14 August 2024

We are excited to announce the shortlisted nominees for this year’s RCSLT Awards 2024

The RCSLT Awards are an opportunity to recognise the achievements of our members and celebrate those who have supported and championed speech and language therapy and made a difference to the lives of service users.  

Thank you to all of those who submitted nominations. We received almost a hundred nominations across all the award categories showcasing the breadth of activities and achievements taking place to improve the lives of people with communication and/or swallowing needs. 

We are pleased to announce the shortlisted nominees for the categories below. We will be announcing the final winners for each of these categories, alongside our Honours Awards and Rising Star award winners, at our annual Awards event in October.  

Championing the value and impact of speech and language therapy 
  • Invest in SLT Petition – championing the importance and need to invest in speech and language therapy to the Government 
  • Kim Jenkins – outstanding contributions to raising awareness of the role of SLTs within youth justice 
  • Laura Cole – incorporating an SLT into the Greater Manchester mental health homeless service, providing access to the vulnerable homeless population  
  • Sign it Sing it: Michael Carlin and the Tayside Makaton Choir – showcasing the benefits of Makaton and the joy it can bring to those with communication difficulties 
Co-production with service user partners and their families 
  • Communication Café – co-creating a space for people with communication difficulties 
  • The Coproduced EPID tool – early parent child interaction with deaf children 
  • HCS Sheffield Dysarthria Clinic – the world’s first Dysarthria Awareness Day  
  • RCSLT Autism Guidance project team – co-producing clinical guidance on autism in line with neurodiversity affirming practice 
Developing and supporting the profession 
  • Dr Faiza Badar – training graduates to develop skills in speech and language therapy in Pakistan 
  • Head and Neck Integrated Team (HANIT): SLT fast-track education programme 
Excellence in research and development 
  • Dysphagia as a prognostic indicator – recognising the correlation between dysphagia and death soon after to ensure timely and appropriate end of life care 
  • Katherine Toft – evaluating the clinical utility and psychometric properties of the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory questionnaire (MDADI) 
Fostering equality, diversity and inclusion 
  • Lauren Flannery: Communication access project at UEA – promoting communication access for all 
  • Leigh Andrews: Change Communication – addressing communication barriers in homelessness services and beyond 
  • Polmont Communication Friendly Environment – creating a better environment for young people with speech, language and communication needs in prison 
Innovative solutions and new ways of working 
  • Communication Intervention Team (ComIT): Interactive SLCN/DLD RADLD Bubble Toolkit – providing resources to identify and support SLCN/DLD learners 
  • Head and Neck Integrated Team (HANIT) SLT workforce model – developing a unique, integrated service working together across different organisations 
  • Implementing a Community FEES service within the South East London Community Head and Neck Cancer Team 
Inspiring leadership in speech and language therapy 
  • Dysphagia NI – a regional partnership approach to support people with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties 
  • Lizzie King – leading on updating evidence on the use of thickened fluids to support patient care 
  • Marian Molloy – developing the SLT service within Healthcare in Prison in Northern Ireland  

Find out more about the RCSLT Awards 2024.