Changes to the professional roles and locations of service delivery of SLTs
The role and location of where SLTs work are expected to change.
This could manifest itself in several ways:
- SLTs have more of a public health and preventative role.
- SLTs have a greater role in the justice sector. This is already a growth market for SLTs, but much of the work is currently done with young offenders. Adult offenders could be an area for expansion in role.
- Dysphagia is gaining in prominence, and SLTs could find more of their work treating this condition.
- SLTs play a part in helping reducing reoffending rates. They may be able to make the case that they are a cheap way to help assist in reducing reoffending. SLTs could also be used as a preventative force, in order to improve communication and reduce the instance of the first offence.
Size of impact
Level of uncertainty
Proposed workforce impact
- SLTs may help in the upskilling of other clinicians to improve awareness of SLCN.
- More public health training may be needed in the SLT curriculum.
- An increase in supply may be needed to grow the workforce to cope with differing demand from sectors.
- An increase in student placements in the justice sector may make sure SLTs are sufficiently prepared.
- An increase in demand for dysphasia services requires careful planning.
Sources or references
- http://www.qmu.ac.uk/marketing/press_releases/More-speech-therapy-needed-to-cut-reoffending.htm
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10343707
- http://www.rcslt.org/about/young_offenders_and_criminal_justice/intro
Additional research questions
- How would an increased preventative role for SLTs affect supply and demand of SLTs in the justice sector?
- How will SLTs work with other professionals in new fields?
- Will these changes require an earlier specialisation?
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
