Northern Ireland policy

Northern Ireland policy

Our work in Northern Ireland

Follow @RCSLTpolicy and @RCSLTNI on Twitter for latest news and updates.

Buddy Chat

Buddy Chat is a new communication project for children, designed to be delivered in classrooms across Northern Ireland. Discover more details about Buddy Chat and how you can get involved.

Watch a preview video about Buddy Chat

 

Northern Ireland Assembly elections 2022

Following the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly elections, the RCSLT NI team will be working with all politicians elected to improve the lives of people in NI with communication and swallowing needs.

Find out what we’re asking for.

RCSLT NI Manifesto

‘Communication at the heart of health and wellbeing’

RCSLT NI are calling on politicians to work with us to improve outcomes for people in Northern Ireland with communication and swallowing difficulties while, also, supporting the work of the speech and language therapy profession.

View our 2022 manifesto:

For additional information please contact RCSLT NI on 028 9044 6387 or contact us.

Voice Box Northern Ireland

Voice Box is Northern Ireland’s national joke competition designed to raise children’s awareness of the fun and importance of communication.

Voice Box 2017 was the most successful Voice Box Awards so far with more than 3,000 school pupils taking part. The live grand final was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast on 5 June 2017. All entries from the 2016 and 2017 are included in the Voice Box joke book (PDF).

My Journey My Voice

My Journey My Voice is a powerful exhibition designed to raise awareness about communication disability. It features photographic portraits and audio recordings of individuals who have communication disabilities, as they tell listeners about a favourite journey, in their own words.

RCSLT NI Awards – Celebrating 80 Years of impact

The 2025 awards were held on 19 September. For more information about the winners and runners-up, read our news story.  You can view pictures from the night in our galley below

We held a raffle for all those attending the award ceremony. Prizes included were

  1. Abstract framed print by Neil Shawcross
  2. Family Pass to the Game of Thrones Tour x2
  3. First Class Enterprise tickets to Dublin for 2
  4. Family Pass to W5
  5. B Perfect cosmetic set
  6. Family Pass to Belfast Giant’s game
  7. 2 tickets to see Emer Maguire at the Grand Opera House

A big thank you to all of our sponsors from RCSLT NI for donating these fantastic prizes!

A note from the judges

We were truly impressed by the outstanding quality of nominations this year, making it a difficult task to select the shortlist. As a result, some categories feature 2, 3, or even 4 shortlisted candidates, depending on the number of nominations received in each category. Well done and good luck you all!

Rising Star

Inca Deeney, Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Inca joined the paediatric SLT team as a new graduate in 2023 and has quickly become a rising star. Her calm, mature approach, attention to detail, and quiet leadership have enhanced outcomes for children and families. From delivering impactful QI projects to leading digital transformation through Encompass, Inca shows exceptional promise. Her empathy, innovation, and collaborative spirit have inspired peers and strengthened services, making her a standout clinician early in her career.

Bláithín Donnelly, Western Health and Social Care Trust

Bláithín joined her team in 2023 and quickly became a trusted, supportive colleague. She has shown exceptional dedication to learning, embracing dysphagia training early in her career and leading innovative, person-centred solutions for adults with learning disabilities. Bláithín’s creativity has enabled clients to access crucial medical care facilitating the use of bespoke Alternative Augmentative Communication strategies. Her passion, teamwork, and commitment to improving outcomes have made a real difference, Bláithín is a true Rising Star of the profession.

Co-production

Seána Kerr, Rebecca Carey & Michelle Maguire, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Connect with Me is a powerful, co-produced book and training package that helps parents build strong, brain-boosting connections with their children from the very start. Co-created with parents, SureStart, East Side Learning and the Public Health Agency, it’s accessible, practical and already making a real difference. Widely shared across Northern Ireland, this resource is helping parents and professionals transform early communication, learning and lifelong relationships one connection at a time.

Jodie Mills and Dr Orla Duffy, Ulster University

‘Alexa can you help me speak clearly?’

This innovative project reimagines speech and language therapy for people with Parkinson’s by co-designing smart speakers as practical, inclusive tools. In partnership with people with Parkinson’s, carers, clinicians, and Parkinson’s UK, the team created real-world, user-led solutions that promote independence, improve access, and enhance long-term outcomes. Smart speakers offer a scalable, cost-effective way to boost therapy engagement, support self-management, and reduce service demand—setting a powerful new standard for inclusive digital health.

Helen Watson, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Helen, an SLT working in prison healthcare, led a life-changing, co-produced project to help a father in custody learn British Sign Language to communicate with his deaf son. Through innovative collaboration with the National Deaf Children’s Society and Northern Ireland Prison Service, Helen successfully secured and facilitated tailored online training. This person-centred approach empowered the father, improved his wellbeing and family connection and demonstrated the power of partnership to drive rehabilitation and meaningful, lasting change.

Support Worker

Helen Thornton, Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Helen is an exceptional SLT Assistant whose warm, positive attitude greatly enhances patient care and team morale. She consistently goes above and beyond supporting clinical, operational and wellbeing needs with outstanding organizational skills and compassion. Helen expertly coordinates clinics, eases administrative burdens, and builds confidence as an Encompass Super User. Her dedication to patients and colleagues, along with her role in quality improvement projects, makes her an invaluable and inspiring member of the team.

Margaret Roe (Molly), Northern Health and Social Care Trust

Molly is the SLTA in Antrim Area Hospital and is affectionately known as the “angel” for her unwavering support and kindness. She goes above and beyond daily, uplifting patients, ward staff, and the SLT team with positivity and care. Molly expertly manages patient safety, handles discharges smoothly and frees clinical time through indirect reviews. Her warm presence and dedication create a supportive, positive environment, making her a cherished member of the team.

Nuala Curran, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Nuala is a dedicated SLT Assistant and Makaton Champion with over 10 years’ experience supporting children with severe learning disabilities. She creatively integrates music and Makaton, encouraging enthusiastic participation and boosting pupils’ confidence. Nuala’s expertise strengthens links between SLT and education, coordinating performances that raise awareness and promote inclusion. Her passion empowers children to communicate, fostering a sense of pride, community and belonging while embedding a total communication ethos across the school.

Susan McMullan, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

Susan has made a significant impact as administrative lead for the Adult SLT team. Through her exemplary leadership in streamlining clerical processes she has enhanced team efficiency, increased clinician capacity for patient care, and improved outcomes. Susan’s outstanding interpersonal skills and dedication have strengthened team morale and patient services, establishing her as an invaluable asset and a key contributor to the ongoing success of the service.

Leadership

Teresa Noble, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Teresa, a speech and language therapist with 38 years of experience, has been a Clinical Lead for 15 years, exemplifying collective leadership. Known for her exceptional clinical skills and compassion, she prioritizes patient-centred care, empowering clients and families. Teresa has led and contributed to numerous regional projects, innovating service delivery and supporting staff development. Her inclusive, supportive approach inspires colleagues across Health and Education sectors. Teresa truly embodies leadership and compassion, making a lasting impact before her retirement in July 2025.

Wendy Taggart, Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Wendy has led the Adult SLT services in the Southern Trust with compassion, creativity, and a truly open-door approach. She inspires her team through inclusive leadership, supporting every staff member regardless of role. Wendy successfully led a Quality Improvement project that reduced waiting times from 52 weeks to 12 within a year, significantly improving patient access and staff morale. Her leadership style empowers others, fosters meaningful change, and has inspired further QI projects across the service.

Ciara Fearon, Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Ciara’s dedication to innovation and staff wellbeing has improved team stability and service quality across the Trust. In her role as Practice Educator Coordinator, she led a compassionate, innovative Quality Improvement project. By listening to Band5 SLTs, she introduced wellbeing initiatives, peer support, and professional development, boosting retention and satisfaction. Her creative, open leadership enhances student placements and supports educators, strengthening the entire service.

Team

The Southern Trust Adult Community SLT Team successfully reduced initial waiting times from 52 to 12 weeks through a quality improvement project. With no increase in staffing they critically reviewed practices, improved triage, validated waiting lists and introduced an open referral system. These changes enhanced patient access, satisfaction and outcomes while boosting team morale. The team remains committed to continuous improvement across their wide rural caseload and clinic and domiciliary services.

The ALD SLT Team in Western Health and Social Care Trust is comprised of dedicated members delivering high-quality, co-produced services for adults with learning disabilities. They identified a gap in accessible Dysphagia training and developed ‘Safer Eating and Drinking’ groups to empower clients to eat and drink safely. Co-produced with service users and professionals, these groups are delivered across Day Centres and shared on social media, enhancing safety and advocating for equal access to vital education and training.

The South Eastern Trust Adult Acute SLT Team restructured services across three sites to address rising caseloads, vacancies, and staff stress. Key changes included streamlined workflows, defined clinical leadership, expanded assistant and clerical roles, in-house training, new prioritisation criteria, and improved discharge processes. Early intervention, clinical huddles, and a frailty project enhanced patient safety and reduced delays. As a result, assessment wait times, open caseloads, and unassessed discharges fell significantly, improving patient outcomes and staff wellbeing.

New Ways of Working

The South Eastern Trust Community SLT Team have transformed waiting list management with an innovative triage system for service users experiencing swallowing difficulties. By providing timely Advice and Support Calls within four weeks, they ensured the right care at the right time, reducing waiting lists and anxiety. This collaborative, patient-centred approach improved risk management and early intervention, with 90% of users finding it beneficial. Now an established, cost-effective pathway, it’s transforming care and empowering timely access to specialist services.

Building Together: Children & Young Peoples SLT Community & Autism Teams, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust. Building Together is a collaboration between the Community and Autism SLT services, supports primary 1 children awaiting autism assessment with speech, language, and communication needs. Through parent and teacher training, group therapy, and links to the Children’s Autism Support Service, it delivers tailored, early intervention. Results show 38% of children discharged, with 100% of parents and teachers reporting benefits. This project enhances outcomes by providing timely, consistent support and empowering families during waiting periods. 

The Belfast Trust Care Home Support Team SLTs alongside dietitians have revolutionized care home mealtimes with their groundbreaking Chef Engagement Day! This first-of-its-kind, co-produced training empowers catering teams across Belfast Trust care homes to tackle dysphagia, malnutrition, and IDDSI compliance with confidence. With 150 chefs trained, resident safety, nutrition, and mealtime experience have improved. This innovative program is transforming lives and has potential to be scaled and spread across the region and beyond!

Inspiration

Tricia Davidson, Western Health and Social Care Trust

Tricia has been a dedicated Speech, Language and Communication support worker at SureStart Eden Ballymore since 2014. Her role has evolved from running play sessions to delivering parenting programmes and specialist family support. Known city-wide for her energy, positivity, and sensitivity, Tricia builds strong, trusting relationships with vulnerable families. She delivers innovative programmes like Ready Steady Sing Baby and arts-based early play groups, empowering parents and improving outcomes for children with complex communication needs.

Lesley Garrett, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Lesley has been a powerhouse at BHSCT for 13 years, inspiring adult SLT teams with her unmatched clinical expertise, visionary leadership, and passion for digital transformation. Her infectious positivity and unwavering support lift everyone around her, empowering colleagues to achieve their best. Lesley’s dedication drives outstanding patient outcomes, service innovation, and a culture of continuous improvement. She doesn’t just lead, she inspires excellence, compassion, and teamwork that transforms lives every day.

Keira Gilmore, Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Keira’s deep expertise and passion shine through in everything she does. A trusted voice on the team, Keira consistently delivers outstanding care balancing a demanding caseload without compromising on quality. She’s not only an exceptional clinician, but also a gifted mentor: approachable, supportive, and deeply invested in helping others grow. Parents, children, and colleagues alike speak highly of her warmth, insight, and lasting impact. Keira is a true inspiration!

Briefings

Consultation responses

2014

2013

Reports

Campaigns and projects

Giving Voice aims to ‘give voice’ to people with speech, language and communication needs, to ensure that their needs and those of their carers and families, are met. We equip our members to demonstrate locally how speech and language therapy makes a difference to individuals and society, whilst RCSLT officers work to engage decision makers and the media at a national level.

Stroke

Mental health

Early years

Following on from the publication of the 2024 We are the Village report, RCSLT NI were awarded a grant from the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to undertake a specific piece of work in relation to speech, language and communication in the early years sector. This project is known as Language Launchpad.  

Language Launchpad ran from September 2024 to March 2025. The report and resources will be available from 6 May 2025.  

Find out more about the Language Launchpad project.

Proposed changes for NI

Care Standards allows for the regulation of a range of health and social care services, and for the development of minimum standards for these services.

Education Training Inspectorate promotes the dissemination of good and innovative practice identified across the education, training and youth sectors.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides guidance, advice, quality standards and information services for health, public health and social care.

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman provides for an independent review of people’s complaints, and ensures that public services improve as a result of the complaints.

Patient and Client Council is the independent voice for people using health and social care services.

Quality 2020 – A 10 Year strategy designed to protect and improve quality in health and social care in Northern Ireland.

Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services.

‘Up to standard’ (PDF) – A guide to the Quality Standards for Health and Personal Social Services.

Who should I influence in NI?

External stakeholders in Northern Ireland you can seek to influence include:

Resources

Resources to support you in responding to any proposed changes to your service’s structures and priorities.

Nation specific resources

Past events

Northern Ireland hub conference 2018

SLTs from across Northern Ireland came together for an exciting day of CPD and networking on 17 November 2018. The day featured presenters from across the UK and Ireland about how speech and language therapy transforms lives and the evidence base for the vital work SLTs do.

Event presentations:

Northern Ireland hub forum 2021

Contact

  • Contact us via the website
  • Telephone: 02890 446385
  • Our registered address for correspondence is: 2-3 White Hart Yard, London SE1 1NX