Inspiring the young

Recently the SLT Society were asked to host a stall at "Children's University Family Learning Festival".  It was intended for Children between 7-14 years of age and their parents to learn about the University, what courses it offers and inspire career choices.  In fact, the turn out for the day even included much younger children and it was an opportunity to talk to both children and their parents.

 

 

 The SLT Society hosted a big stall, containing both communication and dysphagia aspects of the vocation.  For the Communication aspect, we had AAC - including Go Talk's, Big Buttons, Symbols and PECS.  We also had many posters about the impact of communication difficulties and the range of which SLTs work in, and many leaflets from the HELLO campaign.  Then there was a communication game for children and their parents to get involved in, the children were asked to say a sentence to their sibling, parent, or friend without speaking.  This brought on some giggles.  Some children even got involved in filling in a speech bubble with what they thought communication was and some extremely pictorial images of communication difficulties and how people communicate were drawn!

 

"What Is Communication?" A 6 year old's definition.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




However, the dysphagia aspect of the stall got the most attention - though what 7 year old isn't tempted by chocolate mouse or digestive biscuits! We had a taste test, "which is the easiest to eat" game, and put out sliced banana, chocolate mouse and digestive biscuits.  Nearly all of the children were able to identify that the mouse was easiest! Then we discussed with them why we as SLTs were interested in eating, drinking and swallowing, and had lots of plastic models to demonstrate swallowing techniques.  We even had Videofluroscopy videos to teach the children and their parents how we investigate swallowing and show them where their food and drink goes! Then we had thickener, and created thickened water to stages 1, 2 and 3 consistency.  Many of the children wanted to try the thickened fluids, and big spoonful's of stage 3 were spooned into their mouths before contorted faces were pulled!

 

Overall, the children and their parents learnt a lot, many were intrigued in the job role and stated that they didn't know what SLTs did until the day, and many parents even recalled their children having SLT input.  It was also a great learning experience for us SLT Students, who developed our ability to talk about communication and dysphagia completely jargon free, a lesson in how to train people in our complex role in a simpler fashion.  We all learnt lots, enjoyed our time, and promoted the wonderful profession!

 

The highlight of the day was when one mother stated "I hope one of my children becomes a speech therapist after today" - Mission Complete!

PODD: An Update!

Recently I was contacted and asked to distribute information about an upcoming PODD training session.  I have had some interest from viewers of my blog re:PODD since I wrote a blog post on my experience of it at the London Autism SIG, so I thought I would share the information about the next training day.

 

If anyone does go on the course, or if anyone reads this that is already booked on the course, I would love to hear about it, receive a review of the training, and hear the stories of you all implementing it across SLT.

 

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For all Speech & Language Therapists and those working with children/young people with Autisitc Spectrum Disorder:

 

Eagle House School, Mitcham, is running an Introductory Workshop to the PODD Communication System; 20-21st June (£250 for 2 days, includes lunch).  It is being run by Haylee Parfett, who is visiting from Australia.  (she was at Eagle House school for about 2 years, then she left, but she is coming back to do this training)As you know - PODD is a fantastic system being used across Eagle House Primary and Secondary schools with some amazing results - non verbal children learning to communicate using full length autonomous and functional sentences using the PODD (picture symbol) books.

There are still some spaces left - contact the Charlotte or Noora in the School Business Office on 084555 074 2972 if you or anyone you know would be interested! We have a flier with further details which we could send you by email. contact admin@eaglehousegroup.co.uk

We appreciate that this is very short notice - but we wanted to let people know about the last few spaces left.

 

How do we keep on top of it all?!

Lately I've been distant from the blogging scene and the Twitter scene, and I wish I could say it was through no fault of my own, but things have just gotten very hectic!

 

Any qualified SLT knows what the last few months of their degree are like.. Writing the research proposal, being on a block placement, applying for jobs and then preparing for interviews offered (not that I am complaining about the interview part!) and keeping on top of other coursework/timetable demands.  Turns out my quote that I wrote in my guest blog on Smart Talkers for Libby was true... I am well and truly a Swan. So calm and graceful in the face of it all, yet paddling like mad underneath. Whilst I am able to keep a balance of all my coursework, research proposal, placement and job applications... I am disappointed that my blog and twitter have come 2nd best to all of this, and the reason why I'm disappointed is that it is my contact with other SLTs for some much needed empathy, and also my wide source of evidence base.  I recently looked through past tweets from some of my favourite SLT tweeters, and found I had missed so many news articles and recent research. 

 

This has really changed my view on how I promote Twitter and Blogging to SLTs, as many of you know that I like to promote SLTs using it.  However, when demands are high on a daily basis I wonder how easy it is.  Even I who love Twitter and Blogging have neglected it. 

 

So I have decided that at least once a week during this busy time I will log on to twitter, for 30 minutes maximum and search #slpeeps and #slt2b and #slp2b hashtags, identify any key links to news, blogs, or research. That will be my put-a-side dedicated online CPD time and I will make sure I squeeze this in, even if it's whilst I eat breakfast...

 

Keeping on top of your CPD in the face of life's demands.

How do you keep up with your CPD? How do you keep up with your online CPD networks? I would love to hear how others do it! Because in this busy climate, how do you really keep on top of it all?

My experiences.. Job Applications and Interviews

Recently I sought the hints tips and suggestions of SLT's and SLT2B's about job applications and interviews, and have had some great responses to the things mentioned and have heard some fab stories about the process of job hunting in the SLT world. 

 

However, I am not here to talk about other peoples hints tips and suggestions anymore, instead I want to reflect on my recent experience in the job hunting world.  I applied for my first Band 5 job in April this year and was lucky enough to get an invite to interview for the post following my submission of a personal statement.  Unfortunately I did not get the job, but found the whole process a great learning experience - even in learning how to handle waiting for the phone to ring, and taking in feedback and points to develop (of which any student SLT on placement knows can be difficult at times, especially if you may not fully agree with the comments posed).  So this post is to say that, even if you do get knocked back, every knock back is a learning experience and will only endeavour to make you better in the future.  So here are tips from my recent experience:

 

Job Application:

• Be concise in your personal statement.
 
• Make it focused on the service you are applying to.
 
• If you have had experience within the service you are applying to, mention it! Drop names even!
 
• Follow the person specification in your personal statement, ensure you cover all essential and some desirable!

Interview:

• Be calm and confident, you've already made it so far!
 
• Give yourself time to settle down, you're only human!
 
• If you don't understand a question or can't remember it all, apologise and ask for repetition.
 
• Seek clarification if you are unsure of the question - one way is to paraphase "do you mean..".
 
• Sell yourself, if you are asked to "add anything else", make sure that you use that opportunity to shout about your skills and why they should hire you.
 
• Prepare answers to scenarios, and questions prior to the interview.  Try to consider all your placement/work experience and the strengths, challenges and points to develop of these before you go into the interview.
 
• Ensure you thank them for the opportunity at the end of the interview, manners go a long way!

Post-interview call back:

• Make sure you answer the call when you have time to talk, and are in a suitable environment without lots of noise.
 
• Even if it is a call of rejection, thank them for everything.
 
• Seek feedback, or if offered, accept feedback.
 
• Discuss with them honestly how you felt it went, or give them more detail about why you felt that question was difficult.
 
• Write down the feedback they give you, including tips for future interviews.
 
• Consider the positives of the feedback, or where they do not offer positives, ask for positive feedback.

Most of all, it is necessary you remember that every interview is different and that every interviewer is different. And, like I said before, every knock back is a learning curve to take a leap forward with. I know that I am grateful for the opportunity to interview, it showed me strengths in my personal statement, and showed me that I did have what it takes to be considered for a Band 5 post.  I am also glad that I have learnt so much from the interview experience and the feedback given and I hope that future interviews to come will also support me in developing and learning.  Then one day, I am positive, an interview will end in my dream SLT job! *Fingers crossed*. Good luck to all #SLT2B's out there!

 

 

Extremely SLT-Related and Incredibly Fun

So last night was the first event for the SLT Society at the University of Essex, and we watched Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  It was voted as the film of choice due to people knowing it had links to aspergers/social communication and was "easy going".  Well the later was not true, as many people teared up during it! But it certainly did have some great links to SLT.  Whilst the main character Oskar did not have a formal diagnosis of Aspergers (despite being tested as he mentions during the film) he shows some examples of many clients that all of us in the audience could relate with, from repetitive behaviours to extreme anxiety talking to strangers and inappropraite questioning. 

 

But that wasn't the best part, Oskar meets "The Renter" who "has no voice", which Oskar goes on to discuss reasons behind voice disorders, why it's not physiologically possible to have "no voice" and basically outsmarting 90% of the audience with his terminology and diagnosis! "The Renter" then proceeds to show his right hand, which has a "yes" inked into it, and his left hand which has a "no" inked into it.  He and Oskar go on to have real rapport and "The Renter" supports his "yes" and "no" hands with his notepad and pen, a really great example of low tech AAC.  It highlights how two very different people communicate successfully, how different communication impairments can impact someone and how you problem solve around this to continue to communicate. 

 

Overall a fabulous choice for our first event and first film night! Any suggestions for our next film night are welcome - and if you haven't seen this film, go watch it and let me know what you think!

 

 

How to: SLT Job Applications and Interviews

It's that time of year for many SLT2B's (SLT Students for those not "down" with twitter lingo!) when discussions about job applications and job interviews start cropping up.  Within a single hour yesterday I was asked "Who do you think you'll use for your references?" "Do you think its too soon to apply?", and the competitive side of some people starts to show.

 

But after attending the RCSLT Student Day last week, where many suggestions about job applications and interviews were given from NQT's, it got me wondering what those who are potential interviewers may be expecting.  I also wanted to compile a handy "how to" blog to help all those students in transition just like me.  So I posed the question on twitter and a flood of tweets giving suggestions from both potential interviewers and students came in.

 

Here are the twitter suggestions:

 

"Be yourself & bring extra copies of your resume to the interview. Ask about supervision, training, & opportunities for continuing ed" - Kimberly Scanlon

 

"for interview stage prepare some questions b4hand, ur mind will sometimes go blank so good 2 have 1-2 ready" - Sarah Bobeldijk

 

"remember u could potentially end up working with/for these ppl so ask them q's about the service, the job, the team etc" - Gina Roy

 

"Also good to get idea of personalities of team - its not just job u have to b right 4. U need 2 fit in w/ the team" - Sarah Bobeldijk

 

"Be proactive and ask to see the department before interview." - Ashleigh Westwood

 

"also don't b afraid to go have a look around, it'll get ur face out there & u get a better idea of what t job entails & environment" - Sarah Bobeldijk

 

"When #slp2b job hunting, ask if company/school will provide the supervision and request it be put in the contract, if possible" - Kate Millican

 

"thoroughly read person spec - if there's items u dont meet eg dysphagia trained, st8 what u do have like experience than gloss over" - Sarah Bobeldijk

 

"My 1st application was unsuccessful but I emailed for feedback after not hearing anything. If you ask, they'll most likely... give it to you & you can improve on your next application which hopefully will end in success! :)" - Ashleigh Westwood

 

"look everywhere for jobs - my first one was on Facebook, and that was in 2007! Best job I could have asked for!" - ASDSpeechie

"apply for part time, even if you want full time. I didn't get the original job, but got a full time year long contract instead!" - Helen Sutton

"don't be disheartened by some interview processes. Had 1 where 40 of us did a test, top 6 were invited back for interview....got to interview stage, told I was second fave choice. Felt demoralised at the time but gave hope I was doing ok in the process too!" - ASDSpeechie

 

& Mike Richards also blogged about this last summer http://www.speechlanguagesolutions.co.uk/category/sls-blog/ … (take a look, it's worth a read!)

 

So, get to know the department and the people, including visiting the department pre-interview (or pre-application if there is time!), get to know the person specification and job description, bring along your CV to the interview and ensure you ask lots of questions.  Then once the interview has happened, if unsuccessful don't forget to ask why! This will support your future applications.

 

Other hints, tips and suggestions for job applications from the student day include:

• Make your application (or personal statement) systematic, structured, punchy and personal.
 
• Short concise applications, personal statements or email enquiries are more likely to be responded to than lengthy ones.
 
• Ensure your application form/personal statement covers all aspects of the person specification.
 
• Make your application form as individual as possible, don't just copy and paste.
 
• Include all transferable skills, non-clinical experience that can contribute to the job role.
 
• Apply for jobs within NHS, charities, independent sector, local authorities - you're not just restricted to NHS work in NQT year.
 
• Sell yourself - make it sound like you're the only one that can do this job.
 
• Gain experience by volunteering, keep in touch with peers and clinicians, start or join journal clubs and attend SIG's.

Other hints, tips and suggestions for interviews:

• Be punctual
 
• Ask questions and find out what is involved in the job
 
• Show your personality and be enthusiastic
 
• Think before you speak
 
• Plan answers to questions (e.g. prepare for questions such as team working, MDT role etc)
 
• Show your interpersonal skills (ability to reflect, team player etc.)
 
• Show your clinical knowledge (theory, caseload management etc.)
 
• Have a solid client knowledge.

Question the models of supervision you may receive, especially if applying to private/independent organisations.

Consider the bigger picture - knowledge of RCSLT, HCPC and wider service provision.

So I hope this gives any "slt2b's" a wider insight into the application and interview process, and comes in handy for those that are also starting the transition into NQT just like myself!  Hopefully once I do begin applications and interviews, I can report back some of my own handy tips that I have experienced!

 

Good luck to all student SLT's in the process of job hunting!

 

Many thanks to all the Twitter responses, Mike Richards for his blog post and Emma Marfleet and Gina Roy for their fab presentation at the RCSLT Student Day

 

 

For any #slt2b's that are feeling they want more support with time management, caseload management, reduce stress and be more productive in the preparation for NQT jobs then you should take a look at the upcoming day from Therapy Ideas at: http://therapyideas.org/workshop - Great for the CV!

 

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Updated 10th April 2013 - Many people have contacted me about this blog post and offered their suggestions, so here is a link to a fab blog on job applications and interviews for Band 5's from a SLT herself http://www.aptus-slt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/tips-for-newly-qualified-speech-and.html and don't forget to check out Journal Clubs in your area for extra brownie points on your CV - sltjournalclub.co.uk   - Pediastaff also have a graduate careers guide that you can check out at : http://ht.ly/jRQpy (works best on laptop/pc rather than mobile!)

SLT Society..an update!

So, having now been ratified as a society there has been many committee meetings establishing a budget and a code of conduct (boy oh boy, I did not realise how much work this society thing would take!) and now we are just awaiting a go ahead on gaining members and we are off!

 

But in the meantime we've planned a film night, showing a film that is SLT related (but is not the King's speech!) so we selected Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close to highlight social communication and we will be holding a discussion group about the interpretation from book to film and how communication is portrayed in the film format. 

 

 

As well as this, we have created a Giving Voice Ballot Box! Now all RCSLT members should have received their April Bulletins and be eagerly reading them back to front, so if you have done this you'll know that the General Elections are taking place in 2015, and RCSLT want the MPs to include a manifesto about SLT provision in their campaigns, so this is an opportunity for real SLTs and SLT Students to put their thoughts down of what they actually want the government to provide SLT to improve it.  We were able to have a go at this at the RCSLT Student Day last week and it was actually a great way to realise that even though we know we need more SLT resources, what do we really want to gain!?

Our Ballot Box!

 

The Ballot Box, Manifesto Blank Forms and Polling Station

 

There are also plans for engaging in the non-verbal week from 22nd April (thanks to Inclusive Communication Essex who will be helping us out at local Essex libraries to provide AAC to use during this week!) and plans to host a Giving Voice stall to promote our society, the SLT profession and the Giving Voice Campaign on campus at the University of Essex. 

 

So whilst it feels like we only have a few months with this society before we move on to being qualified professionals (eek!), we have a lot of great stuff in the pipeline!!

 

If there are any other SLT Societies out there that have suggestions or ideas of events or activities that worked well, I would really appreciate a comment or tweet about it :)