Royal Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Speech and Language Therapists

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Speech and Language Therapists

Speech and Language Therapists provide life-changing treatment, support and care for adults who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing. Joining the team at the Royal Devon presents a whole host of opportunities, including the chance to work in different settings with a rotational work pattern.

It’s a brilliant way to glean exposure and experience. You’ll be making a difference every day, transforming the way our patients carry out day-to-day activities, improving their mobility and regaining their independence after illness, injury or trauma. Funding is available for continued professional development, so take your pick of the acute and community pathways that open up as you strive to progress.

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What is it like to work at the Royal Devon?

What is it like to work at the Royal Devon?

What can you expect from joining us? You can expect to be part of a team that is at the forefront of innovation and development, in both our services and our people. You can expect to be invested in, supported, and given the tools you need to succeed in your role and progress in your career.

Training and development opportunities are in high supply here, whether you are interested in clinical or leadership development, courses, secondments or placements. We’ll support you in finding the best way to grow.

The culture we have built has earned us a reputation within the Trust and our clear vision and plans instilled the belief and support required to access further financial investment. This allows us to improve patient pathways including early supported discharge in rehabilitation.

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Becoming a Speech and Language Therapist at the Royal Devon

How do I train to become a Speech and Language Therapist?

The first step to becoming a Speech and Language Therapist is to take a degree-level programme approved by the HCPC. This may be full-time or part-time if you are working in a relevant role. Once you have qualified, you will need to register with the HCPC, then you can start a Band 5 role.

Training and development
Other routes into Therapies

Another potential career route will see you grow from a Healthcare Support Worker, gaining relevant qualifications and experience along the way. We will support you on your journey, providing opportunities to achieve qualifications as you progress along your ideal career route.

Support Worker Assistant Practitioner
Newly qualified Speech and Language Therapist

To become a Registered Speech and Language Therapist, you will need a relevant degree. This can be achieved via an apprenticeship when working as an Assistant Practitioner. Once qualified, you will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Register with HCPC Apply for a role with us Come to an event

What does a career pathway look like?

What does a career pathway look like?

There are so many ways to achieve a fulfilling and rewarding career as a Speech and Language Therapist. You may be starting afresh and looking for a brand new role, or perhaps you have dedicated a few years to other goals and are looking to return to practice. If you are interested in developing your role, we have a wealth of opportunities you can harness too.

To help you on your way, we produced a brochure to kick start your career with us. 

Download our brochure

Your bespoke learning journey

Your bespoke learning journey

You’ll be supported to create your own personal development plan. This is used to identify your individual training needs, which can be met from the wide range of learning opportunities available such as clinical skills, management development, coaching and mentoring, IT skills and much more.

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Advancing your career

Registered Speech and Language Therapist

Joining the team at the Royal Devon presents a whole host of opportunities, including the chance to work in different settings with a rotational work pattern. It’s a brilliant way to glean exposure and experience. You’ll be making a difference every day, transforming the way our patients carry out day-to-day activities, improving their mobility and regaining their independence after illness, injury or trauma.

Funding is available for continued professional development, so take your pick of the acute and community pathways that open up as you strive to progress.

Training and development
Advanced Clinical Practitioners

Advanced Clinical Practitioners or Consultants (band 8s) are educated to Master’s level and have developed the skills and knowledge to allow them to take on expanded roles and scope of practice caring for patients. These roles will see you take on increased responsibility in your job roles as well as delivering expert clinical practice, professional leadership, education, training, research and evaluation.

You’ll need to complete a Master’s Degree Level 7 qualification in your chosen subject. You’ll receive lots of guidance and support whilst you do so. There is now a level seven (master’s level) apprenticeship in advanced clinical practice available, which can be funded through the apprenticeship levy. You can learn more about this on the Health Education England website.

Advanced and enhanced practice Advanced Practice toolkit

Preceptorship programme

Preceptorship programme

Whether you are newly qualified, joining us from outside the UK, or returning to practice, our Preceptorship Programme will help you find your feet so you feel as confident and competent as possible.

The structured programme consists of a series of study days, after which you will apply theory to practice and hone the skills you have learned as you gain experience within your clinical area. These study days are spread over the course of a year.

Find out more

Experienced Speech and Language Therapist

Welcome back

The Royal Devon can offer you fully-funded Return to Practice routes back into Speech and Language Therapy. We’ll give you dedicated time to care, providing a bespoke support package to help you on your way. We'll guide you through the process of re-registering with the HCPC and empower you to achieve the required criteria.

Return to practice
Overseas

If you’re interested in bringing your skills to England, you’ve come to the right place. When you work with us, you’ll join our passionate team and enjoy job security, a competitive salary and flexible hours.

Overseas

Star iconCase study

Laura Gilham, Speech and Language Therapy, Acute Lead
Laura Gilham, Speech and Language Therapy, Acute Lead

My role as a SLT is to support adults with their swallowing and communication. I predominantly work with adults who are in hospital, and love the fast paced, problem solving and social nature of my work.

Most people say they love eating and drinking, so being able to support patients to improve this can have a real positive impact on their quality of life and wellbeing.

In addition to supporting patients, I also lead a team of therapists. The NHS wouldn’t function without our amazing staff, so I also enjoy interacting with my team every day, making sure they’re enjoying their roles and striving to learn. Together we all have the common goal of providing the best quality service for our patients that we can.

Whilst training to be a SLT, I had placements with both children and adults but felt particularly drawn to working with older adults. I enjoy talking to them and being able to help them reach a goal to ensure they are enjoying eating and drinking, as it is often something simple that we all take for granted.

Maintaining my development over my career has continued my interest and enthusiasm for my job. To be able to learn new skills opens up opportunities, gives more variety to my day, and ultimately provides a better service for the patients. SLT is a small profession and not one that’s really known about… but we cover so much!

Although I’ve found my role within dysphagia management with older adults, there are many more opportunities whether that’s working with children, helping people with their speech, language, communication or voice. Take a look at what our small but mighty profession can do!

There’s nothing like seeing someone tuck into a meal for the first after being unable to swallow for so long!

What can I expect to get paid?

Agenda for change

Known as ‘Agenda for Change’, NHS pay is structured around different bandings for a fair and transparent pay structure. Levels of pay vary within each band according to experience. As your career develops, you can expect to earn more and move to the top of your pay banding before working your way up to the next one.

  • Healthcare Support Workers and Trainee Assistant Practitioners are usually within Bands 2 to 4
  • Registered Practitioners usually start within Band 5 or Band 6
  • Advanced Practitioners can advance all the way up to Band 7 and Band 8
Agenda for change

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Watch: working as a Speech and Language Therapist
Work flexibly

Work flexibly

Choose your shifts to suit your needs, apply to join our Staff Bank. 
We'll help you feel at home

We'll help you feel at home

We have a bespoke package of support, guidance and resources to help you get settled. 

Last updated: August 17, 2023

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