Learning is Everything.
“Having this training has made me feel supported, educated, and empowered.”
Professional development is at the top of our priorities list at ACCESS. It’s vital that our therapists are able to keep learning, refreshing knowledge, and gaining new skills. So we can be sure we’re following best practice and are better able to support the children, young people, families, and schools we work with.
It’s also important to us that everyone in the team feels fulfilled in their work; that we’re able to explore our own particular interests, and progress in our careers.
As well as training opportunities, ACCESS development includes a regular clinical team catch up, to share new resources we’ve found, good practice, and feedback on recent training. We also have an active WhatsApp group for more ad hoc updates, support and chat. And all of our therapists have regular one-to-one clinical supervision.
Opportunities beyond this have recently included attending the London Autism CEN; a course on Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Assessment and Treatment; and Mental Health Awareness training.
Fresh from the excellent Hanen More Than Words® course, the newest member of our team, SSL, shares how the experience has shaped her career so far.
Tell us about the latest training you’ve had at ACCESS.
A programme called Hanen More Than Words®. This is aimed at supporting parents of autistic children (or those who could benefit from social communication support) up to the age of 6. Basically, it trains professionals to equip families with practical tools to embed communication and interaction support into everyday activities, such as play time. The idea is to use a child’s unique enthusiasms, play styles, and sensory preferences to foster positive, mutual interactions.
Has this training been useful to you?
Very much so. Thanks to the training, I feel more confident in my work, as I have a deeper understanding of the different modes of communication. It has given me a structured, clinical framework to better understand a child's unique communication profile, set more precise goals with parents, and make sure support is child-led and interest-driven.
It’s enabled me to blend a direct intervention model with an effective parent coaching method. In other words, rather than only providing isolated clinic sessions, I work as a true partner with families, giving them the tools and confidence they need to weave communication strategies into their daily lives.
Has the training affected your professional approach?
It’s transformed the way I work. This approach helps me to help families understand that social communication is so much more than just speech; that all forms of communication are valid.
The biggest thing I took from the training was the shift toward empowering parents to create a truly child-led environment. It really highlighted how progress happens when we adapt our own behaviours and interactive styles to match the child's world, and the abundance of communication that comes from these simple changes.
How is your career development supported at ACCESS?
As a newly-qualified SLT, having this training has made me feel supported, educated, and empowered.
The support network at ACCESS has been very helpful for my career so far. Having access to regular team meetings, consistent 1-1 supervision, and an active team group chat ensures that I am always supported in my daily practice. It creates the perfect clinical environment to learn and grow as a therapist, allowing me to immediately put this new training into action with guidance.
Keen to join us and grow your SaLT career? Send your CV to careers@access-speechandlanguage.co.uk and we’ll be in touch when we have a suitable vacancy.
Find out more about working at ACCESS.