2013 is looking like another busy year for ASLTIP. With an ever growing membership and an event calendar that is already filling fast, this year is set to be an exciting year for all of us.
Often the beginning of a new year offers a chance to look at plans for the coming year and for some speech and language therapists, they may make the decision to consider working independently. “Taking the jump” isn’t as daunting as it may seem! Our popular Setting Up In Independent Practice courses are scheduled across the year and across the country, kicking off in January in Milton Keynes. This course is now fully booked, but there are still places at the remaining courses. http://www.helpwithtalking.com/courses
We’ll be promoting ASLTIP and the role of independent therapists at various conferences and events across the year. So far we are scheduled to attend the Child Brain Injury Trust conference in March; the Commissioning Show in June and Naidex Scotland in September. As always our attendance at these events is only possible with members offering their time to represent ASLTIP. We thank the members who participated in a range of events in 2012, and hope that more members will benefit from joining in in 2013.
Of course, the biggest event on our calendar is our very own ASLTIP conference and AGM. This year we are delighted to have Professor Pam Enderby as our keynote speaker. The day has been planned to offer something for everyone, with workshops looking at the Social Communication Intervention Project and neurological rehabilitation. Given the big changes planned for 2013, our panel on GP Commissioning will be essential for members who need to keep up with the latest news on how services will be commissioned; and the workshop on legal aspects of employment will be a useful insight for those therapists who are currently or looking to expand their services. To cap it all of, this year we are excited to be offering a series of lightning talks which will be 5 minute snapshots of a whole range of topics. http://www.helpwithtalking.com/resources/events/41
Conference attendees may also want to know about the two pre-conference workshops being held the afternoon before the conference. The medico-legal SIG is holding a study afternoon, and a half day workshop presented by Dr Victoria Joffe and Dr Sarah Spencer entitled ‘Secondary School Provision: Enhancing language and communication in secondary school students with SLCN’ will also run.
Coming out shortly will be the special edition of Independent Talking Points, and the blog will continue across the year, sharing news and insights into ASLTIP, speech and language therapy and working independently. If you would like to be a guest blogger, please get in touch (marketing@asltip.com)
Here’s to a successful and inspiring 2013!
