Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service
About paediatric speech and language therapists
Speech and Language Therapy provides treatment, support, and advice for children who have difficulties with communication or with eating, drinking and swallowing. We work with children from birth – 18 years old across all settings including clinic, home, nursery, Pre-School Assessment Centre, and school. We also provide information sessions and training to families and adults who support the child.
Speech and Language Therapists are Allied Health Professionals. We are members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and are registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). We work in collaboration with other health care and educational professionals including off-island specialists. For older children, we may also work alongside the Adult Speech and Language Therapy team.
What we do
We work with children for a range of different reasons. Some of which are listed below.
- Speech delay or disorder
- Developmental Language Disorder
- Language delay or disorder
- Stammering
- Selective Mutism
- Voice difficulties
- Swallowing difficulties
- Using other methods to communicate alongside or instead of speech
- Social communication differences
Meet the team
We currently have 10 speech and language therapists and 1 speech and language therapy assistant in our team. Most of us work part-time.
We are based at the Central Community Health Centre and we travel round the island to work with the children.
Full time
Lesley Cherriman
'I work with school age children, and my special areas of interest are Developmental Language Disorder, Speech Sound Disorder, and Stammering'.
Catriona Dorrian
'I work with children attending Specialist Provision Centres and run communication workshops for families with younger children'.
Abigail Hamilton Lacey
'I am a Speech and Language Therapy Assistant. I work with school age children in mainstream classrooms and in the Specialist Provision Centres'.
Part time
Zoë Appleby
'I work with children attending Specialist Provision Centres, and I have a special interest in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC)'.
Michelle Meikle
'I work with children in the Early Years'.
Lucy Partington
'I work with children in the Early Years. I also support children of all ages with eating, drinking, and swallowing'.
Naomi Pollard
'I work remotely with school age children'.
Ruth Shimmin
'I work with school age children, and my areas of special interest are Stammering and Voice'.
Elise Tallach
'I work with children in the Early Years. My area of interest is Autism and neurodiversity affirming practice'.
Rebekah Traynor
'I work with children in the Early Years. I also support children of all ages with eating, drinking, and swallowing'.
Kim Wheeler
'I work with children in the Early Years'.
Our admin team
Children's Therapy Services' Administration Team: 'We work alongside a wonderful team of therapists consisting of Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy'.
How to find Children’s Speech and Language Therapy
Follow the pink parrot signs for Children’s Speech and Language Therapy waiting area.
Therapists may work in other locations, including clinics, schools, nurseries, hospital, home and respite locations, depending on the child's needs.
Our clinic rooms
You may be seen in one of these clinic rooms when you visit.
Small clinic room
Large clinic room
Waiting room
Large therapy room
How to refer
We accept referrals from parents or carers, GP, Health Visitor, School Nurse, teachers or other professionals who may be involved with your child. Please find the referral forms below:
Referral for feeding and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
Referral form for children and young people attending an SPC
Referral for assessment - pre-school age
Referral for assessment - school age
Reasonable adjustments
Do you think you or your child have a learning disability or are neurodivergent?
Would you or your child benefit from reasonable adjustments to support you during your appointment?
Reasonable adjustments are small changes that can help people with a learning disability or who are neurodivergent be treated equally. For example, easy read information, a quiet place to wait, or having support workers or family members with you.
If you would like reasonable adjustments, please contact the Children’s Therapy Team (see below) to discuss how we can help make your appointment easier and more accessible.
How to contact us
Our operating hours are 8:30am to 5pm.
Secretary: Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service
Central Community Health Centre
Level 2 (Room 213)
Westmoreland Road
Douglas
IM1 4BR.
Telephone:+44 1624 642563
Please note: If you require information about the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Service, please call +44 1624 650128 or email saltoffice.nobles@gov.im
