Suzanne Churcher

I joined the Department of Human Communication Sciences at Sheffield in July 2017 as a University Teacher. Prior to this I was Senior Lecturer on the FdSc and BSc courses in Speech, Language and Communication Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. I also developed and managed the Early Communication Support Service for Hampshire County Council. An early identification and intervention service developed collaboratively with local education and early intervention services, such as Children Centres, and NHS community SLT services. Our team of 10 SALTAs provided training, information, advice and support to parents, early years practitioners and educators across Hampshire.

My clinical career has been within paediatrics and most extensively in early years, though not exclusively. During many years working within NHS community practice, schools and special school, I have had the opportunity to work in a number of different regions and develop specialist interests and experience in early human development, working with vulnerable families and working within the wider multidisciplinary teams. I have a particular interest in speech difficulties and in 2016 was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship to investigate early intervention for speech sound disorder. My report can be viewed via this link.

I am also registered as an independent speech and language therapist, specialising in early years and speech sound disorder.