Improving Lives: Supporting Adults with Learning Disabilities
- 31-01-2017
- 08:30 - 16:15
- Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
Della graduated as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1986. She has worked with people with learning disabilities ever since. Della is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, as well as the Allied Health Professional Associate Director. Della is currently deputy chair for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
Della has always been passionate about working in partnership with others to develop communication skills. She developed the “Means, Reasons and Opportunities” model for communication, 27 years ago. This model now underpins multi-disciplinary and multi-agency services for children and adults across the UK and abroad. Della achieved her PhD in 1997 and has held a national honorary role as Advisor in Learning Disabilities for the RCSLT since 1998. In 2009 she was awarded a Fellowship of the RCSLT for work of special value to the profession.
Della was the lead author for the RCSLT Five Standards for Good Communication (2013), as part of the Governments response to Winterbourne View. The Five Good Communication Standards provide a national platform for everyone to know “what good looks like” in terms of communication. Della recently led on the RCSLT Inclusive Communication and the role of Speech and Language Therapy Position paper (2016). She is actively involved with the National Learning Disabilities Professional Senate.