Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad #9 (Location: England, UK)
Bonnie is from the U.S. (Ohio) and moved to England, UK to complete her Master’s Degree for Speech-Language Pathology. Continue reading to learn more about her experience working in Essex, UK. Thank you Bonnie for sharing your story!
What are your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Bonnie Walter (she/her), Speech and Language Therapy Student (*will be an HCPC certified Speech and Language Therapist once documents are approved but legally cannot say I am an SLT [Speech-Language Therapist] yet).
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend?
Received my undergrad degree in Ohio and moved to England to complete a master's grad school program for speech and language therapy at the University of Essex.
Why did you become a SLP?
I have family members who are occupational therapists and I was able to meet and shadow their colleagues who are SLP's. They all spoke highly about their profession, seemed to love their job and have the flexibility to work full time, part time, contract, in schools, in hospitals etc. I loved the flexibility aspect of the job and wanted to be in a 'helping profession'. I also had a family member who was affected by a stroke and received speech therapy, and loved the idea of working with adult populations.
What city and country do you currently work in, what setting do you work in (e.g., international school, clinic, university, research, etc.), and what age range do you currently work with? How long have you been working abroad?
Essex, United Kingdom. I work in the general acute wards with adults at a local hospital. Typically patients are elderly but not always. I have just signed an 11 month contract with this employer beginning in August. I also have completed a 3 week placement here during my graduate studies. I have been in the UK for two years to complete my master's degree before this.
What type of cases do you typically work with (e.g., AAC, multilingual, articulation, Autism, feeding, cognition/swallowing, etc.)?
Dysphagia (due to stroke, acute injuries, dementia, aging, etc).
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
I applied from within the UK on the NHS (national health service) website. It took about two weeks to get an interview where I answered questions for a panel of three senior speech therapists. Some interviews require a short presentation for a case study.
What did the process look like for you to move abroad (e.g., obtaining visas/work permits or sponsorships, finding a place to live, moving, SLP licensure, etc.)?
It was very expensive to move here from the US. I applied for a student visa (tier 4) from within the US which was about $700. I also had to pay a healthcare surcharge which is $600 per year. My husband also came with me as a dependent and had to pay the same amount. Before going to the UK, we had to get fingerprints taken and register for a Biometric Residence Permit (an ID card). Upon arrival in the UK, we had to stay in airbnb's initially until we were able to look at apartments and sign a contract with a landlord, this took about a week. I could not pay rent or sign up for utilities without a bank account, but could not open a bank account without proof of address. To get around this, we opened an account with Wise, which is an online bank that was suitable to provide to utility companies as a bank. Many apartments require 6 months rent up-front, or to pay for a guarantor service such as Housing Hand if you do not have a UK credit history. The rent is approx. $1200/ month for a 2 bed furnished apartment. With the student visa, I was only allowed to work 20 hours per week until the program was completely finished. After this, I could work full time. My husband was allowed to work full time right away. After graduating from the master's of speech and language therapy program, all practitioners must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Registration with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is not always a requirement for employment but in most cases it is. Registration with the RCSLT includes professional indemnity insurance. If you are not registered you must get your own insurance.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
I was interested in traveling and found out the UK is a member of the Mutual Recognition Agreement. I decided it would be a cool experience to go to school in the UK and then eventually return to work in the US.
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
The cost of living is exceptionally high here in the UK. The homes are smaller than what I am used to, without gardens or yards. The cost of food, housing, taxes, public transportation, and gasoline is higher in the UK while the pay is low. I have found the general quality of life to be comparable to the US in terms of access to healthcare, food products, hygiene products, restaurants, etc. The UK is a first world country with many of the amenities you would find at home. It is also very safe, as there are no guns and less police corruption. However I would say, personally, my overall quality of life is lower in the UK. This is because the quality of healthcare is not as good, the variety of food, hygiene, and clothing products is not as large, the weather is always dreary and there is limited access to green spaces where I live. There are some cultural differences that can make living here feel isolating. For instance I have found the people in my town to be quite introverted and not share much about their personal life. My neighbors are quiet, not really interacting with us, and the customer service is not as friendly as back at home. The pay in the UK for speech therapists who work in healthcare is based on "bands." A newly qualified speech therapist will make £28,000/year as a band 5. After this, you could be promoted to band 6 or 7 and have a pay raise. However this pay is the same everywhere in the country despite variable costs of living and housing.
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
The most significant challenge for me has been the social isolation of living in a country without family and friends. I have made new friends but there are cultural and social differences, accents, different terminology that I don't understand, and a general feeling of being different. The other challenge is the cost of living. You must have a small fortune saved to get started here as the food, housing, taxes, transportation etc all cost more. Lastly I have found it difficult to adjust to the lack of green spaces, trees and insects that I am used to at home. There are some towns that can offer this but not where I live in Essex.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
I love meeting new people, learning new perspectives, and seeing how other communities live. I have had friendly employers and clinical supervisors who value a work life balance. I feel safer living here without guns. In my experience, the paid holidays, sick days, and maternity leave is much more generous in the UK.
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
I have not worked as an SLP in the US yet but I imagine there are often high productivity requirements. I have not seen any productivity requirements within the NHS. I feel the pace of work might be slower in the UK but the pay is also lower.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
I was already interested in cultural responsiveness within the SLP/SLT field, but that feeling has been reinforced by working in the UK which has a majority white, anglophonic SLT population but highly diverse caseloads. I wrote my dissertation on this topic and explored how SLP/SLTs are meeting the needs of diverse communities, how cultural competency is taught in graduate programs, and how this contrasts with global and local legislation which has identified cultural competency as a high priority. I do feel there is much room for improvement in this area but that many SLTs are not taught to be aware of these issues.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
Speak to others who have done it before making the decision. Really make sure it's what you want, and that you can afford it. Do not have rose colored glasses about moving somewhere abroad, it can be hard! The grass is not always greener on the other side.
How do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
I call home often, write letters and post cards, and try to stay in touch over Facebook. I've joined many ex-pat groups on Facebook which feels like a small community away from home where you can vent to people who understand what you are going through and get support.
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
Yes, I can be contacted on LinkedIn (Bonnie Walter) or via Facebook (Bonnie Walter Dinh).
