UK WIDE ISSUES FOR SLTS What RCSLT is doing to support members on a UK wide basis

1. UK WIDE ISSUES FOR SLTSWhat RCSLT is doing to support members on a UK widebasis Kamini Gadhok RCSLT CEO

2. RCSLT - staff structure and names as at 30/08/07 Chief Executive Officer Kamini Gadhok PA to CEO Jo Offen Head of CRM Richard Guy Head of Policy & Partnership Nick Smith Head of Professional Development Sharon Woolf Head of Performance & Contracts Brian Gopsill Marketing & Events Manager Sarah Smithers (0.6fte) Marketing and Events Officer Digna Bankovska Country Policy Officers (x4) England Officer Jane Mackenzie Scotland Officer Kim Hartley Wales Officer (0.4fte) Alison Stroud (seconded) NI Officer (0.6 fte) Alison McCullough (seconded) PA Scotland Officer (0.8fte) Mary McFarlane PA NI Officer (0.4fte): Janet Webber PD Service Manager Band C Rubana Hussein PD Standards Manager Band C Dominique Lowenthal Office Manager Bridget Ramsay Admin/Secretaries: Karen Hasani; Shirley Pollaya; Rachel Bleach (0.5fte) Membership Manager Sharon Silvera Customer Service Officers Manjula Rathod Tashika Hinds Jo Blundell (on career break to Oct 07) Receptionist Debbie McKie Financial Controller Alfred Hanson Finance Officer (0.8 fte) Vasa Ravendradas Finance Assistant Patrick Jusu Data Analysis Officer (vacant) Policy Officer (1) Claire Moser Policy Officer (2)Sarah Keegan Communications Manager : Steven Harulow Communications Officers (2) Fiona McKinson (0.8fte) Vacant (0.6fte)

3. Achievements over past year Governance: • Strategic planning much improved • Council strategic aims cascade to departmental objectives and activity plans; Scottish issues are included in these • These then link to the corporate budget setting process – which ensures that funding for Scottish issues is in place

4. Ensuring your money is well spent RCSLT maintains a strong team of officers who manage the efficient running of the headquarters and of RCSLT’s finances. We want to work to the highest standards of governance, as is appropriate for a registered charity. We want to get the best value and the best results from our suppliers, through good procurement and contract management. RCSLT is introducing new systems of performance and project management for the organisation.

5. Communications and membership • Communications strategy • Events strategy • Website to be enhanced and improved –online community • Bulletin to be re-designed • Event calendar (linked to CPD) • Streamlined renewal process • Database review • Maintain and improve information services for Members

6. Working with Government • RCSLT works with Government, politicians, civil servants, the AHPF, HPC and others… • Decisions about health and education issues which link to SLT services are now made by the national governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as well as in Westminster. • Many decisions that affect SLTs are taken by non-departmental bodies such as the HPC or SHAs. • Pursuing a constructive role, RCSLT wants to work with decision makers and key partners, to get the right result for Members.

7. Strengthening our voice • We have increased the capacity of the policy team • Sharing campaign calls across the UK e.g: • Stroke • Young offenders and the links to early intervention • CI Research • Recognising communication disability

8. Supporting our members • May 2006 - Scientific conference (UK wide) • Sept 2006 - Research/EBP AGM • March 2007 - Provider conference • March 2007 - Student Study Day • June 2007 - Support Worker’s Conference (UK wide) • June 2007 - Managers’ conference (UK wide) • October 2007 - AGM (UK wide)

9. Ongoing Challenges • Workforce built around care pathways • The future of leadership in the profession • Career framework for all SLTs (linked to CPD) • Impact of financial pressures • Decision makers’ understanding of speech and language therapy and the needs of people with communications needs. • Research Strategy/ body of evidence to inform policy and practice.

10. Continuing Professional Development Service delivery Service users

11. Providing guidance and support for your on-going development Your employer and the Health Professions Council will both require that you undertake a range of continuing professional development activities. RCSLT is helping Members to meet this requirement and to get the most out of their professional development by publishing new tools: the CPD diary and the CPD toolkit. RCSLT Online CPD Diary

12. Our approach to training and development • RCSLT will assess the impact of the changes in commissioning and the way in which SLTs work on the way in which SLTs should be trained. • RCSLT will be developing CPD activities, including short courses, linking to the HPC categories and Knowledge and Skills Framework levels and dimensions • Council have approved an e-learning strategy • We want to increase our engagement with SIGs and specialist advisors to support CPD • We have been developing a resource tool for SLT managers, to help them with influencing and we will add to this following the managers’ conference.