Announcing the Speech and Language Therapist and Assistant of the Year

15th November 2005

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) recognised the outstanding work of Daniel Hunter and Barbara Laverty when it today announced the results of its search for the first Speech and Language Therapist and Therapy Assistant of the Year.

The national competition, held to commemorate the RCSLT's diamond jubilee (1945-2005), asked speech and language therapy clients and their families to nominate a therapist or support worker who had made a real difference to their lives.

Nominations came from all over the UK, in the form of emails, letters, videos, audiotapes and signs and symbols, showing the magnificent work of many of the nation's therapists and support workers. After lengthy deliberation, an RCSLT panel chose Daniel Hunter and Barbara Laverty as the final winners.

Daniel Hunter, Speech and Language Therapist of the Year

Daniel qualified as a speech and language therapist in 1996 at Leeds Metropolitan University and works at Rochdale Primary Care Trust, as a specialist with adults and children who stammer.

Daniel works for three days each week with children and adults who stammer and for two days in a community clinic, mainly with children with the full range of speech and language therapy problems.

After his initial shock on learning he'd won, Daniel says he is delighted to receive the award.

"Putting our clients first is the most important thing we can do, and to be acknowledged by an award that comes from them is really rewarding."

Daniel, who stammers himself, worked as a volunteer for the British Stammering Association for many years before becoming a therapist.

"I went on a course for my own speech at the City Lit in London and I got interested in the process of what was happening around me, as well as my own speech. I helped out with an adult group in Leeds and decided that I'd go ahead and train.

"If you told me when I was 22 that I was going to be a speech and language therapists, when I couldn't introduce myself or say my own name, I wouldn't have believed you."

What Daniel's clients said:

"I am an adult who has stammered for 40 years. Since commencement of my therapy with Daniel, I for the first time have hope that one day soon I will have control of my stammer."

"I think all children should have their own 'Daniel' to help them over a troubled period."

"It is very difficult to express the emotions we have felt at times over our sons' problems. But Daniel has always been there to give support and advice and basically he has changed our sons' lives for the better."

"During the past five years Daniel has made such great impact on my daughter, who when first seen by Daniel was unable to say more than three words. Daniel's patience and understanding have been invaluable, and for a small child to be able to relate to a 'big person', who also sometimes experiences 'sticky' words himself, is amazing."

Next year, Daniel will join the British Stammering Association's pre-school dysfluency campaign to help train other trusts to make everyone skilled in working with young children who stammer.

"I've developed a model of working with under five-year-olds who stammer that involves risk profiling. The early indications are that the risk profile is able to tell us which children are at risk of persisting with stammering. This will hopefully lead to earlier intervention which we know to be very effective."

Barbara Laverty, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant of the Year

Barbara has worked as a therapy assistant at Tor Bank in Belfast, a school for children with severe learning difficulties, for the past 10 years. The teaching and therapy staff nominated Barbara because of her 'exceptional' talents and the 'amazing' work she has done there.

Barbara says that to be nominated for the award is thanks enough

"But to win something like this is just overwhelming."

Barbara was a nurse before she took up her position at Tor Bank, to allow her time to look after her son who had speech and language difficulties.

"I took to the children immediately. They really are great. Every little thing they achieve is a pleasure. When you work at something with a child for weeks and months and then something drops into place, it really does make you rejoice," Barbara says.

"I would do this as a volunteer, but to get paid for it is just lovely."

What Barbara's colleagues said:

"Barbara is well known to all primary pupils at the school through her music-based speech and language therapy groups. 'Music with Barbara' is a firm favourite and she expertly interweaves each pupil's speech and language targets into the session and motivates every participant to achieve their full potential."

"Barbara has a creative flair, which she uses brilliantly in her direct work with children. She produces exciting materials and thinks of many innovative ways to reinforce the children's therapy programmes."

"We feel that it is just recognition of Barbara's contribution to making a difference to many children's lives over the years that she has to become Speech and Language Therapy Assistant of the Year."

Daniel and Barbara will receive their awards, and a cheque for £1,000 each, at the RCSLT's diamond jubilee awards ceremony in central London on 10 October.

The RCSLT is grateful to Fesenius-Kabi for sponsoring the Speech and Language Therapist and Speech and Language Therapy Assistant of the Year Awards.

Notes for editors:

1. Governments across the four UK countries have recognised the importance of communication as key to improving quality of life and reducing inequality and inequity, for example in accessing employment and educational opportunities.

2. There is increased need for speech and language therapy intervention because of a number or reasons:

• people are living longer, and many more are living longer after cancer treatment and with problems such as dementia and stroke that affect communication
• there is increased recognition of problems such as autism and learning difficulties
• improvements in neonatal care mean the number of pre-term babies surviving with developmental problems, such as cerebral palsy is increasing

3. There is a recognised shortage of speech and language therapists in the UK, caused by recruitment and retention problems, which means many clients (particularly children) are experiencing severe delays in accessing therapy

4. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has over 12,000 members. Nearly 10,000 of these are speech and language therapists working across the UK. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct.

The RCSLT is working with therapists to look at innovative ways to provide quality services to meet the needs of their clients and their carers.

Photographs from the award presentation will be available from Tuesday 11 October.

For more information or to arrange an interview with the award winners, contact RCSLT Head of Communications Steven Harulow. Tel: 0207 378 3004, email: steven.harulow@rcslt.org


ENDS