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After giving more than a decade to the drug discovery field, Fay Davidson found herself at a career crossroads. Driven by a personal connection and a desire for meaningful work, Fay embarked on a journey of exploration that led her to Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and a life-changing experience in speech and language therapy.

In May 2023, Fay had the opportunity to complete a two-day work experience placement with Suman Loyla, a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Notts Healthcare. During this experience, Fay shadowed Suman during clinic hours, gaining firsthand insights into the daily operations of a speech and language therapist.

Reflecting on her experience, Fay shared:

These two days gave me a great insight into what the role of a speech and language therapist involves, and the depth and breadth of skills needed for this role." From reviewing referral forms to engaging in face-to-face appointments, Fay witnessed the diverse range of responsibilities and the crucial role that speech and language therapists play in supporting children and their families.

I was able to observe some of the techniques and resources used by Suman and how she assisted parents in supporting their child in therapy," Fay added. "Another aspect I found very interesting was seeing how different teams, such as the Autism team, communicate and work together to support the child and their family.

Inspired by her experience, Fay has continued her journey in the field of speech and language therapy. She has become a volunteer conversation partner for people with aphasia through Notts Healthcare and is actively exploring opportunities as a speech and language therapy assistant. Additionally, Fay is considering applying to the MSc Speech and Language Therapy Course at the University of Lincoln.

The opportunity to complete two days of work experience was invaluable and really helped me decide that pursuing a career in speech and language therapy is something that I am passionate about doing,

Suman Loyla, a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at #TeamNottsHC said:

We've observed a decline in applications for SLT roles in recent years, especially impacting recruitment to our Band 5 positions. This trend mirrors the national landscape, where SLT vacancy rates are averaging at 23% (RCSLT, 2024).

Work experience provides learners with invaluable insight into the enriching world of speech and language therapy, allowing them to truly understand the day-to-day responsibilities of the role. We offer work experience opportunities to local learners, many of whom may choose to establish themselves in Nottinghamshire long-term and potentially join our service. Through this initiative, we aim to 'grow our own' workforce.

By offering work experience, we not only raise awareness of the vital role SLTs play but also ignite interest in SLT as a career path. There's no better way to support today's learners in becoming tomorrow's colleagues. It was great to have Fay join us for two days, and we wish her luck with her future career and studies.

Jen Guiver, Executive Director of People and Culture at Notts Healthcare said:

Fay’s journey shows how anyone can find their passion with the right opportunity. Her story highlights the importance of trying new things and following what truly matters to you. We're proud to offer work experience like Fay's, helping people explore different career paths in healthcare - we’ve hosted over 60 placements so far this year and look forward to welcoming many more. Wishing Fay luck with her further studies.

The Trust is proud to support work experience programmes and can offer placements between 1 and 5 days across a range of different professions and environments. If you would like to find out more, visit the Care4Notts website, which includes a directory of work experience offers for all health and social care partners across Nottinghamshire.

View our latest vacancies, along with our fabulous staff benefits and development opportunities on our recruitment website. Join #TeamNottsHC and help make a difference!