personal circumstances"?
Therapists who are willing and able to move to areas where jobs are available will be at an advantage, as will those, for example, who do well at College and graduate with a high level of degree i.e. a first or a 2:1. As with most careers where there is competition for jobs, preparedness, personal presentation, a positive attitude, relevant experience and demonstration of competence are factors that can advantage applicants.

What's the RCSLT doing to help newly qualified practitioners get jobs?
1) We are influencing others
The RCSLT is absolutely committed to ensuring that the current NHS financial difficulties impact as little as possible on speech and language therapy. We have a very active campaign of lobbying and PR work through which we hope to put pressure on local and national decision makers, to ensure speech and language therapy services are maintained. This work includes:

Some very high-profile work with the media, including appearances on BBC breakfast news and News 24 (this is on-going). The results of some of this media activity can be seen here.
Lobbying Government - we have established stronger relationships with Government than ever before. We have a healthy on-going dialogue with Civil Servants at the Department of Health and with elected politicians, in Government and Opposition. Alongside our allied health professional body colleagues, we met with the Department of Health on 6 September and discussed the issues of high graduate unemployment, the adverse consequences on service provision and the destabilising effects on education providers. There is another meeting, with Department of Health Minster Ivan Lewis MP on November 14th, where these issues will be raised again. Further progress checking meetings are scheduled with the Department of Health.

2) Working with speech and language therapy services
We are developing guidance and resources for SLT managers, to help them influence Commissioners and other key decision makers. We will be publishing this guidance for managers over the next 6 months and we are confident that this will help them not only to respond to the current pressures but also to help secure the long-term future of speech and language therapy in their area. One aspect of this work is helping managers identify the right mix of skill and experience in their team to enable cost-effective delivery of SLT services. We think newly qualified practitioners have a part to play in this "skills mix" in most SLT services.

3) Data gathering
The RCSLT is trying to gather data from newly qualified practitioners who are having difficulties finding employment. The survey should not take more than a couple of minutes and we hope to use this data to better assist our members.
Take the survey

Do I need to register with the HPC yet?
NQTs are advised to register with HPC as soon as possible once they have had their degree results confirmed by their university. It is illegal to work as an SLT in the UK without being registered with the HPC and most employers will expect you to be registered already, when you apply.

You can stay on the HPC register for two years without working before there are any "return to practice" issues, but obviously you should try and stay up to date as much as you can and log yourCPD activities. This also applies if you find work abroad, you should log your CPD, and stay in touch with HPC and RCSLT websites and publications.

Should I wait and see if I can get a NQP job? Or should I explore other options for when I graduate?
The RCSLT would like to see all newly qualified practitioners who are looking for a job as a speech and language therapist to get one and we will do all we can to help achieve this ambition. However, circumstances may dictate that you look, for now at least, at alternatives to going straight into speech and language therapy as a graduate practitioner. You will have to make up your own mind about what approach you take and what other options to consider. If you are unable to find the job you want and are looking for suggestions for alternatives, you may consider:

working as a speech and language therapy assistant or as a technical instructor
continuing with your studies, as an MSc or Phd student
working in a related field e.g. if you are interested in paediatric speech and language therapy, you might consider approaching local schools or your local education authority, to see if they have any suitable roles.

What is the role of the Unions in all this? Can they help me?
If you are a Union member, you may want to contact them about what they are doing to help you and others in your situation. Unions usually represent individuals (where as the RCSLT represents the speech and language therapist profession as a whole) and they tend to focus on pay and conditions.

Are there too many students being trained in speech and language therapy? Is that the root of the problem?
No. The Government has repeatedly recognised that speech and language therapy is a shortage profession: there are not enough speech and language therapists in the UK to meet patients' needs. The current financial difficulties in the NHS do not alter this fact.

I haven't completed my course yet but I am worried about what I can do for the future. What can I do to prepare?
Think about your options for after you graduate.

Have you identified particular services with whom you might like to work when you graduate? You might want to try to establish a relationship with them before you leave University.
Have you thought about staying on to do a Phd or MSc? You might want to talk to your tutor or supervisor about your options in that respect.
Can you organise any work experience that will help you get a job? Work experience is highly valued by employers and can help you develop relationships with them.
Have you prepared a C.V. or practice job applications? Have you done any interview practice? Preparedness and confidence can help you get an interview and help you to project a positive image.

Ok. So where should I be looking for jobs?
The RCSLT has just launched a new SLT recruitment section on the website. You can search for jobs by location and/or keywords. All the jobs we normally carry in Bulletin will be advertised on line. In addition to RCSLT's Bulletin, SLT jobs are also advertised on the following web pages:

What will employers be looking for?
Different jobs have different requirements but you can be confident that all employers will be looking for similar core skills. Potential employers need to be confident that NQPs have clinical and theoretical knowledge that they can demonstrate in response to interview questions. It is important for managers to see someone who can think on their feet and talk about the following areas with a degree of confidence:

Case load management
Different modes of treatment
Assessment and intervention strategies
Administration skills

You also need to:

Demonstrate effective communication skills
Be totally cognisant of the job description
Refer to the person specification and give recent examples to show you have the skills required and that your skills and knowledge are up to date.

If you are invited to interview, you will need to prepare as if you were preparing for an exam, making use of the theoretical knowledge that you have gained in the last year in whatever setting you have been working.

General advice on interview techniques and expectations of managers can be found in the Newly Qualified Therapists booklet.

Is there anything else I can do?
Yes. You can familiarise yourself with the RCSLT's expectations for professional development for newly qualified practitioners. You may not be able to get on with developing your skills and knowledge as a speech and language therapist yet but the understanding framework may help you to explain to a potential employer how you hope to learn and develop in your first year. Having a clear development plan in mind will demonstrate that you are committed and organised, two qualities that are valued by any employer.

How long is this situation going to last? If I have started my course recently, should I be worried?
We don't know when this situation will be resolved, unfortunately, but we are hopeful that it will be resolved soon. We do not want you to worry, it is better that you prepare.