Support workers

There is a considerable variation in job titles used across locations and settings.

For consistency, the terms support worker and support workforce are used across all RCSLT materials to refer to all levels and job titles within the unregistered speech and language therapy workforce.

Job titles

Here is a summary of some of the titles which were collected, collated and considered as part of this project:

The wide range of titles used across the UK reflects the diversity of roles under the umbrella title of support worker. Increasingly, some support workers are working in specific areas of support, with enhanced skills which are different to the core skillset of the SLT e.g. in family/carer support. An example is in universal/health promotion services where the support workers describe how their work is set up and supported by SLTs, but they are not assisting in an ongoing therapy process. In these settings some support workers prefer SLT support practitioner. Some services have changed the title totally to ‘developmental lead’, or CALS (communication and language specialists). Speech and language therapy assistant (SLTA) is widely used as a term to describe support workers. In some case studies shared on our career and support pages, you may see this phrase still being used.

NES (NHS Education Scotland)

Uses the umbrella term HCSW (healthcare support worker) to include all non-registered clinical staff across nursing, midwifery and AHP professions approx. 3800 are AHP support workers. This project documented 160 different titles for non-registered staff across all AHP’s.

Titles used in frameworks

The following titles have been used in learning or career frameworks.

AHP titles/NHS career progression information

• Entry level
• Intermediate practitioner
• Clinical Support Practitioner (established)
• Senior Clinical Support Practitioner
• Supervisor

Profile Titles from AFC Bandings (May 2006)

• Clinical Support Worker (Speech and Language Therapy)
• Clinical Support Worker Higher Level (Speech and Language Therapy)
• Speech and Language Therapy Assistant / Clinical Support
• There is no profile or title for Band 5

The project group considered this variability in titles and preferred the term assistant practitioner. However, the decision was made to use the umbrella term of support worker to align with the HEE, now NHS England, framework as this has extended the term support worker across all AHP’s. It also uses the term assistant practitioner for a specific level of support worker.

Speech and language therapy support workers are entitled to a range of benefits as part of their member registration with the RCSLT, including access to:

• Insurance
• Eligibility for minor grants and awards
• RCSLT professional networking groups (by invitation), e.g. Hubs and CENs
• RCSLT professional networks
• The online support workers hub, which includes:
  • Framework,
  • Toolkit and resources,
  • Career information.
• RCSLT guidance and information
  • Clinical guidance,
  • Professional guidance  including supervision, delegation and training of support workers.
• RCSLT CPD diary and CPD guidance and resources.