Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Interview.

ASmith

Hi

I've got an interview this week for a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant in the NHS.

I don't have any related experience for this post but I've got through to the interview stage which I'm so pleased about, the only thing is it's a group interview with 7 other people!

Has anyone had an interview for a similar position? What kind of questions do you think I might be asked?

Can anyone give me some tips on group interviews, this will be my first, I'm so nervous - I have no idea what to expect.

Of course I'm also slightly worried there might not even be a job in the end thanks to the NHS shake up - but I'll still go even if it's for the experience.

ASmith

Sorry to do this but....bump.

f1re_cr4cker

id go over the job description so you know exactly what it is you would do as they may ask you about that, id also research what services are offered within the local area/department and to make sure that you speak up and not just sit back in the corner and dont talk, on the other hand you dont want to appear to pushy either i guess!

sapphireeye

I'm sorry I only just saw this as I'm currently working as an SLTA! How did it go?

ASmith

sapphireeye wrote: »

I'm sorry I only just saw this as I'm currently working as an SLTA! How did it go?

Hello, the interview went really well thanks, everyone was very friendly and it was pretty relaxed, I think the group element was basically to see how well you interact with other people.

I just found out today that I got through the first stage and I've got a second interview in a couple of weeks, which I need to swat up on. Do you have any tips? Can you remember any questions that you were asked?

Many thanks.

claire123c

Hi,

I thought I would post as I am currently waiting to start the BSC SALT degree and have spoken to clinical practitioners who offered very good advice to future SALT students.

Attributes they seemed to look for in a SALT are: excellent communication skills and the ability to interact well with others, organisational skills (for case loads, notes etc) and other personal qualities such as the ability to show empathy. Creativity is also a good quality to have, as in an assistant's role you may be asked to prepare resources and assist with activities. Are you arty for example? Could you bring a certain kind of talent or experience to the role?

To secure my place I focused on the skills above in my personal statement, along with examples of the types of settings I have worked in (It's my second degree and I have been working for a few years since). I focused on examples such as experience with vulnerable people, children, and obviously that I have knowledge of SLD and communication problems. Do you know anyone in your personal/working life that has a speech/language/communication/confidence difficulty? Worked with children in school? Although you do not have direct experience you may find that you can draw on personal experience in the interview.

I hope this is of some use to you- I imagine selection for the degree is similar to what they would look for in an assistant's role as fundamentally we will all be working in the same role/setting in the future so require the same qualities!

Good luck!

ASmith

claire123c wrote: »

Hi,

I thought I would post as I am currently waiting to start the BSC SALT degree and have spoken to clinical practitioners who offered very good advice to future SALT students.

Attributes they seemed to look for in a SALT are: excellent communication skills and the ability to interact well with others, organisational skills (for case loads, notes etc) and other personal qualities such as the ability to show empathy. Creativity is also a good quality to have, as in an assistant's role you may be asked to prepare resources and assist with activities. Are you arty for example? Could you bring a certain kind of talent or experience to the role?

To secure my place I focused on the skills above in my personal statement, along with examples of the types of settings I have worked in (It's my second degree and I have been working for a few years since). I focused on examples such as experience with vulnerable people, children, and obviously that I have knowledge of SLD and communication problems. Do you know anyone in your personal/working life that has a speech/language/communication/confidence difficulty? Worked with children in school? Although you do not have direct experience you may find that you can draw on personal experience in the interview.

I hope this is of some use to you- I imagine selection for the degree is similar to what they would look for in an assistant's role as fundamentally we will all be working in the same role/setting in the future so require the same qualities!

Good luck!

Thanks for your advice.

I'm pleased to hear that creativity is considered a plus point - my educational background is art based and my degree is in an art based subject too, this is something I really enjoy and would love to bring to the role.

A close member of family had to see a speech therapist many years ago so I'll try and remember what kind of treatment we had to help with.

I'll emphasise these points in my next interview, thanks.

sapphireeye

Congratulations on getting a second interview! I only had one interview but I'll give you advice about what I know from working in the role, and I too have also been accepted onto a course to study to be a speech therapist from September. I also had no experience of speech therapy or the nhs having come from an admin background.

Firstly, what type of department is it? Adults or Children? Do they see inpatients or outpatients or both? In a hospital or in the community? It can work differently dependent on where you work. I work in adult speech therapy at a hospital across both inpatients and outpatients.

It's always a good idea to look at specific targets for your trust/PCT and how they're doing with achieving them. Look up about the 18 week pathway, that's a big thing in the NHS to do with seeing outpatients for appointments within 18 weeks, it's a specific target at a lot of trusts. Also, the NHS is currently changing, you must have seen the news recently about giving more power to GPs and etc, it always helps to be up to date with what's going on in the NHS as a whole and show that you've done your research. I actually wasn't asked any questions about this at my interview but I had researched it and they do like you to know about NHS policies. If it's between you and someone else then just having a little bit of knowledge on the NHS could make all the difference.

Have a look at the website for the RCSLT who are the governing body for speech and language therapy, and just have a read through things that are going on and there's a careers section where you can read about the different roles and get an idea of what's expected of you.

Be prepared for questions about how you could help someone with a communication problem. For example, at my interview I was asked how I would help a patient with a communication problem when trying to re-arrange an appointment over the phone. I talked about using letters and email and alternative means of communication and also something which I didn't know back then, is that the NHS have interpreters so if you're talking to someone who doesn't speak English, they can explain to the patient.

They won't expect you to be an expert on anything, but remember the speech therapy is not always just about communication problems, it's also about swallowing. Get an idea of some of the terminology such as dysphagia (swallowing problems), dysphasia (word finding difficulties), dysarthria (problems forming words due to weakened muscles around the mouth) and etc. The types of illness that might cause speech/swallowing difficulties - strokes, cancer, head injuries/brain tumours, dementia, alzheimers and other neurological conditions etc. Also alternative ways of communicating such as communication boards. They won't expect you to know a lot but you'll feel more confident if you know a little bit about what you might come across in your role!

Useful personal qualities are patience, being organised, being a good communicator (not only when it comes to patients but also when it comes to building close relationships with other medical staff - nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and of course friends/family), empathy, being able to deal with emotionally difficult situations - patients being very ill or even dying (I think I had an interview question about this), being sensible, being a team player and able to follow commands/therapy programs given to you by the SLT. You also need to be able to be objective about a patient, particularly when writing in their medical notes, you can't bring personal thoughts or feelings towards the patient into it and you must remain professional.

Try and find ways to relate your past experiences to the job. For example times when you've dealt with many different types of people, times when you've dealt with people with disabilities, children, adults etc. Ways that skills you've learnt previously will come in handy in your new role.

Overall, just be yourself! Come across as friendly and approachable, patients love people who treat them well and your colleagues will want to work with someone that comes across as nice and smiley but also good at their job. Though the above seems like a lot, I only had a very basic knowledge of speech therapy and the nhs when I interviewed but I emphasised why I wanted to work in speech therapy, what I could bring to the role over anyone else and was very enthusiastic showing I was eager and willing to learn.

Good luck and shout if you have other questions!!

claire123c

ASmith wrote: »

Thanks for your advice.

I'm pleased to hear that creativity is considered a plus point - my educational background is art based and my degree is in an art based subject too, this is something I really enjoy and would love to bring to the role.

A close member of family had to see a speech therapist many years ago so I'll try and remember what kind of treatment we had to help with.

I'll emphasise these points in my next interview, thanks.

No problem, good luck! I would have loved to be a SALTA for a while first, but as the degree is 4 years, felt I should just go for it now.
I am by no means an expert, but I hope that I have helped a little. The post below is great by the way.:)

claire123c

sapphireeye wrote: »

Congratulations on getting a second interview! I only had one interview but I'll give you advice about what I know from working in the role, and I too have also been accepted onto a course to study to be a speech therapist from September. I also had no experience of speech therapy or the nhs having come from an admin background.


If you don't mind me asking, which Uni are you going to and is it the BSC or MSC? (Obviously if you don't want to answer that's fine.. PM me if you'd rather)

I'm excited to start but wish the degree was shorter!

grasshopper12

hi

I also have an interview for paediatrics SLTA within the community coming up soon, which consists of a written test, group discussion and an interview if I am successful. I would just like to know what kind of things are talked about in the group discussion, what questions to expect in the interview and what is involved in the written test.


Thanks

p.s sorry for coming on your thread, I couldn't find a related forum