Speech & Language Team

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Helen Fielder
Speech and Language Therapist

  • Helen is a Speech and Language Therapist working as a highly specialist level in the NHS as well as carrying out some work in the independent sector. Helen is ADOS trained and has extensive experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary service carrying out Autism assessments. She leads the therapy team for the service in her NHS role.

    She has over 30 years of NHS experience and offers assessments and therapy for preschool and school aged children who have speech, language and communication difficulties. Helen aims to improve children’s speech and language skills whilst keeping therapy fun, and practical as well as motivating and stimulating. She believes in working alongside parents and key staff to develop the skills that will enable children to develop and use their communication functionally in everyday environments.

    Helen has worked with preschool and primary school aged children with speech and language difficulties in clinics at children’s homes and in mainstream nurseries and schools as well as at a resource base attached to a mainstream school. Helen is highly experienced in working with children presenting with a wide variety of speech, language and communication difficulties. Helen’s special interests are in autism spectrum disorder, social communication difficulties and developmental language disorder.

  • Helen is available Mondays 1pm-5pm. Please note that Helen is unable to work in schools in the Wandsworth borough.

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Natalie Scanlon
Speech and Language Therapist

  • Natalie is a passionate speech and language therapist with extensive experience of working with children with a range of speech and language needs (in both private and NHS settings). Natalie currently works as a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in the NHS, offering assessment and support to children and young people (and their families) who are undergoing or have received a diagnosis of Autism. Natalie is committed to working in a Neuroaffirmative way to enable young people to understand their unique profile of strengths and challenges and achieve their full potential.

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Keri Forbes
Speech and Language Therapist

  • Keri works as a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist across early years settings, primary mainstream schools and special schools. She supports children and young people with a variety of communication difficulties. Keri has a particular interest in working with children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and those with social communication and emotional regulation difficulties. 

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Charlotte Lawrence-Smith
Speech and Language Therapist

  • Charlotte has over 20 years’ experience working as a Speech and language therapist within specialist schools, mainstream schools and early years settings. She also has extensive experience working as part of a multidisciplinary assessment team undertaking detailed assessment in order to understand each child’s unique profile of strength and need. Robust assessment guides therapy and ensures a holistic approach is taken to achieve the best outcomes for children and their families. 

    Charlotte has a specialism in working with children who have language disorders and social communication needs, working collaboratively with parents and educational settings. 

Karen Telling
Speech and Language Therapist

  • Karen Telling qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2003 from City University, London, and has experience working across both the NHS and the private sector.  Karen has dedicated most of her career to supporting children and young people with social communication differences/Autism in both clinical and educational settings.  Between 2006 and 2010, Karen contributed to the Pre-school Autism Communication Trial (University of Manchester) as a Research Speech and Language Therapist delivering PACT intervention.  

    Karen is ADOS trained worked extensively in community diagnostic teams for autism and related  disorders with Guys and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust and, in this role, developed a passion for working collaboratively with other professionals to coordinate and deliver post diagnostic support for parents and carers.  She has also been part of the Tier 4 Service for Complex Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders (SCAAND) with the Maudsley Hospital, where she gained valuable experience supporting young people with mental health disorders and autism and/or learning disabilities. 

    Most recently, Karen has worked in a specialist educational setting supporting children with complex social communication differences, where she also had a key role as a safeguarding lead.  

    Karen’s specialist skill set and experience has equipped her to provide comprehensive treatment plans using wide ranging therapy tools to support children and young people’s communication, independence, and emotional well-being.   

    Karen is dedicated to working within a strong multi-disciplinary team to ensure that a child or young person’s care is managed holistically, with their well-being being central to their intervention.  Karen accesses opportunity to extend her professional development on a regular basis, striving to ensure children and families receive robust, evidence informed advice and treatment. 

    She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council and a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy.

  • Mondays and Saturdays