Speech and Language Therapist Review

I conduct assessments for autism in children and lead a team of therapists to deliver a robust and high quality autism assessment service. I am involved in planning service developments and responding to feedback from service users. I liaise with stakeholders including service users in order to inform and plan service development.

I have learnt how to carry out a substantial project from start to completion, using a range of project tools. I have developed my own awareness of my strengths and areas I need to develop. I feel more confident in having the skills to do this now and am keen to keep my development as a priority.

There were many aspects of the programme which I felt were invaluable. The programme in my organisation allowed networking and relationship building between teams which was an unexpected bonus of the programme. I enjoyed having a focus on my own development and seeing how this positively impacted the service and my team.

The programme was well organised with regular support from my assessor. Most of the modules were able to fit well with my work schedule and support my on the job learning. The regular support meetings were invaluable. My assessor offered me more meetings when deadlines were approaching to help motivate me and ensure I understood how to complete my work.

I received a lot of support from my employer. I was able to work from home in order to complete some of the learning and assignments so that I could focus on these. I felt my employer really prioritised my learning by providing this opportunity. I was able to manage my diary flexibly to achieve a good learning outcome.

I received lots of support from the training provider. My assessor was good at understanding my needs and was able to arrange some time away from study when I needed this due to unexpected circumstances. She understood how best to support me and the type of support that would be best for me.

My qualification has given me a good understanding of models of management which are helpful when leading a team within a large organisation. Time management skills and tools have been very useful in enabling me to prioritise and delegate tasks when necessary. I have also found the project tools very useful for ensuring success in delivering project work.

There are extra curricular activities at work, although conducting these safely has been a challenge with Covid and keeping everyone safe. Most events are conducted on Microsoft Teams at the moment, which has advantages and disadvantages. The team are shortly to be raising money for the National Autistic Society by walking or running 60km in April.

Yes

HCRG care group places a high value on the development of the staff. There are countless learning and development opportunities for those who want to engage in them. The organisation is flexible and responsive to the needs of staff and service users alike. I enjoy the opportunities to innovate within the organisation and feel that innovation is valued and supported.

I would advise anyone applying to the HCRG care group to take up all the learning and development opportunities and to show that you are keen to take learning opportunities because there are many! I would encourage people to show their innovation and enthusiasm which are highly valued in the organisation.