Clinical Team

The clinical team offers a range of therapeutic support to adults attending ECL’s day services. Working closely with staff across our day centres, our clinicians can establish links and forge professional relationships with both customers and third parties to ensure continuity of care and the delivery of appropriate levels of clinical support during your time with us.

Where required, the clinical team can attend customer taster days to assess therapeutic needs, provide risk assessments and create treatment plans, prescribe additional mobility equipment, and support staff with arranging external referrals.

Available support includes:

Speech and Language Therapy to address concerns associated with communication or swallowing, to ensure safe support at mealtimes, to help create positive communication environments, and to deliver person-centred training focused on maintaining inclusivity at day services.

Occupational Therapy to ensure access to hoist equipment, enable safe transfers and facilitate functional assessments to maximise independence and help customers achieve their ambitions.

Physiotherapy services extend to the provision of mobility assessments and equipment recommendations, ensuring customers are able to safely mobilise and to help them identify and achieve their own goals relating to mobility. The team is also able to create bespoke exercise plans to promote physical strength and balance, reducing the risk of falls.

Positive Behavioural Support to encourage greater independence and help customers achieve their functional and social goals. In turn, opening doors to more experiences, allowing people to become active members of their communities.

As with day centres for adults with learning disabilities and autism, the clinical team also offers comprehensive support to those accessing ECL’s inclusive employment service.

While physiotherapy and occupational therapy support are available, the team primarily delivers speech and language and communication advice to help customers connect and communicate effectively within their roles. Positive behaviour support is another key facet of the team’s offer here, ensuring that both customers and employers have all the support they need to be able to overcome any behavioural issues that may limit an individual’s ability to successfully perform the duties required in a prospective role.

Available support includes:

Speech and Language Therapy to address concerns associated with communication or swallowing, to ensure safe support at mealtimes, and to help create positive communication environments within the workplace.

Positive Behavioural Support to encourage greater independence and help customers achieve their functional and social goals. Identifying and putting in place mechanisms to overcome any behavioural concerns, allowing both customers and employers to get the most out of their inclusive employment placements.

Occupational Therapy to ensure access to appropriate equipment, enable safe transfers and facilitate functional assessments to maximise independence and help customers achieve their ambitions.

Physiotherapy services extend to the provision of mobility assessments and equipment recommendations, ensuring customers can safely mobilise and help them identify and achieve their own goals relating to mobility.

The clinical team is able to provide a range of support to customers living with age-related conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, reduced cognition and reduced mobility. By offering specialist clinical support, people most at risk of experiencing loneliness and isolation due to age-related conditions can be given the tools they need to enable greater participation in activities within ECL’s day centres and empower them to confidently access the communities in which they live.

Where required, the clinical team can attend customer taster days to assess therapeutic needs, provide risk assessments and create treatment plans, prescribe additional mobility equipment, and support staff with external referrals.

Available support includes:

Speech and Language Therapy to address concerns associated with communication or swallowing, to ensure safe support at mealtimes, to help create positive communication environments, and to deliver person-centred training focused on maintaining inclusivity at day services.

Occupational Therapy to ensure access to hoist equipment, enable safe transfers and facilitate functional assessments to maximise independence and help customers achieve their ambitions.

Physiotherapy services extend to the provision of mobility assessments and equipment recommendations, ensuring customers can safely mobilise and to help them identify and achieve their own goals relating to mobility. The team is also able to create bespoke exercise plans to promote physical strength and balance, reducing the risk of falls.

Positive Behavioural Support to encourage greater independence and help customers achieve their functional and social goals. In turn, opening doors to more experiences, allowing people to become active members of their communities.

ECL’s reablement service boasts its very own clinical team which comprises a squad of experienced occupational therapists and physiotherapists, as well as approximately ten therapy assistants.

This dedicated team of providers is available to support the reablement service across the business, delivering exceptional specialist care to customers as they recuperate in their own homes after illness or injury.

You can find out more about our reablement service, here.

My job at ECL involves:

Leading a growing team of clinicians, to offer multidisciplinary therapies including Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Positive Behaviour Support, to enable and promote independence and increased quality of life for customers attending ECL Day Services.

Although my main focus is supporting the operational teams in the older people and learning disability day centres, I also offer clinical support for the therapy staff employed in the ECL Reablement service ensuring staff receive regular opportunities for clinical supervision and group peer support sessions.

I support with the design and implementation of ECL policies for clinical care, which involves consultation and partnership working with external clinical experts from the NHS.

My qualifications and background:

I have an MSc in Speech and Language Therapy and am registered with RCSLT (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists) and HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council).

I have many years of experience working in the NHS community therapy teams as a Speech and Language Therapist, specialising in the provision of communication and dysphagia therapies for people with autism, learning disabilities, and progressive neurological conditions.

My 10 year NHS career was devoted to working collectively within the structure of an established multidisciplinary team consisting of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Speech and Language Therapists. This has equipped me with the knowledge and experience required to lead the Clinical Team at ECL.

I joined ECL in October 2019 as a Speech and Language Therapist for two years before being promoted to Clinical Lead in December 2021.

What is important to me personally:

Coming from rural Scotland where wellies are worn and raincoats essential, I love participating in outdoor and farming activities and try to get back to Scotland when I can to recharge my sense of wellbeing that can only be attained via a trip home. I attend Alpaca yoga near where I live in Essex and love the calm interaction with the animals in their natural environment.

My biggest achievement:

Providing a young gentleman with Speech and Language Input and AAC (Augmented Alternative Communication), which assisted him to achieve life changing, paid employment.

What I’m looking forward to in this job:

Creating a pathway for customers with complex care needs involving a team of professionals from ECL, families, carers, and other professionals invested in a person’s support. This will enable ECL to offer unique packages of person-centred care to people who may otherwise be cared for at home and without opportunities to achieve increased independence and community participation.

My job at ECL involves:

Supporting operational staff to create an optimal environment for our customers, which, in turn, gives our customers the best possible experience within our day centres.

My responsibilities include observing customer experiences in the day centres, carrying out functional assessments, and creating, recommending, and reviewing strategies to promote a reduction in behaviours that challenge. I also evaluate and develop staff training opportunities to optimise the support they provide to our customers.

My qualifications and background:

I have a degree (BSc) in Sociology and Social Psychology. I am a qualified teacher, Specialist Leader in Education (SLE), and National Professional Qualification of Senior Leaders (NPQSL)

I worked in education for nearly 15 years, achieving the role of headteacher in mainstream and alternative education settings. My experience working in customer-facing and education environments means I am empathetic towards our customers and staff, and have a composed approach to problem-solving.

I joined ECL in July 2023, and while getting to know the staff and customers in our day centres, I have already supported with several customer referrals.

I am currently studying at the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent to complete a Master’s degree (MSc) in Positive Behaviour Support.

What is important to me personally:

My family (wife and children), playing sports (particularly rugby), my allotment, and a general thirst for knowledge.

My biggest achievement:

I am lucky to lead a fulfilling life. I am very proud of my family and enjoy sharing in their achievements. Personally, I have completed many physical challenges, including 10km obstacle course races, a triathlon, and the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. In 2024, I will attempt to run 100km in less than 24 hours.

What I’m looking forward to in this job:

Supporting and educating ECL staff to understand that all behaviour has a reason – even behaviours that challenge. By understanding the reasons behind behaviour, we can help manage it to be less challenging, thereby reducing our customer’s distress and improving their quality of life.

My job at ECL involves:

The assessment and treatment management of physical needs for older adults and adults with learning disabilities.

As well as working within the clinical team supporting the day centre customers and staff, I also provide supervision, clinical support, and mentorship for the wider therapy team, therapy assistants, and trusted assessors within ECL’s reablement service.

My qualifications and background:

On completing my Physiotherapy Degree in 2004, I worked at Broomfield Hospital until 2006. I was promoted to Senior Physiotherapist in the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in Dagenham from 2006 to 2017 before joining ECL in 2017.

I hold qualifications as an IOSH Moving and Handling instructor, have a City and Guilds Level 3 in Education and Training, and am a Certified STOTT Pilates instructor.

As well as offering 20 years of physiotherapy experience, I pride myself on being flexible and a great communicator. I genuinely love working with a variety of people.

Since joining ECL, I have relished being a part of the evolving clinical service. It has made the journey exciting, and I appreciate being part of a growing organisation with strong values and vision.

What is important to me personally:

Remembering who we are and relating to our own personal journey and experiences to support and help others.

My biggest achievement:

I have more than one!....

Realising my dream by qualifying as a Physiotherapist, running two marathons, and doing a Skydive!

What I’m looking forward to in this job:

Continuing to provide high-quality service to all customers, with a person-centred, goal-focused approach.

Taking on many exciting challenges with new people.

My job at ECL involves:

Assessing the functional impact of customers’ health conditions and disabilities, and working with them to create a person-centred support plan to meet their needs and improve the quality of the time they spend in our day services.

I spend the majority of my day at the ECL day centres, where I meet customers for Physiotherapy assessments or reviews. I offer support and training for the ECL operational staff involved in delivering my physiotherapy plans.

If required, I assist the ECL Service Managers to make onward referrals for the customer to have NHS support at home. I attend meetings and consult with other health professionals such as Speech and Language, Positive Behaviour, and Occupational Therapists, to ensure the holistic care of our customers.

As a physio at ECL no two days are the same, and I love that aspect of the job!

My qualifications and background:

I was born in Poland and came to the UK in 2009.

I have a Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy. I have previous experience working in Musculoskeletal Clinics around Essex.

I joined ECL just as the clinical team was being established so it was really an opportunity to make the role my own.

Moving from treating clients with musculoskeletal conditions to treating adults with Learning Disabilities and older people living with Dementia and other age related conditions added to my existing clinical learning portfolio. I knew when I made the transition that it would be challenging and demanding work, but in a good way. I always say if you are not growing, you are standing still!

What is important to me personally:

Health and my family are the most important values in my life. I work Monday to Wednesday from 8am to 2.30pm, which allows me to balance my career and being a mum.

My biggest achievement:

At work I am proud to support our customer’s needs every day.

My biggest personal achievement was winning the World Karate Championship in 2007!

What I’m looking forward to in this job:

Continuing to see our customers progress and using my clinical knowledge and expertise to make a real difference to people’s lives.

My job at ECL involves:

Supporting the Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) and the clinical team to help adults in our day centres with greater or more complex needs to achieve their desired outcomes and an enhanced quality of life.

Working directly with customers with learning disabilities and other complex or age-related conditions to implement a range of therapy programmes and strategies as devised by a qualified SALT.

Working with external partners to support customers’ needs, including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physios.

Facilitating the training and upskilling of ECL operational staff to improve the service capabilities. Building the confidence of staff teams to help them support customers to communicate effectively by their preferred means.

My qualifications and background:

After gaining 9 GCSEs, I completed a level 3 childcare diploma at college, achieving a grade A*. While doing the diploma, I undertook work experience at a children’s nursery, which went so well that they offered me a full-time role. I did this for a year and not only gained hands-on childcare experience but also provided some SALT support, which I really enjoyed. I discovered that I had great patience and listening skills and felt this would stand me in good stead for a Speech and Language Therapy career.

I was offered a place at four universities and was accepted by the University of Essex on the assistant practitioner course in August 2023, a two-year course that will allow me to progress to a SALT degree. I have also been fortunate to have been offered a SALT apprenticeship with ECL to gain the practical experience to support my learning.

I joined ECL in June 2023. Since then, I have completed all the mandatory training, observed customers, participated in team triaging, organised case files and spreadsheets, and created and implemented low-tech AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) resources.

What is important to me personally:

I enjoy archery, which I do every week. My friends and family are important, and I love socialising with them.

I adore driving around in my little yellow car, which everyone knows as my “little bumble bee.”

My biggest achievement:

Being accepted in four universities to study SALT and achieving the apprenticeship at ECL. Coming 2nd in an Essex archery competition and passing my driving test.

What I’m looking forward to in this job:

Being able to achieve my degree and qualify as a Speech and Language Therapist.

Supporting people to communicate, eat, and drink, thereby helping them achieve greater independence, increased integration with their local community, and a better quality of life.

Helping staff to create and implement valuable visual resources that support customers to get the most from their time at our day centres.

My job at ECL involves:

To review and assess customer’s communication and swallowing recommendations, to promote participation, safety and wellbeing at ECL day hubs. This includes collaborating with customers, their support networks, the wider multidisciplinary team, and third-party agencies, to provide effective support, guidance and training across ECL day operations.

My qualifications and background:

I qualified in 2023 as a Speech and Language Therapist with a Bachelor of Science (BSE) degree in Speech and Language Therapy.

I have had previous background in mental health care and social care. I also have experience in acute and community care, working with all ages. This includes both developmental and acquired disorders or differences, impacting communication and/or swallowing.

What is important to be personally:

I always say that “kindness is free”. To work for a company which values its staff and those accessing the service, with care, excellence, integrity and teamwork; feels extremely motivating.

My biggest achievement:

I went to university in my late 20s, which was something I never thought I would be able to do. Completing my degree was one of my biggest achievements of my life and I want to continue learning and growing as a speech and language therapist at ECL.

What I am looking forward to in this job:

Getting to know the staff, the customers and their support networks, to build positive working relationships and promote effective speech and language therapy intervention.

My job at ECL involves:

My primary role at ECL is to support service users who have speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.

I facilitate a timely, equitable and holistic service to ECL customers who need support with their speech, language, communication and swallowing needs. In addition, to ensure ECL staff feel well supported and to promote the role of speech and language therapy.

I have a breadth of knowledge when working with individuals with speech, language and communication needs. I also have knowledge and skills to support individuals who have difficulties with eating and drinking. I believe it is essential to see the whole person and ensure care plans are person-centred.

My qualifications and background:

After undertaking BSc (Hons) degree in Speech and Language Therapy, the majority of my career to date has been working for the NHS. I have experience of working in both acute and community settings, primarily with adults with acquired speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. In more recent years, I have also developed skills and knowledge of working with children and young people in both mainstream and special education settings, supporting those with a diagnosis of autism or developmental language disorder (DLD).

What is important to be personally:

Personally, keeping well and healthy is most important to me. I value my family and close friendship and how quality time with those we love can bring the biggest joy.

My biggest achievement:

My biggest achievement is ongoing. It is my ability to overcome my own health challenges and sustain a balance that enables me to enjoy my personal and professional life – it continues to be work in progress!

What I am looking forward to in this job:

Embracing a holistic approach to speech and language therapy and making a difference to others.

My job at ECL involves:

To support customers in identifying person-centred, meaningful occupational therapy goals. I work closely with customers and staff at the ECL Day Centres to grade and adapt our customers' goals and ensure they are achievable.

These goals may include customers engaging in activities of daily living as independently as possible, accessing the community, and being supported with their moving and handling needs.

I assess customers with complex moving and handling needs and support them by providing specialist equipment and making recommendations about using certain techniques to meet their physical needs at the day centre.

I collaborate with ECL Community Care Assistants, Trusted Assessors, Day Centre Managers, and NHS and social care staff to ensure our customers' holistic needs are supported.

I also provide clinical supervision to Occupational Therapists across the ECL Reablement Services to ensure they receive clinical support regularly.

My qualifications and background:

I have a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy and a wealth of experience working across different health and social care services.

Prior to working as an Occupational Therapist within health and social care, I spent some time as a dental nurse in a London hospital, working with a variety of customers, including those with profound learning disabilities. It was through this role that I became deeply motivated to provide reassurance to those customers and their families and ensure they had equal access to dental care.

I also worked as a Support Worker for customers with learning disabilities and autism for 6 years. I then spent some time working for a London Community Learning Disability Service as an Occupational Therapist Assistant, following Occupational Therapy plans and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure customers' holistic needs were supported.

Prior to my time working within ECL, I worked as an Occupational Therapist at the London Reablement Service and in Adult Social Care Duty Team’s within London and then Essex. These roles included working as part of an MDT (multidisciplinary team) to support customers and their families with their social care needs and for those who may require urgent social care support.

I joined ECL in October 2018 as an Occupational Therapist within the Reablement Service and am now working as part of the clinical team as the Lead Occupational Therapist.

What is important to be personally:

My family and my dog are the most important things to me. I enjoy taking my dog for long walks and having movie nights with lots of pizza and chocolate!

My biggest achievement:

My biggest achievement is qualifying as an Occupational Therapist and using this qualification to support customers and their families through my work.

What I am looking forward to in this job:

I am looking forward to continuing to refine and develop the role of Occupational Therapy within the clinical team. I’m passionate about using my OT skills in day services to enable customers to have equal opportunities and to engage in activities that are important to them.

My job at ECL involves:

My role is to assess and formulate treatment plans for our customers with an occupational focus to assist them in carrying out their day-to-day activities. I work closely with our customers and their support network to build a rapport and trusting relationship.

Having worked in occupational therapy for 10 years, with five years dedicated to enriching the lives of those with learning disabilities. I've found my passion working as part of an effective and vibrant multi-disciplinary team.

My qualifications and background:

I hold a BSc in Occupational Therapy and worked as an Occupational Therapist for the community forensic, learning disability and autism service in South London.

I also have an IOSH qualification and provide Moving and Handling training for the staff at ECL. I continue to expand my expertise with my current training in Sensory Integration to enhance learning and play accessibility to those with learning difficulties.

What is important to me personally:

Outside of work, I love spending time with my 2-year-old daughter and my energetic 3-year-old cockerpoo.

My biggest achievement:

Having my daughter has been my biggest achievement in my life. My greatest adventure was camping for 2 nights at the Grand Canyon!

What I am looking forward to in this job:

I love working as part of the close-knit multidisciplinary team and look forward to building relationships with the staff and customers at the ECL centres across Essex.

My job at ECL involves:

In my role as a physiotherapist at ECL I work across our Older People and Learning Disabilities and Autism Day Centres throughout Essex supporting our customers.

We provide our customers with prompt access to physiotherapy when they need it. We also visit the day centres regularly to work with our customers on exercises to maintain their mobility.

My qualifications and background:

I have BSc in physiotherapy and have a large range of experience in physiotherapy in both inpatient and community roles.

What is important to be personally:

I am passionate about falls prevention and I am currently in the process of rolling out training across our day centres. The training will enable our support staff to correctly assist a customer who has fallen in the safest manner possible and get them the help they require.

My biggest achievement:

As I have grown more experienced and confident in my role as a physiotherapist, I love the opportunity to solve a complex case. I embrace the chance to use my skills to resolve a problem and I welcome a challenge. I am proud of this can-do attitude!

What I am looking forward to in this job:

I am looking forward to using my skills and experience to support our customers and collaborate with the wider clinical team to provide excellent support.