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When choosing a therapist, it is important to take into consideration their background, experience and credentials.
Jenny Wombell has been practising as a Speech and Language Therapist for over 16 years. She is registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Health Care Professionals Council and the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice.
She started her career by studying "Human Communication" and gaining a BSc Hons and her professional qualification in 2006, at DeMontfort University, Leicester.
After four years in Leicester, Jenny started work in Bridgend at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Local Health Board as it was known at the time, in the children’s community clinic team. In this role she saw children with a wide range of communication needs in community clinics, schools and in their own homes. She assessed, diagnosed, set and reviewed aims and targets, delivered indirect and direct individual and group speech and language therapy. Jenny independently managed two community clinic caseloads and supervised speech and language therapy assistants and students. She wrote speech and language therapy advice to support applications for Statements of Special Educational Needs for children on her caseload and assessed children going through the panel for ASD diagnosis (including non-verbal and bi-lingual children).
After nearly six years working with children in the community team, Jenny decided to begin to specialise in autism, selective mutism and the communication needs of children and young people with mental health, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. She gained a Senior Speech and Language Therapist post at Walsall Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Whilst in this post, she set up the speech and language therapy criteria, referral and discharge pathways and processes for the speech and language therapy service within the wider multi-disciplinary team in line with professional standards and guidelines. She also devised the new ASD pathway in line with NICE guidelines including the case history form and school observation proforma. Jenny was a member of the Walsall Autism Working Group and the Walsall Multi-agency Protocol Team which were formed to ensure that an equitable service was provided borough-wide for the assessment and diagnosis of ASD in children regardless of the diagnostic route the family followed (through Paediatricians or CAMHS) and allowed the adherence of NICE guidelines to be audited and evidenced. Jenny completed her ADOS-2 assessment training for autism diagnosis, and she was able to further develop her selective mutism knowledge by completing a post graduate course in Selective Mutism by Maggie Johnson. During this post Jenny managed the selective mutism caseload and devised the pathway for the service.
During this time, Jenny not only developed her skills in autism and selective mutism but began to have children and young people on her caseload who had a learning disability, were young offenders, were looked after or adopted young people, and/or had mental health needs including anxiety and/or depression. Whilst in this post Jenny received training on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and wrote EHCP advice, and attended provider’s meetings and Annual Review meetings.
Jenny provided training to colleagues in CAMHS as well as to parents and external agencies including schools, Pupil Referral Units and the Youth Justice service on all aspects of speech, language and communication. She became a Barnardo’s Cygnet Parenting support programme trainer with the ability to deliver this programme to parents and carers of autistic children and young people. Whilst in this post Jenny also recruited, line-managed and clinically supervised a Locum Speech and Language Therapist. She provided observation placements for nursing, medical, social worker and psychology students within the service.
In 2016, Jenny took up new posts in the Pre-School Special Needs and School-aged Social Communication (ASD) teams at Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. She provided speech and language therapy assessments and intervention in a variety of settings including community clinics, nurseries, schools, specialist nurseries and in the children’s homes. Whilst in these roles she wrote advice for EHCPs and attended Annual Review meetings and safeguarding meetings. Jenny provided training to the pre-school team on selective mutism and set up parent information sessions for the PSSN pathway within the service.
After two years at Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust she was fortunate to gain the Team leader role for the Integrated Autism Service (IAS) in West Wales. As this was a new service, Jenny was involved in the recruitment of team members, sourcing accommodation for the team and setting up policies, pathways and processes for the service in line with Welsh Government, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Ceredigion Local Authority and NICE guidelines. The service provided autism assessments for adults. It also delivered support for autistic adults and their families, the families of autistic children and young people and for professionals working with autistic individuals. There were many highlights of her time in the IAS but a few include: being the clinical lead for the service, being involved in developing National policy for autism services in Wales, and developing the service following stakeholder events with service users and professionals to co-produce the service delivery plan.
In January 2022 Jenny took the decision to step away from the NHS and gained part time employment with Healios Limited providing autism assessments for neurodiverse children, young people and adults (via NHS contracts). This has allowed her to further pursue her independent practise and bring balance to her family life with her husband and young son.
Jenny continues her professional development by attending courses and clinical excellence network meetings. She continues to undertake regular clinical supervision with leading specialists in her fields of practice. Jenny regularly liaises with other NHS and Independent Speech and Language Therapists in her professional network.
Jenny has a wide range of expertise, but particular interests in autism spectrum and selective mutism. A real passion for Jenny is working with looked after children, adopted children and their families to support their communication needs to reduce frustration and promote good attachments. Jenny also enjoys sharing her wide range of professional knowledge and experience to future Speech and Language Therapists and other professionals.