Profession:

Speech and language therapist

Location:

Walthamstow, London

Experience:

• I have over 25 years’ experience working with young people with speech, language and communication needs, autism, ADHD, Developmental Language Disorder, SEMH, learning disabilities and behaviours of concern. I have worked in community teams in the NHS, specialist schools and colleges, mainstream education and alternative provisions
• My current roles are leading the secondary team at Learning Talking, a private speech and language therapy company. I also offer short term private speech and language therapy and run trainings for assistants, SaLTs and parents on developing self-advocacy skills
• I established a speech and language therapy service in a new specialist college for young people with learning disabilities and I co-ordinate the multi-disciplinary team working in the college
• I worked in the voluntary sector setting up and running a project, Leading My Life, with Afasic
• My clinical specialisms are in developing self-advocacy skills, supporting young people and their families around key times of transition (e.g. during a change in school or family situation), and in unpacking the interplay between communication, emotions and behaviour
• I have been offering supervision for over 20 years, with supervision becoming a significant focus of my professional work over the past 15 years. During this time, I have made a sustained commitment to developing and strengthening my skills in this area. I have experience of supervising SaLTs, SaLT assistants and apprentices, and AHPs

Training:

• BSc Speech Sciences, 2000
• Foundation Course in Personal Construct Psychology
• Supervision courses 1, 2 and 3 with intandem
• Coaching (2 day course)
• Solution Focused Brief Therapy (2 day course)

Membership:

• RCSLT and HCPC

Description of supervision approach:

I see supervision as a vital space for reflection, growth and professional sustainability. Throughout my career, I have supervised speech and language therapists, assistants, students and other health professionals, and I value ongoing supervision in my own work, modelling the reflective practice I encourage in others.

My approach to supervision is collaborative, reflective and grounded in curiosity. Having completed foundation training in Personal Construct Psychology, I am particularly interested in how therapists make sense of their work, how they understand their clients, their clinical decisions and themselves as professionals. I aim to create a thoughtful and respectful space where supervisees can explore their reasoning, question assumptions and develop greater clarity and confidence in their practice.

I believe supervision is not only about case discussion and accountability, but also about professional identity and wellbeing. I place a strong emphasis on self-care and sustainability, paying attention to workload, emotional impact, boundaries and professional resilience. I encourage therapists to reflect not just on what they are doing, but on how they are experiencing their work.

Contact details:

Email: amyduckspeechtherapy@gmail.com

Phone: 07919 336 532

Website: amyduckspeechtherapy.co.uk