I provide an independent SLT service that includes assessment, evaluation, therapy, advice and training to children with deafblindness, multiple needs and rare diseases. I also offer project management and consultancy to services supporting children and young people with Sensory Impairment.Recent work includes: • University of Birmingham/ Birmingham City University - lecturing on deafblindness programs.• The Alba Centre – SLT assessment of students using tactile sign language • National Sensory Impairment Partnership – project lead for the Sensory Learning Hub, lead trainer for the two day tactile sign language course. • Insight Editorial Board – working with the board to develop Insight online content• Sense International – technical specialist and quality assurance review for Early Intervention projects in Nairobi, Kenya; Entebbe, Uganda and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania • Seashell Trust – project consultant to support the development of the Outreach Service (MSI) offer

Initially working as a job-share, and since April 2020 as a sole postholder, to coordinate the Developmental Epilepsy Service clinical SLT team (within the Neurodisability Service). I maintain a clinical caseload and contribute to multi-disciplinary developmental assessments as part of a tertiary service. I support and lead projects that develop SLT and specialist services. - Developmental Epilepsy Service: providing assessment and recommendations for intervention for children with epilepsy and associated developmental disorders (rare/genetic epilepsies, Sturge Weber; neurocutaneous syndromes): diagnosis relating to neurodevelopmental profile, assessment to inform/assist monitoring epilepsy treatment, surgical decision making and medical management, or unusual profiles/ children considered ‘difficult to assess’, offering education / therapy recommendations. - Developmental Vision Clinic/ Developmental Communicaiton Service providing assessment and intervention recommendations in tertiary MDT clinics. - Working with a team to develop strengths-based scripted video assessment protocols to profile the abilities of children with severe/profound Intellectual disability. Other projects include developing clinic capacity and streamlining clinical pathways in the SWaNS clinic. Rescoping provision to establishing the SLT role in neuropsychology stream focusing on motor speech disorder. - Audits: Motor speech assessment practice in children with epilepsy and acquired motor speech disorders. SL&C Needs in the Developmental Vision Clinic. Use of the Tactile Working Memory Scale. - Co-chair of Service Evaluation, Audit, Outcomes and Research Group, SLT team representative of Neurodisability CPD group, Member of Trust-wide Deafblindness/MSI Professionals Network.

Fixed Term Contract (1 yr mat cover)I provided clinical SLT support, including assessment, diagnosis, advice to families and liaison with community services; covering the following multi-disciplinary outpatient clinics:• Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service - providing assessment and management of children with complex neurodevelopmental disorders. Reasons for referral include diagnosis, second opinion, and educational / therapy / behavioural advice.• Developmental Epilepsy Clinic - providing assessment and management of children with epilepsy and associated developmental disorders. Reasons for referral include rare epilepsies, monitoring specific epilepsy treatments, developmental baselines for surgical decisions, and children who have unusual profiles or are considered difficult to assess. • Sturge-Weber and Neurocutaneous Service – providing assessment and management of children with Sturge-Weber Syndrome and in the assessment of other rare neurocutaneous disorders. Reasons for referral include diagnosis, medical management, and educational / therapy advice. I worked with colleagues to develop a transition pathway for young people with SWS and an audit of SWaNS ASD pathway to help improve multi-disciplinary diagnosis.

• I strategically led a national team brought together from 6 regional services with cohesive service strategies, key performance indicators, objectives, annual work plans and impact monitoring. • I implemented an interdisciplinary model of working with professional supervision framework to address practice needs; improve accountability, team cohesion and professional leadership within disciplines, resulting in a more joined up experience for service users • I responded to strategic change leading the team from regional practices to a national service framework to build on strengths and good practice initiatives, I developed the framework, standardised evaluation tools and outcome monitoring for the impact of service for families. • I was the professional lead for Speech and Language therapy and managed a paediatric caseload of children with deafblindness, multiple disabilities and rare diseases, providing assessment, evaluation, therapy and advice to improve outcomes. • I identified and undertook evidence-based research projects as part of the Practice Board.• I effectively managed an annual budget between £1.2m-£1.8m and successfully achieved growth in traded services from £100k to £350K at it’s peak.• I worked with fundraising colleagues to develop successful program bids as well as managing implementation of projects for DfE, Children in Need, The Big Lottery and other Trusts. • I positioned Sense as an active partner in sector partnerships, including identifying the National Sensory Impairment Partnership, Vision 2020 CYP UK group, Mandatory Qualifications steering group and Insight Editorial Board as key partnerships to collaborate in, and participated in projects to further the organisations’ resources and improve outcomes.

• I led a regional team of specialist advisory teachers and family support workers providing holistic support to Deafblind children and families. • As a member of the Regional Management Team I contributed to annual work plans and developed service objectives and KPIs. I undertook service improvement initiatives to improve the compliance with and effectiveness of dysphagia screening tools and communication practice.• I managed a paediatric SLT caseload of children with deafblindness and multiple disabilities providing assessment, evaluation, therapy and advice to improve outcomes.• I fostered a relationship and worked with Great Ormond Street to pilot a 1 year development clinic at the Wolfson Neurodisability Service focusing on AAC for Deafblind children (2008).

• I worked between 2 special schools (Richard Cloudesley school for children with physical disabilities and the Bridge School for children with learning disabilities) where I managed a paediatric caseload of sensory impairment, ASD, SLD, PMLD and Cerebral Palsy. • I provided assessment and management of communication strategies, AAC systems (low, light and high tech) and dysphagia. I contributed to the development of school-wide policy, audit and training. • I provided clinical supervision to junior SLT colleagues and the clinical placement of students. • I was the site lead in the ‘joint notes’ project to combine multi-disciplinary health notes for both schools.

Supported and developed the organisations network of family / deafblind support groups. Organised events to involve deafblind people and their families in the organisation Facilitated the SIG: Sense Forum.