Introduction
The RCSLT has big ambitions and it can only achieve these with the support of its members. We would like to thank our members for their significant contributions.
This page sets out how members support the RCSLT and how the RCSLT recognises that work.
It will be of interest to speech and language therapists (SLTs), speech and language therapy support workers, service managers and team leads, students and apprentices, other healthcare professionals and their professional bodies, service users and their families, and commissioners of services.
You can find out more about becoming a member of the RCSLT.
How members support the RCSLT
Members support the RCSLT in many ways. For example:
- Part of a working group
- Committee or Board member
- Responding to a consultation
- Lead or supporting author developing guidance or elearning
- Acting as a representative
- Clinical advisor or leadership mentor
- Member of a regional Hub or CEN Board
- Presenting in a webinar or at a course
- Practice educator, supervisor, or mentor
- Education representative involved in accreditation of pre-registration courses
Why is member involvement so important to the RCSLT’s work?
Strength in numbers:
The RCSLT could not achieve its ambitious programme of work without the substantial support of its members. There are around 70 members of staff, covering approximately 22,000 members. We need the input of members to extend our reach and to bring the latest evidence, expertise, innovation and practice into our work and influencing activities.
Breadth of experience:
The work is wide-ranging across approximately 30 clinical areas, across service delivery and in ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion for service users and for members in their workplace or university. There are often nuances depending on things like setting or nation. We need input from members to make sure our work represents this breadth and fully reflects, acknowledges and understands the lived experience of our members too.
Your knowledge and insight:
The work is complex and requires insight across clinical areas, research, education and leadership, for which we need our members. If you have relevant experience you can help share this with others and invest it back into your profession and ultimately shape better lives for people with communication and swallowing needs.
It’s beneficial to those who get involved
Any input you have into RCSLT’s work is recognised by the HCPC as continuing professional development (CPD) – under the work-based learning category. By getting involved you’ll learn about the latest approaches and evidence; network; develop leadership skills and gain new perspectives.
There are big benefits to employers
Employers benefit from their staff being involved in their professional body’s programme of work. It means their staff are getting CPD opportunities, networking and linking into the latest approaches.
Employers are encouraged to support staff in their CPD and lifelong learning: According to the Joint Principles of CPD and lifelong learning, Principle 1: “employers have a responsibility to support you [the employee] to take part in CPD and lifelong learning in line with regulatory, professional and UK health and social care system requirements”.
Recognising your contributions
The RCSLT recognises significant contributions in a variety of ways which could include certificates, letters of thanks, or public recognition. The type of recognition will depend on the type of contribution.
Where a piece of work is likely to be a large time commitment – such as being a lead author for a piece of guidance or elearning – we acknowledge that by paying for the work. Please note that we will not be able to give formal recognition for things like attendance at a single meeting, due to capacity.
We would also encourage employers to share and celebrate any work members do for the RCSLT, for example through newsletters and in multi-disciplinary meetings.
Find out about our current projects and other ways to get involved now.
