Natalie Cother

My role at NPP Neurogroup is a promotion to highly specialised practitioner. The company provides private rehabilitation for patients who have long standing neurological symptoms and have reached the end of their NHS journey.

The nature of my caseload in this role means that many of my patients have experienced medical neglect and trauma, and I have been undertaking CPD in how trauma impacts the brain.

My role has compromised of the following responsibilities:

• Delivering comprehensive speech and language assessments to identify individual needs and setting tailored intervention plans.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to create holistic care strategies for patients with complex communication difficulties.
• Facilitating training sessions for healthcare professionals to enhance understanding of patients needs, with the aims of maximising quality of life and safety.
• Developing engaging therapy programmes that promoted communication skills and support emotional wellbeing in clients.
• Liaising with case managers and legal professionals in cases of medico-legal litigation.

• My role here comprised the specialist SLT assessment of stroke survivors who present with swallowing and/or communication disorders.
• I provided diagnoses and set therapy goals, writing patient-centred plans to support patients' rehabilitation.
• I worked as a member of the MDT, managing patient's rehabilitation journeys as a team, as well as providing support and education to family members.

• I worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for the assessment and diagnosis of stroke survivors in A&E.
• Within this role, we made decisions based on the acute presentation of each patient as to where they went for further treatment, e.g. home, stroke unit, community rehabilitation.
• The role was fast paced and excellent MDT working was crucial to enabling this service to run effetively.

• I worked as part of a Complex Neurology Rehabilitation Team, providing care to patients with neurological conditions within their own homes.
• Ascertained patient needs, created personalised treatment plans, and directed programmes for managing swallowing and communication disorders, fulfilling recovery goals.
• Worked with other specialists in arranging and coordinating referrals for complex cases.
• Worked with clients in one-to-one basis or group environment to deliver therapy.
• Provided expert guidance on the use of assistive technologies to support communication in individuals with complex needs.
• Provided carefully considered support to patients and their families experiencing progressive conditions, supporting with advanced care planning, and end of life care.

• I worked across a busy acute hospital, managing multiple caseloads on a number of wards.
• I completed my competencies as a newly qualified practitioner, and obtained my specialism as a Stroke/Neuro specialist therapist.
• Utilised a range of therapeutic techniques to facilitate clients' communication abilities effectively.
• Managed a varied and complex dysphagia caseload in a high-risk environment.
• Followed clinical guidelines and standards in treating patients, monitoring patient progress, and making formal diagnoses.
• Worked as a member of the MDT to organise patient treatment and discharge planning.