| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Allied Health |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Rehabilitation In-Charge |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 4 years in speech therapy |
Speech Therapist job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Speech Therapist
Department: Allied Health
Reports to: Rehabilitation In-Charge
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Speech Therapist assesses and treats speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. They evaluate the difficulty, plan therapy, and deliver sessions for conditions from childhood speech delay to post stroke aphasia and swallowing problems. The role reports to the Rehabilitation In-Charge or ENT consultant. A good speech therapist gives clear diagnoses and tailored therapy, involves families in the plan, and tracks real gains in communication and safe swallowing.
Key responsibilities
- Assess speech, language, communication and swallowing using standard tools.
- Diagnose the disorder and set therapy goals with the patient and family.
- Deliver therapy for articulation, language, fluency and voice problems.
- Treat swallowing disorders and advise on safe feeding and diet texture.
- Support children with speech delay, autism and learning difficulties.
- Rehabilitate communication after stroke, head injury or surgery in adult patients.
- Train families and carers to continue exercises and communication at home.
- Use communication aids and alternative communication methods where needed.
- Coordinate with doctors, teachers and other therapists on the plan.
- Keep assessment and progress records up to date for every patient.
Requirements
- Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (BASLP)
- RCI registration where required
- Master's in speech pathology is an advantage
- Fresher or up to 4 years in speech therapy
KRAs and KPIs for a Speech Therapist
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Communication gains | Patients meeting communication goals against the therapy plan target |
| Swallowing safety | Swallowing patients managed safely with no avoidable aspiration event |
| Assessment | New patients assessed and a plan set within the agreed time |
| Session delivery | Planned therapy sessions delivered to schedule each month |
| Family carryover | Families trained on home practice for most active patients |
| Records | Assessment and progress records complete for every patient |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Standard assessment tools, Therapy materials and cards, Communication aids, Swallowing assessment kit, Recording device.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Speech Therapist, Rehabilitation In-Charge, Audiologist
Interview questions for a Speech Therapist
- How do you assess a child with delayed speech?
- How do you plan therapy for a patient with aphasia after a stroke?
- How do you assess and manage a swallowing difficulty safely?
- How do you involve parents in a child's speech therapy?
- When would you introduce a communication aid?
- Tell me about a patient whose communication you helped improve.
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What does a speech therapist do?
A speech therapist assesses and treats speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. They evaluate the difficulty, plan therapy, and deliver sessions for conditions from childhood speech delay to post stroke aphasia and swallowing problems. They involve families in the plan and track gains in communication and safe swallowing.
What conditions does a speech therapist treat?
A speech therapist treats a wide range of conditions, including childhood speech and language delay, stammering, voice disorders, autism related communication difficulties, and communication loss after stroke or head injury. They also manage swallowing disorders, advising on safe feeding and diet texture. Their work spans both children and adults across many settings.
What qualifications do you need to be a speech therapist?
Most speech therapists hold a Bachelor in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (BASLP), with RCI registration where required, and a master's helps for advanced roles. Employers look for skill in speech, language and swallowing assessment, tailored therapy, the ability to involve families, and the patience to work with children and recovering adults.