Bulletin magazine: looking after your wellbeing

January is a time for fresh starts and planning ahead, but as allied health professionals, it’s easy for us to overlook our own needs. We may be more likely to focus on the needs of our patients, our team members and families.   

So in the winter issue of Bulletin we are taking a look at wellbeing, and asking how we can all avoid that familiar feeling of running on empty.  

RCSLT wants all SLTs to have a working environment that allows you to support your patients while having a good work-life balance. We are dedicated to addressing these live issues through campaigning, providing clinical support and offering help with your individual questions.  

We know that one source of workplace pressure for SLTs is recruitment and retention problems causing high vacancy rates and rising waiting lists. We know that all clinical areas have become more complex, with greater numbers needing help since the pandemic. The profession is also dealing with a whole new clinical area due to long COVID.  

We are lobbying to improve the vacancy rate and ensure that workforce planning meets the growth in needs. Our Professional Development Framework can help improve retention and support your CPD. We have created new clinical guidance for long COVID, including resources for professionals and their patients. We are also campaigning for SLTs to have prescribing rights to help you provide the right care to patients at the right time. 

Also in this issue: read the latest research on SLT wellbeing and the impact of stress, alongside some pillars of good practice and some great self-care ideas from a hospital-based team. Plus content on choosing aided AAC, student placements in independent practice and more. 

To find out more about the issues affecting professional wellbeing RCSLT members should turn to page 33 in the print edition of Bulletin or visit the website to view a digital version.