'Thinking for two': a case study of speech and language therapists working through assistants.
BACKGROUND
Many speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the UK work with speech and language therapy assistants, and the numbers of SLT assistants is expected to grow. There has been very little empirical investigation of how SLTs feel about this situation or the effect on working practices of working indirectly.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate SLTs' opinions on working with SLT assistants in a small-scale research case study.


METHODS
The study design was a case study of five SLTs delivering intervention within a research intervention project. Prepared questionnaire and formal interview techniques were used to elicit opinions on working through assistants, and a content analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Although respondents could see value in working through assistants, they stressed the time required to do so and the difficulties of adapting and updating therapy plans when working indirectly.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests a variety of factors that have to be carefully managed if SLTs are to work competently through assistants.
McCartney
Elspeth
E
Division of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. e.mccartney@strath.ac.uk
Boyle
James
J
Bannatyne
Susan
S
Jessiman
Emma
E
Campbell
Cathy
C
Kelsey
Cherry
C
Smith
Jennifer
J
McArthur
Jane
J
O'Hare
Anne
A
D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D032022:Delegation, Professional; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires