Building an Independent Speech and Language Therapy Practice: A Guide to Support and Inspire Healthcare Practitioners

Set against the context of a changing professional landscape, this book examines the journey of the authors, Jo and Diana, as they transitioned from working in the public health system (the UK's National Health Service) to setting up an independent practice following redundancy. Highlighting both the benefits and challenges, the authors outline the steps they took to move from survival mode and crisis management to a position of stability and success.

This book provides readers with a wealth of practical advice, helping them to avoid pitfalls and seize opportunities with confidence when establishing their own independent practice. It also touches on the fall-out from redundancy – pertinent to any job, anywhere.

Chapters explore a variety of topics, including but not limited to:

• The context, implications for setting up an independent practice and business models
• Practical considerations: financial management, contracts, governance, technology, creating a team and models of clinical service delivery
• Assessing success and identifying areas for improvement; measuring impact, troubleshooting and looking to the future

Written in an entertaining yet informative manner, with the voices of other experienced professionals drawn on throughout in the form of personal stories and specialist contributions, this book is essential reading for speech and language therapists (and others) considering going down the independent route.

Table of Contents

Introduction and navigation

Foreword

1. Setting the scene
2. Choices
3. National context
4. Methodology, findings and support structures
5. Business models
6. The toolbox essentials
7. The everyday stuff
8. Let’s talk about money
9. Contracts
10. Governance
11. Technology
12. The team
13. Clinical service delivery: Simple steps to launch your (clinical) model
14. Measuring impact
15. Trouble-shooting
16. Looking to the future; Appendices

"Alongside sharing their experiences and those of others in terms of changes to employment patterns, the chapters in the book provide a helpful practical resource for both existing independent practitioners and those who are setting up a business with all that this entails."
- Ms Kamini Gadhok, MBE, BSc Hons, Doctor of Civil Law (Honorary), Master of Science (Honorary), MRCSLT, Hon Companionship COP