Our Lead Therapists
Jennifer Warwick
Since training as a speech and language therapist in 2003 Jennifer has worked across a range of health, education and charity contexts providing assessment and intervention for children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders and complex communication needs. She has extensive experience working with children, young people and babies with Down Syndrome. Jennifer works collaboratively with parents and educators to support and empower them in developing communication and interaction skills in children and young people Jennifer volunteers as a Research Champion and Advisor for ASD and social communication disorders for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. She is committed to research and best practice evidenced through completion of an MSC in Human Communication at City University, London in 2013. Jennifer has an interest in the development of social cognition in young children and is joint author of the ‘Early Sociocognitive Battery.’
I have undertaken specific training in the following assessment and therapy approaches:
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
- SCERTS approach
- Picture Exchange Communication System
- Makaton
- Hanen - It takes two to talk and More than words
- Management of eating and drinking difficulties in children
- Solution focused brief therapy
- Clinical supervision training
- Intensive Interaction
- Bobath for Speech and Language therapists
Louise Vassallo
A Graduate from Oxford Brookes University in 2002 with a BSc Hons in Occupational Therapy, Louise has worked within the NHS for the past 16 years. In 2006 Louise began to specialize in Pediatrics and has been providing complex assessments and intervention since then in a variety of settings. Louise has worked with the Lejeune Clinic since 2009. She has been supporting the charity, and assisting the families in their understanding of the occupational therapy needs of children with Down Syndrome by promoting a client-centered problem solving approach.
Louise has a particular interest in neurodevelopmental disorders and is recognized as an advanced Bobath practitioner, providing in-depth knowledge to normal and abnormal development. She is committed to maintaining up to date evidence based practice and this is reflected in her ongoing post graduate training which includes qualifications in Sensory Integration levels 1-3, becoming a recognized practitioner in the delivery of the Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Therapy, in the SOS approach to feeding, and in the administration of the Bayley scales of Infant and Toddler assessment tool.
Cathy Johnston
Cathy has 20 years’ experience as a speech and language therapist in the UK and Australia. She has spent the past 17 years working as a paediatric speech and language therapist in the NHS providing assessment and intervention for children with varied communication needs within a range of clinical, educational or community settings.
Cathy has linked with the Lejuene clinic since 2006 and her experience of working with young children and babies with Downs Syndrome has focused on collaborative working with parents and practitioners. She has developed her specialism in early language acquisition and communication development in children under 5 years; and has particular interest in research and intervention programmes that support parents/carers and practitioners to understand communication development and the role of adults to facilitate this as part of a child’s journey to becoming a confident and competent communicator.
Cathy is Hanen-certified to deliver the It Takes Two To Talk and More Than Words Hanen parent programs and has frequently offered this therapy approach along with other parent/adult-child interaction therapy. She is trained in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and parent-coaching techniques and has devised and delivered training packages to children’s centres and early years settings such as maintained and PVI nurseries. Cathy is trained to deliver the ELKLAN programs and use the Makaton signing system. She is registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and a member of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT). She has worked as clinical team lead for 11 years and has extensive experience of providing clinical support and supervision. Cathy is passionate about supporting families and education settings to be aspirational and strive for the best outcomes for their children.