Role

Speech and Language Therapist

What is a speech and language therapist?

A speech and language therapist (SALT) provides support for children and adults experiencing difficulty with speech, language, voice, communication, eating, drinking and swallowing.

Help service users with a variety of conditions such as, developmental speech and language difficulties, neurological conditions, earning difficulties, stammering, , swallowing difficulties, voice problems and mental health issues.

What does a speech and language therapist do on a daily basis?

  •  Meet and assess service users to identify the specific nature of their speech, language and communication needs
  • Work with service users and their families on therapy approaches targeting their needs
  • Complete service user notes (e.g. case history, progress, reports)
  • Communicate with other health professionals such as doctors, OTs, physiotherapist, dieticians, health visitors, teachers
  • Create treatment programmes with service users and their family members

Where SALT’s work:

  • Care homes
  • Hospitals
  • Learning disabilities’ teams
  • Schools
  • Community health centres
  • Nurseries
  • Child development centres
  • Service users homes
  • Prisons
  • Young offenders’ institution
  • NHS and independent practice

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Earning

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Approved education and training

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Routes into the profession

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Useful Links

Royal College of speech and language therapists

NHS - Speech & language therapist