I am a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist specialising in Behaviour by virtue of also being a qualified Behaviour Therapist. I bring the unique mix of being able to provide integrated speech, language, communication and behaviour therapy. I am familiar with ABA and VB models of which the therapy I deliver also supports. I work best in this way where I can be part of a multi-disciplinary tea
m surrounding a child. I support and encourage SLT targets to be integrated into ABA daily data collection sheets; I therefore gather a large data sets about the communication needs of the children I see. I work with children with complex needs within pre-school, special school and inclusive mainstream settings; either at home or at school. I have a long history of working with adults with learning/intellectual needs as well. I have 10 years' experience in providing oral and written evidence in/to the Family Proceedings Court and am currently extending this extensive experience to providing the same high quality written and oral evidence within the EHC assessment process and for Educational Tribunals. My work with families has taught the importance of valuing children's communication, their feelings and therefore also offering a therapeutic space in which children can 'dare to learn' and try out new skills in a safe and secure way utilising an errorless learning approach. For me, the relationship I build with the child is the most important key to my success. I am a keen all rounder......assessment and on-going analysis in thinking about specific deficits/needs and how it underpins successful intervention is key; this needs to be both formal (via published assessments) and informal, for example through observation and other tools I have developed. Over the years, I have created and delivered communication and behavioural intervention plans to manage unhelpful behaviours and communication needs associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Verbal Dyspraxia/language impairment, phonological difficulties; using alternative communication strategies to overcome resultant frustration; working social and emotional skills either to teach generally or to address a specific deficit is what I enjoy. In recent years assessment and intervention has also included teaching parenting, self management and independence skills to parents with learning needs, and working behaviourally with fragile and vulnerable children as a result of abuse. Parent and sibling support as part of the groups I run is a topic close to my heart, being both a younger sibling and a mother to family members with additional needs. I have also lectured in communication and behaviour on both the Post grad diploma Masters programme. Having been qualified for fifteen years this year!! This what I have achieved and roles I have taken up which add to experience I have and the quality of service I provide:
• Speech Therapist (Independent, Private and NHS- various posts).
• Behaviour Specialist (Symbol Family Support Services).
• Assessment Team Member - Expert Witness to Family Proceedings Court.
• Registered Manager - Therapeutic Children's Home (service rested)
• Community Support Services Manager for Parents with Learning Disabilities.
• Consultant in Learning Disabilities -SLT, Beh, Developing and Evaluating Services
• Research Assistant - Evaluating Government Inspection Services for CSCi (latterly Ofsted).
• Operation Manager - Residential Family Assessment Centre, Parents with Learning Disabilities. Qualifications:
BSc (Hons) Speech Sciences
University College London -qualified in 2000
MSc Intervention and Analysis in Learning Disabilities
Tizard Centre, University of Kent (2005)
