Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I am currently on secondment from the SSOTP NHS Trust to the nationally recognised multiagency team 'Stoke Speaks Out' as part of a three year project commissioned by the Local Authority. The project aims to up-skill the early years workforce, increase children's school readiness and tackle the high levels of language delay in the city.

My role is to work directly with schools, private nurseries and parents to embed a range of early speech, language and communication strategies and tools. Typically I am involved in:
- delivering training on a language screening tool, early language interventions, attachment and communication development;
- visiting schools and settings to support early years staff in implementing the tool and interventions;
- visiting schools and settings to provide individual advice to support children with language delay;
- supporting and quality assuring pre-verbal and early language groups for 18-30 month olds led by our specialist play practitioners;
- working with the National Literacy Trust and local library services to promote Stoke Reads.

I find making a positive impact on the lives of the children and families I work with the most rewarding aspect of my job. It also provides variety and constant opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge.

I very much enjoy working in a progressive team of enthusiastic, inspiring and supportive professionals.

I really enjoy the flexibility, opportunity for creativity and collaborative working provided by my current role.

Working in the current economic climate is challenging, where we are constantly pushed to provide a more cost effective and efficient service while ensuring positive and high quality outcomes.

My current job presents the challenges of engaging partners in the project as well as providing continued evidence of the outcomes we are commissioned to deliver.

I have always wanted to work in an allied health profession and speech and language therapy has allowed me to develop knowledge in areas of interest to me.

I find it rewarding to work in a profession that allows me to make a positive impact in areas of great and specific need. In particular the current project allows me to develop my professional skills and expand the scope of my practice into public health and preventative work. Being part of a dynamic and creative team is also a fulfilling part of my current role.

I use my qualification and skills as a Speech and Language Therapist as essential for my job as well as qualifications in education and training.
I also use my communication, interpersonal, creative and professional skills on a daily basis.

I receive specialist training in skills related to my profession such as use of cued articulation (a visual sound cueing system) parent-child interaction, working with bilingual families.
I also receive mandatory training such as paediatric basic life support, safeguarding, infection prevention and control.

Following graduation I worked in an administrative role in the NHS for 5 months to provide general work experience and an income while I searched for an SLT post. A recruitment freeze at the time made for fewer posts and greater competition.

I worked in a post as a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant for 3 months which provided me with valuable experience in SLT.

I obtained my first newly qualified Speech and Language Therapist post in May 2008, 10 months after graduation. This was a fixed term contract.

In February 2009 I moved to my current job as a band 5 Speech and Language Therapist, on a permanent contract as a clinician running community SLT clinics.

A secondment opportunity in 2014 led to the commissioning of a three year project and a job as a band 6 Speech and Language Therapist. I completed an NVQ Level 3 in education and training to support my role of delivering training to the early years workforce.

I plan to remain in speech and language therapy. I would like to help to develop the local speech and language therapy service to meet the needs of children and families locally.

Competition for SLT jobs is still tough, but there are things you can do.

Get as much related experience as you can, for example in schools, as Speech and Language Therapy Assistants, careworking with adult learning disabilities etc.

When applying for an SLT job, be clear about how your experience, knowledge and skills match up to the requirements in the job specification. Show enthusiasm and initiative- phone up to talk about the job, ask if you can visit the department before an interview.

Speech and language therapy is varied, enjoyable, challenging but ultimately a very rewarding profession and it is well worth the hard work and perseverence to get there.