Mrs Sonia Sivyer

I am a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, registered with both HCPC and RCSLT. I work as a lecturer at CCCU one day per week, alongside my role as an NHS clinician and NHS integrated therapy service manager, at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation NHS Trust, based in Ashford Kent. I have an MSc from City, University of London. I specialise in working with children and young people of school age with a range of communication and SEMH needs. In 2022, I completed my UCAP qualification, and now have an Associate Fellowship (AFHEA). I am studying for my PGCAP qualification in 2023. I am passionate about supporting vulnerable young people at risk of exclusion, and identifying their communication needs.

I worked as a Clinical Tutor with MSc 1st year students at City, University of London between September 2002 and July 2004. Some of my responsibilities included:

• Lecturing & running seminars
• Visiting students on placement
• Carrying out clinical exams

I then worked again as a Clinical Tutor with BSc 2nd year students at City, University of London between September 2006 and July 2007.

Later, I became a Visiting Lecturer for University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christchurch (UoG contract) between June 2015 and November 2021.

I am currently a Lecturer at CCCU teaching on the BSc course in Speech and Language Therapy, and supporting the development of the new MSc course.

Lambeth PCT employed me to work on my MSc, exploring the efficacy of different models of Speech and Language Therapy provision for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties in years 5 and 6. My work included piloting a service for the Primary Pupil Referral Unit and offering therapy for children in mainstream schools, some of whom were at risk of exclusion.

As a result of this I was involved in some publications:

• “Promoting the Communication Skills of Primary School Children Excluded from School or at Risk of Exclusion: An intervention Study” with James LAW published in 'Child Language Teaching and Therapy' (2003)
• “Listening and Quietness and Making New Friends” published in 'RCSLT Bulletin' (2000)

More recently, I collaborated with an Occupational Therapy colleague, Stella Parkinson, and published
“A Joined Approach to Emotional Regulation” in 'Occupational Therapy News (Journal of College of OTs)' (2017).

I work at EKHUFT (East Kent Hospitals University Foundation NHS Trust), based in Ashford, Kent, both as a clinician and a manager/ Team Lead. In this capacity, I am part of leadership meetings within the NHS and Education locally. I attend the LIFT executive group (Local Inclusion Forum Team), where colleagues in Health and Education work closely. I am passionate about co-production with parents and families, and I am currently involved in a Family Engagement (grey area project).