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Why work in speech and language therapy (SLT) in DCHS

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust employs Speech and Language Therapists and non-registered support workers who work alongside them, in a range of settings including community hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools and people’s own homes, or the place they call home.

DCHS provides speech and language therapy (SLT) services to adults and children who have speech, language and communication difficulties and / or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.

The community SLT service supports adults with needs arising from acquired neurological conditions (like stroke or Parkinson’s), and children with needs that may be developmental or acquired, and which may or may not be associated with a wider diagnosis. The service also supports people of all ages who stammer.

The separate adult learning disability SLT service specifically supports adults with learning disabilities as part of a wider multi-professional adult learning disability team.

DCHS employs speech and language therapists and non-registered staff (including assistants and practitioners) who work alongside them, in the most appropriate environment for the patient – this is usually wherever the patient currently is. This includes acute and community hospitals, some mental health settings, clinics, schools, care homes and people’s own homes.

Speech and language therapists, assistants and practitioners work closely with a range of other professionals in health, education and social care.

The trust employs speech and language therapists who work across a range of teams. For adults, this includes:

  • Community inpatients
  • Integrated teams
  • Mental health teams for older adults
  • Stroke services
  • Respiratory teams
  • Neurological rehab services
  • Adults with developmental disabilities (separate service)

For children, this includes close links with education staff, often working in nurseries and schools.

To practise as a speech and language therapist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To register with the HCPC, you first need to successfully complete an approved degree level qualification in speech and language therapy. This may be a full or part-time course, or a degree apprenticeship in speech and language therapy. Full time degrees take three years. Part time degrees vary from four to six years. 

The NHS Health Careers website has information about training requirements for becoming a speech and language therapist. You can find out more about speech and language therapy as a career from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists website.

All vacancies at DCHS are advertised on the NHS Jobs website and our vacancies page View our current vacancies : DCHS

We are not able to offer routine work experience or shadowing opportunities, but we do try and help as much as we can. We can sometimes offer this depending on service availability.

University speech and language therapy training programmes do not require applicants to carry out shadowing of speech and language therapists. You can also get lots of information about the work of SLTs via your own research.

We usually are only able to support shadowing requests from people who are actively applying for an SLT course or apprenticeship.

Existing DCHS staff may be eligible to apply for Speech and Language Therapy training via our apprenticeship scheme. We currently work with Birmingham City University who offer an apprenticeship course lasting 4 years full time.

  • Three GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Mathematics and English language. Level 2 equivalent qualifications (e.g. Functional Skills) are accepted.
  • Level 2 qualifications must have been achieved at the point of enrolment.

Plus, one of the following:

  • 112 UCAS points (Grades BBC) from 3 A levels or equivalent L3 qualification examples include:
  • BTEC National/Extended Diploma DDM
  • Access to HE Diploma (Health or Science related pathway) - Pass with 60 credits overall: 45 credits at level 3 with 12 at Distinction and 24 at Merit. If applying with an Access course, you only need GCSE mathematics and English language at grade C/4 or above. You are not required to hold three GCSEs in total.
  • This is not an exhaustive list of qualifications so please contact your employer for further clarification.
  • Applicants who do not meet typical Level 3 qualifications who have relevant and sufficient experience* can still apply by successfully completing a portfolio of evidence set by our university admissions team. (The same GCSE qualifications are still required.)
  • Ability to study at level 6
  • Manager and budget holders’ approval to undertake apprenticeship programme.
  • Ability to travel to university & placements to complete the learning outcomes of the apprenticeship programme, these maybe based up to 90 mins travel time from base area.
  • 100% completion of statutory & mandatory training
  • Up to date DBS is required as a mandatory requirement for this programme.
  • Up to date immunisations.