Speech and language therapist: Employers and vacancy sources

The majority of speech and language therapists are employed by trusts of The National Health Service (NHS)  and work in schools, hospitals, clinics, health centres and day-care centres. There is often a choice of departments and a wide range of areas in which to work. Some mainstream work may be managed by local education authorities.

Some therapists may also be employed directly by:

• schools (both mainstream and special);
• voluntary and charitable organisations;
• general practitioner (GP) practices;
• education and social services departments;
• higher education (lecturing and research);
• organisations such as residential homes for the elderly or people with learning difficulties.

There are opportunities to look for permanent and temporary posts abroad and for European and overseas practitioners to take jobs in the UK, provided they have a high level of spoken or written English. With experience, many speech and language therapists choose to move into self-employment.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
• NHS Jobs  - for vacancies in England and Wales.
• NHS Scotland Recruitment
• NHS Authorities and Trusts  - links to all UK trusts, which have their own vacancy bulletins.
• Health Jobs UK  
• Health Service Journal
• HSCRecruit.com  - health and social care jobs in Northern Ireland.
• Irish Assocation of Speech & Language Therapists (IASLT)

The local press may handle vacancies for speech and language therapy assistants and bilingual co-workers, which are useful ways of gaining work experience before applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate course.

Make speculative approaches for work experience using directories to find details of key contacts working in the NHS and private healthcare.

Specialist recruitment agencies, such as Labmed Recruitment , also handle vacancies. Agencies are most useful for short-term and local posts. For a list of relevant member agencies, search the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) consultancy finder.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and cover letters and interviews.