The RCSLT pre-registration eating, drinking and swallowing (EDS) competencies webinar series aims to support speech and language therapists across the UK. Watch the webinar recordings and download the presentations from the events that took place in June and July 2021.
Following the publication of the competencies, RCSLT hosted a webinar series to support implementation, including further details on the competency framework as well as examples related to practice placements and signing off the competencies.
These webinars are primarily aimed at practice educators and potential practice educators, but will also be useful for HEI staff, students and any interested colleagues.
Introduction webinar
Introduction: practice placements and pre-registration EDS competencies
In October 2020, the pre-registration eating, drinking and swallowing (EDS) competencies project was launched in a webinar featuring Beverley Harden, allied health professions lead and deputy chief allied health professions officer at Health Education England, and international SLT colleagues who supported implementation of similar competency projects in Ireland and Australia.
Watch this video to hear more about the background to the project and what the next steps are.
Speakers include:
- Judith Broll, director of professional development at the RCSLT.
- Paula Leslie, consultant scholar and lead author of the competency framework (academic).
- Hannah Crawford, acting lead for AHPs and social work at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation trust, and lead author of the competency framework (clinician).
About the framework webinar
Webinar 1: A deep dive into the framework
Find out more about the need for the change to the pre-registration curriculum, the framework and how it will be implemented.
Speakers include:
- Judith Broll, director of professional development at the RCSLT.
- Paula Leslie, consultant scholar and lead author of the competency framework (academic).
Practice placement webinars
Webinar 2: Implementing practice placement with EDS difficulties
Our expert presenters discuss the importance of evidencing learning on practice placements and activities that may be undertaken by learners.
Speakers include:
- Judith Broll, director of professional development at the RCSLT.
- Hannah Crawford, acting lead for allied health professionals (AHPs) and social work at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation trust, and lead author of the competency framework (clinician).
- Siofra Mulkerrin, clinical lead SLT, adult acute, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridgeshire University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- Susan Guthrie, advanced practitioner SLT, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Download the presentation (PDF)
Webinar 4: Opportunities for paediatric practice placements
Join our expert panel as they discuss the opportunities available for paediatric practice placements, and to hear the experiences of a practice educator and a learner.
Speakers include:
- Judith Broll, director of professional development at the RCSLT.
- Paula Leslie, consultant scholar and lead author of the competency framework.
- Beverley Curtis, SLT and clinical lead paediatric placements, Cardiff, and Vale University Health Board.
- Naomi Bevan, learner and soon to be NQP.
- Christine Horton, clinical lead complex needs and dysphagia, Lancashire South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
Signing off competencies webinar
Webinar 3: Signing off the practical competencies
Watch this video to hear about expectations around signing off the competencies.
Speakers include:
- Judith Broll, director of professional development at the RCSLT.
- Hannah Crawford, acting lead for AHPs and social work at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation trust, and lead author of the competency framework (clinician).
Future of EDS care webinar
The future of EDS care: developing a 21st century workforce
Watch this video, presented by Beverley Harden, AHP Lead at HEE, to find out more about the future of EDS care in the 21st century.
Find out more about the project structure and key dates.
Download the competencies.
About the project
Feedback from service managers across the UK, Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) international partners and experience from COVID-19, has highlighted that the speech and language therapy profession requires a larger, further EDS trained, workforce. It also clarified that future proofing the profession through pre-registration training in EDS difficulties was becoming imperative.
As a result, we must ensure the uniformity of EDS competencies, delivered at the point of graduation across the UK, in order to guarantee all learners graduate with the same baseline knowledge and skills in EDS. Ensuring that they are aligned with those delivered by our international colleagues is an additional benefit.
Health Education England (HEE) are supporting the RCSLT to deliver entry-level EDS competencies in pre-registration education and training by 2026. Although supported by HEE, this is a UK-wide initiative.
The webinar series features the opportunities to hear more about this programme of work.
Have questions or feedback about the pre-registration EDS competencies? Let us know.