I found Jenny because I was asked to... Yep, this was one of the careers you lovely bunch asked me to look into for you.
Thankfully, a local search popped Jenny, who I then went on to hear great things about from friends of friends - it was meant to be!
And of course, she thankfully said yes; and given how busy she is, I'm so grateful she did. Because there are nowhere near enough SLTs in the UK, probably the world, and yet the need for them is huge; so for those considering this as a career, please do it!
Listening to Jenny talk about what kind of cases she treats, and when doing the research for the role, you realise just how many children in particular, are in need of SLT support. Because as Jenny says, communication is key to EVERYTHING, and how well you can do it, can and will fundamentally shape your view of yourself, the world and your existence in it all. Jenny even quotes a crazy stat about criminals and 'offenders' and the % of them that have speech and language disorders... How might their lives have been different, if they'd received better care earlier in life?
Like the other NHS careers I've chatted to (even though Jenny no longer works in the NHS), she spoke incredibly highly of it as an institution, and of the people that work within it, which is heart-warming to hear. It's such a chronic shame that 'the system' can't keep people, like Jenny, who simply adore their job and are clearly very talented at it. Why? Funding. As always, there is a drastic shortage of it, meaning that NHS jobs are crazy full-on; and for working mums, like Jenny, juggling it all too often means it doesn't work and something has to give.
I did say in the chat (assuming I've kept it in the edit, I have a habit of cutting my own waffle out), that even though Jenny now works privately, it would be great if there was some kind of bursary or funding referral system with the NHS and private sector, so that talent like hers is still shared. Maybe there is, I'll have to dig around.
Enjoy.
Chops x
Jenny's social handles are: @traintalkslt and her website is: https://traintalk.org.uk
Click here to listen to the Jenny's podcast:
Click here to read all about how to become a speech and language therapist, and how you (yes YOU!) could get started in a career like this:
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