The Team
All the COMMUNICATE therapists are experienced and skilled in treating all communication difficulties. We also have further training in specific areas dependent on our
specialist interests.
COMMUNICATE therapists are registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Health and Care Professions Council and have clear Enhanced DBS checks.
Emma Ferris
Clinical Director & Lead Speech and Language Therapist
It was Emma's frustration with not being able to offer families and schools what they really needed that led her to set up Communicate and ensure that the best therapists, with a variety of skills and special interestst were part of the Communicate team to offer a wholly personalised service to everyone.
Emma's experience is across nearly all paediatric settings but her specialism and post-graduate training is in cleft lip & palate and voice disorders. Her additional job is as a Lecturer in Speech & Language Therapy at the University of East Anglia.
As well as managing Communicate and being an Elklan trainer, Emma has additional training in:• Speech sound disorders
• Cleft lip and palate
• Voice disorders
Emma's never goes far without her foam rocket launcher (for children!) and a sense of humour.
Email: communicate.emma@gmail.com
Mobile: 07825 277410
Hannah Bedford
Deputy Speech and Language Therapist & Training Lead
Hannah's role with Communicate involves devising and running the majority of our training sessions as well as helping Emma to support the team. She brings to Communicate a number of years of experience with both the NHS and Local Authority working with children with language disorders as her specialism.
As well as organising our training and being an Elklan trainer, she has additional training in:• Language Disorders
• The Listening Program
• Hanen
• Lidcome Programme & Palin PCI
Hannah never goes far without some "springy spiders"
Email: communicate.hannah@gmail.com
Mobile: 07738 967901
Hayley Baker
Speech & Language Therapist
Hayley spends a lot of time getting to know her children and their families, and makes her therapy really motivating.
She has additional training in:
• BSL• Dentition
Hayley never goes far without “each child’s favourite thing … it’s a big bag somedays”!
Zoe Banham
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Zoe is passionate about hearing loss and fulfils our hearing impairment specialist role.
She has additional training in:
• Hearing Impairment
• BSL and Signalong
• The Solihull Approach
Zoe never goes far without "multiple wind-up toys"
Email: communicate.zoe@gmail.com
Mobile: 07507 897330
Laura Edwards
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Laura has extensive experience in early years having most recently worked in Colchester. She has a specialist interest in working with parents of young children to support and encourage their child’s communication development.
She has specialist training in:
• Attention Autism• PECS
• Intensive Interaction
• Makaton
Laura never goes far without “some very exciting attention-grabbing toys”.
Email: communicate.lauraedwards@gmail.com
Mobile: 07759 918628
Bethan Franklin
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Bethan has spent most of her career in adult learning difficulties and autism. She came to us having led the speech and language therapy team at Autism Anglia and her specialism is in autism.
As well as being our Makaton tutor, she also has additional training in:• Intensive Interaction
• Total Communication
• Makaton
• PECS
• TEACCH
Bethan never goes far without "the shopping list game".
Email: communicate.bethan@gmail.com
Mobile: 07762 303146
Sophie Hancock
Speech & Language Therapist
Sophie is passionate about non-verbal communication (AAC) and integrating this into mainstream schools.
She has additional training in:• AAC
• Signalong
• Learning Difficulties
• Attention Autism
Sophie never goes far without "play dough"
Email: communicate.sophie@gmail.com
Mobile: 07545 568663
Alice Hansey
Speech & Language Therapist
Alice ensures that she takes the time to really get to know our preschool children with more complex difficulties.
She has additional training in:• Attention Autism
• PECS
• Makaton
• LEGO® Based Therapy
Sophie never goes far without her "comfy trousers so I can really join in!"
Email: communicate.alice@gmail.com
Bdour 'Dodo' Imseeh
Speech & Language Therapist
Dodo loves making sure she really gets to know her families and children to make sure they have fun in sessions. Dodo has a special interest in speech sound difficulties.
She has additional training in:• Makaton
• PECS
• The Curiosity Programme
• Attention Autism
Dodo never goes far without her "fishing game and pop-up pirate!"
Email: communicate.bdour@gmail.com
Gemma Lewis
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Gemma coordinates and supports our Student Speech & Language Therapists whilst they are on their clinical placement with us. Her main interest is in pre-school communication difficulties.
She has additional training in:• Makaton
• Palin PCI
Gemma never goes far without "a crazy hand puppet"
Email: communicate.gemma@gmail.com
Mobile: 07917 571435
Johannah McSorley
Speech & Language Therapist & Enquires Lead
Jo is our enquiries lead, pulling everything together seamlessly for our families. You will be speaking to Jo when you initially enquire and she will help to guide you through our process.
Jo is particularly passionate about working with bilingual families and those needing a more holistic approach.
She has additional training in:• Person-Centred Approach
• Palin PCI
• Bilingualism
Jo never goes far without "a flashing bouncy ball"
Email: communicate.johannah@gmail.com
Mobile: 07498 287488
Rochelle (Ellie) Pass
Speech & Language Therapist
Ellie enjoys working closely with other professionals in a team and her main interest is in mainstream complex needs.
She has additional training in:
• PECS
• Hearing Impairment
• Attention Autism
• Makaton
• Bilingualism
Ellie never goes far without "the smelly wellies game and a flashing-light fan"
Email: communicate.ellie@gmail.com
Linda Watkins
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Linda has spent her career as a paediatric therapist, most recently in South Chelmsford as the team leader. She has a number of years experience in various paediatric settings, making Developmental Language Disorders, Speech Disorders and Autism her specialist interests.
As well as being an ELKLAN trainer, she has additional training in:
• Language Disorders• Speech Disorders
• Palin PCI
• ADOS
Linda never goes far without "the dolls house furniture"
Email: communicate.linda@gmail.com
Mobile: 07749 036191
Lauren Woodhead
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Lauren has been a Speech & Language Therapist for more than 20 years. Most recently she has specialised in Developmental Language Disorder and Speech Sounds Disorders, working in a Specialist Resource Base.
As well as being an ELKLAN trainer, she has specialist training in:
• Makaton• Hanen
• Colourful Semantics
• Stammering
• PECS
Linda never goes far without "a fun board game".
Email: communicate.lauren@gmail.com
Some of our therapists are on maternity leave at the moment…
Katherine Bradshaw
Speech & Language Therapist
Kat's main interest is in school-age communication difficulties including children with specific learning difficulties.
She has additional training in:• Dyslexia
• ASD
• Secondary School
Kat never goes far without "dolls and their furniture"
Email: communicate.katbradshaw@gmail.com
Mobile: 07866 399711
(trading as Communicate) 08196903
