Hazel Richards

Biography

Hazel worked for 23 years in the NHS as a Speech and Language Therapist, specialising in complex difficulties, dysphagia (feeding and swallowing difficulties), neuro-developmental difficulties and Alternative and Augmentative Communication. She worked predominantly in Special Schools and a Nursery Assessment Unit, but also supported colleagues working with complex needs and worked within CAHMS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Difficulties). After leaving the NHS, Hazel worked with Acquired Brain Injury within Further Education, leaving to commence a full-time studentship.

Research Interest

Research focuses on the experience of implementing Education and Health Care Plans in Early Year and Primary school settings. It has a focus on the multi-disciplinary factors involved with this, linked to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2014) and seeks to identify training/continued professional development needs.