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About our Online Speech & Language Therapy Service

Online Speech Therapy uses video-conferencing via zoom or Teams on your computer/tablet to give you quick, direct, face-to-face access to an experienced Speech & Language Therapist. We even offer formal assessment sessions, providing you with written reports and recommendations afterwards.

Online Speech Therapy makes it easier for you to fit Assessments and Therapy sessions into your life, and to keep your child’s development progressing even in these difficult times. There is no need to travel, you can stay in the comfort of your own home, and save money.

Why use Online Speech & Language?

You can connect with our expert therapists via your laptop, tablet or phone from the comfort of your own home.
Quick access to Therapists, no waiting lists.
Children respond very positively to technology-based sessions, with a growing evidence base showing that it can be as effective as face-face therapy.
Easy to use, requires no downloads, 100% secure and compliant.
Carry over and feedback from sessions available in an instant.
You choose the time that best suits you for your session.
Our fully qualified therapists make the sessions fun and engaging for children with interactive games and apps.

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Assessments

Speech and language assessments for children can take place at your home or child's preschool, nursery or school, depending on what is convenient for you and makes your child feel most comfortable.

ASL provides a flexible approach to Speech and Language assessments by using a mix of formal (standardised and norm-referenced) and informal assessments to gain an accurate picture of your child's needs. This is then used to plan effective, accessible and fun therapy for your child.

Our therapists are experienced in working with a range of communication impairments including:

Speech sound (phonology) delay/disorder
Language delay/disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Learning Difficulties
Social Communication Disorders
Dysfluency (Stammering)
Selective Mutism

After the Assessment

After your child's Speech and Language assessment we will discuss our recommendations with you. These may include:

Advice and activities for you to carry out at home with your child, which can be reviewed by the therapist
Liason with nursery/school staff and a Speech & Language programme for your child with specific targets and activities.
A block of direct therapy with the therapist

All of our therapists are fully qualified Speech & Language Therapists with Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) registration and membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

All of our therapists are DBS checked, trained in Safeguarding Child Protection procedures and receive regular clinical supervision and continued professional development.

Speech Therapy for Schools

ASL provides Speech & Language Therapy to schools across Essex, London, Kent and Bedfordshire.

We understand the shrinking budgets of schools and as such offer a flexible approach to purchasing effective Speech & Language Therapy provision within a school's financial constraints.

In the school environment our Speech and Language Therapists work with pupils who have a range of Special Educational Needs including:

Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Down's Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Social Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties
Social Communication Disorder
Selective Mutism
Speech & Language delay/disorder
Semantic Pragmatic Disorder
Dysfluency (stammering)

This means that we offer therapy based on each individual child's needs including:

Screening
Detailed assessments
One to one therapy
Small group therapy
Whole class support (integrating principles of a Communication Friendly Environment)
Informal training throughout the day
Formal training such as ELKLAN, Talk Boost and Language for Learning
Attending annual reviews
Consultation with parents, providing advice, support and resources

All of our therapists are DBS checked, trained in Safeguarding Child Protection procedures and receive regular clinical supervision and continued professional development.

Can your school afford to commission an Independent Speech & Language Therapist?

When you see "independent/private speech therapy", it's very easy to think "it's too expensive for us", however I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by our School Fee Structure.

When therapists are allocated days to specific schools through Service Level Agreements with local departments, in practise, therapists average 5-6 hours onsite with time frequently taken off for Clinical supervision, meetings, training, sick leave, annual leave and maternity leave. This can come out of the school's provision, which has already been paid for without any refund for lost SLT time.

At ASL we aim to provide each school with a consistent service for the children, staff and families, including one specifically allocated therapist, onsite from 8:30-4:30/5, with no hidden costs. Any hours not worked are not charged. Additionally, the daily rate includes all resources required for the therapist to do their job effectively, their clinical supervision and Continued Professional Development activities completed outside of the contracted days.

Jessica Allen
Director, Speech & Language Therapist

Jessica Allen graduated from City University with a Post Graduate Diploma in Speech and Language Therapy, with her first degree being a BSc (hons) in Biology from Imperial College London.

Jessica has worked as a Speech & Language Therapist in the NHS in a range of settings including; mainstream and special schools, nurseries, community clinics and childrens' centres.

Jessica has also gained extensive experience in training teaching staff and other professionals as well as working with parents and carers. Immediate intervention along with collaborative working is focused upon in sessions in order to achieve maximum success for the client.

Jessica is committed to providing evidence based practice from the latest research and has been awarded a distinction in a Masters level research project, focusing on the role of Parent-Child Interaction in Speech & Language Therapy. This research is published in The International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders.

Vicki Thornburrow
Speech & Language Therapist

Vicki is a specialist Speech & Language Therapist. Since graduating she has worked with a versatile caseload of children ranging from 5-19 years who have had a range of Speech and Language communciation delay/disorders and specific diagnoses. Vicki has worked in a range of clinical settings including mainstream and specialist schools and clinics. Vicki's specialisms include hearing impairment, Down's syndrome, shape coding and AAC.

Sheeva Albohassani
Speech & Language Therapist

Sheeva Abolhassani is a certified member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Emerson College and her Master’s of Science degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

Sheeva has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings such as: primary schools, hospitals, nursing homes, early intervention, and in clinics. The majority of her experience has been in primary schools where she has worked extensively with the pediatric population. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a variety of communication disorders to include: receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, stuttering, autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, social skills, auditory processing disorders, and other developmental delays. She is PECS and Makaton certified, while also holding advanced proficiency in American Sign Language. Sheeva works closely with individuals and their carers to facilitate effective communication skill development to carry over into the home and school environment.

Mahala Carter-Slinn
Speech & Language Therapist

Mahala Carter-Slinn has recently qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist from Birmingham City University.

Mahala has previous experience in a range of settings including Special Schools ranging from 4-16 years old and community paediatric services where she has collaborated with nursery staff and parents to ensure the needs of each child were met. These needs included dysfluency, language impairment, speech impairment and ASC.

Mahala has experience of working in settings for children with multiple and complex needs centres with 1-3 year olds and in an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnostic centre working with children and young adults.

Gemma Attfield
Speech & Language Therapist

Gemma Attfield graduated from Birmingham City University in June 2015 and joined the ASL team in September 2015.

Gemma is working with our students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties.

Gemma has also undertaken postgraduate training in Stammering Therapy.

Andrew McFarland
Speech & Language Therapist

Andrew McFarland graduated from City University and has been working within both the Essex and London teams supporting pre-school, primary and secondary aged students.

Andrew is currently developing his specialism supporting pre-school children diagnosed with Autism.

May Burgher
Speech & Language Therapist

May has 17yrs experience working with children and young people with communication difficulties in and around London. May currently works in a Primary and Secondary school in Dartford.

Her Specialties include, Autism Spectrum Disorders, SEMH and Language Disorders. May is a Highly Specialist therapist, supporting ASL’s newer therapists.

Joyce Nahed
Speech & Language Therapist

Joyce graduated from Reading University and has since moved to London to join our team working in Primary and Secondary Schools.

Joyce is supporting students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties (SEMH) and Autism whilst also training and supporting the teaching staff in the schools.

Kimmi Norris
Speech & Language Therapist

Kimmi qualified from the university of KwaZulu in 2015, since then she has gained experience in both the private and public health sector.

Kimmi is a specialist in supporting students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Difficulties and Autism. Kimmi works in our outreach team, supporting students who are not able to access mainstream education.

Tegan King
Speech & Language Therapist

Tegan qualified from the University of Cape Town in 2018, and has since gained a variety of experience within Johannesburg hospital.

Tegan joined our team in 2020 and works within Primary and Secondary schools in Essex.

Vacancies

Working for ASL

We provide a robust programme of regular and ongoing individual and group supervision.
We have a commitment to lifelong clinical development, investing in our therapists to ensure they receive the training and support they need to continue developing as professionals throughout their careers.
This employment offers excellent employee benefits, including a pension scheme, laptop, mobile phone, access to training budget.

Allen Speech & Language are currently recruiting for the following roles:

Ref: ASLEssex/Kent003 - Speech Therapist, Essex

An exciting opportunity is available to join our Essex and Kent School SaLT Team!

We are looking for a Therapist to work in mainstream schools in Chafford Hundred, Thurrock and Dartford, starting in September. Term-time only working with salary paid throughout school holidays. Options for further working in school holidays in our clinics. Salary will be dependent on experience, roles available to all band levels.

Therapist will be part of a small, friendly team and will have access to regular clinical supervision, team meetings, CPD opportunities, iPad with resources and assessment bundle.

Therapist will be responsible for:

Carrying out formal and informal assessment of students and making diagnostic decisions.
Setting and evaluating aims and objectives regarding speech, language and communication.
Carrying out direct and indirect therapy interventions.
Working with others, including families, teaching staff and other professionals.
Contributing to training.
Prioritising and managing caseload.
Maintaining best practice clinical standards as per RCSLT CQ live guidelines.
Maintaining a working knowledge of local policies and procedures and legal frameworks.
Carrying out required administrative duties.
Working independently and accessing support as needed.
Contributing to development of the practice.
Participating in service research and audit.
Contributing to supervision of assistants, students and volunteers.
Taking independent responsibility for continuing professional development and maintaining up to date HCPC registration.
Any other duties as discussed with the practice manager.

This post is subject to the requirements of a three-month probationary period. This job description is an outline of activities and will be updated in line with the changing needs of the service. For more information please email Jessica@allenspeechandlanguage.co.uk

As ASL are expanding, we are looking for therapists in different geographical areas, so please send a CV and covering letter to Jessica@allenspeechandlanguage.co.uk

Online Speech & Language Therapy Assessment and Sessions

Instant access to professional support, No waiting lists!