I joined CHSS in September 2019 on a part-time PhD scholarship. I also work part-time clinically in Sussex as a specialist speech and language therapist with children and adults who have acquired brain injuries and complex neurodisability.  One day a week I also work as a Clinical Researcher with The Children’s Trust charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. I am currently researching use of parent perspectives to develop a measure of communication participation for non-verbal children with complex neurodisability.
In 2016 I completed a Clinical Research Masters (MRes) with the University of Brighton. My research project explored adolescents’ experiences of communication following acquired brain injury using a qualitative methodology of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA).  I am interested in exploring what it is like for children with neurodisability to have a communication disorder and how this affects their identity and participation in everyday life.  I am keen to find out more about how family dynamics are impacted when children have difficulties communicating with those around them due to significant impairments with speech and language skills. It is important that as professionals we gain a deeper understanding of what life is like for children who live with complex communication disorders, know more about barriers to communication participation and find solutions to overcome them. I would like to develop clinical tools which have been co-designed using the experiences of children with communication disorders and their families.

Career/Background
I worked as a Commercial Property Insurance underwriter for 9 years before becoming a Speech and Language Therapist. I completed a Clinical Language Sciences (Speech and Language Therapy) degree at Leeds Metropolitan University in 1999.
For 20 years until 2019, I worked in the NHS for Sussex Community NHS Trust at Chailey Clinical Services, specialising in working with children and young people with complex neurodisability. I developed my expertise within a multidisciplinary team with children and young adults who have complex physical conditions arising from cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and genetic conditions. I developed a keen interest in paediatric acquired brain injury from my clinical role with an inpatient rehabilitation unit and an outpatient specialist assessment clinic. 
In 2016 I completed a Clinical Research Masters with the University of Brighton, exploring in-depth how everyday communication is experienced for adolescents following acquired brain injury.  In the future I hope to combine a successful clinical and academic career. 

Education
University of Kent, 2019 – 2025: PhD Studentship/Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Brighton, 2013 – 2016: Clinical Research Masters (MRes) – merit. Dissertation: Adolescents’ experiences of communication following ABI (distinction)
Cardiff University, Undertaken Chailey Clinical Services, June 2010 - November 2010: Expert Witness Certificate
University College of London, November 2004 - May 2005: Practical Management of Eating and Drinking Difficulties in Children - post basic/intermediate
Leeds Metropolitan University, 1997 – 2000: BSc (Hons) Clinical Language Sciences (Speech and Language Therapy) - first class hons.

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