Speech Language Therapy Research Unit - Powered by ik Software

Some of the key achievements of the SLTRU are detailed below

The Unit became part of the Institute of Neurosciences, University of Bristol

University of the West of England (UWE) established a Chair of Speech & Language Therapy; this post is linked with directorship of the Unit in an agreement between UWE and North Bristol NHS Trust

Increasing links between speech and language therapy and and UWE mainly with the Faculty of Health & Social Care but also with colleagues in Education, Language & Linguistics

Increasing the numbers of speech and language therapists registered for research degrees at UWE

The children's computer programme attracted funding from the NHS R&D Health Technology Devices Programme

We were delighted that the University of the West of England (UWE) confirmed support for the work of SLTRU through the appointment of Sue Roulstone as Chair of Speech & Language Therapy in the Faculty of Health and Social Care. This post, along with the existing link to the Faculty of Computing Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, through Dr Brian Petheram, links the Directorship of SLTRU firmly into UWE. Our existing links with North Bristol NHS Trust, who host SLTRU and the Institute of Clinical Neurosciences and the Centre for Child and Adolescent health at Bristol University, are also important. The aim of these links is to secure the future of SLTRU as a home for speech and language therapy research that has academic and clinical relevance and credibility.

Throughout its history the Speech & Language Therapy Research Unit has played an important role in the support of new researchers in speech and language therapy. Since 1993, 18 therapists have gained their PhDs and M.Phils. Currently there are 3 therapists associated with the Unit who are pursuing a PhD or MPhil.

In addition the Unit hosts an annual conference for speech and language therapy researchers in the South West. Therapists meet to share their experiences of their research process, to support each other in problem solving and to learn from each other about methodology, ethics, writing and other research related topics.

Researchers from the Unit are also asked to provide training externally about research related topics such as patient involvement and evidence-based practice.

Therapists from the South West continue to see the Unit as a source of expertise and support in developing proposals, in conducting clinical research in their own practice contexts and in navigating the research process. Although therapists have access to NHS funded Research & Development Support Units in their local areas, they express a need for discussion and problem solving with active researchers who have experience of their working practices, clinical contexts and patient groups.

The Unit has thus evolved to function as a resource for developing researchers. However, the potential of the Unit to function as a research community for therapists is still in its infancy and continues to be underexploited.

We shall continue to seek funding to develop that activity.