about Elena Loraine

Elena Loraine is a paediatric Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and a Practice Educator for a multi-disciplinary paediatric therapy team in London. She trains SLT teams and student SLTs nationally in a practical and evidence based coaching approach. Elena researched the early intervention approach in her Churchill Travelling Fellowship in 2017 and further developed the ideas in a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded research project. Elena brings these unique insights into every therapy session she carries out, in order to optimise the outcomes for the child.

Trainer for SLTs
Elena was awarded a Churchill Fellowship ‘to learn from the world about the UK’s crucial issues and bring those global insights home’. She travelled across the USA to investigate a government-funded service delivery model for early intervention. The approach uses coaching interactions to equip parents/educational staff with the strategies to support a child’s developmental needs.

Upon returning to the UK, Elena pioneered the service delivery model in London. In 2018, she was awarded a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Pre-doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship (PCAF) to complete a Masters in Research (MRes) at UCL. During the Masters, Elena developed an evidence based training programme for therapists (OT, PT and SLT’s) to reflect on the types of questions and feedback they used to improve parent engagement within sessions.

Elena presented the research at forums including the Division of Early Childhood International Conference (virtually held in USA) and at a Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) practice-based webinar.

Elena has since trained NHS therapy teams and University students in coaching practices, within a range of paediatric services and contexts across the UK. To find out more follow the 'for therapists' button.

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

Elena brings her unique insights and experiences from her clinical-academic career into every therapy session.

She has extensive practical experience with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs in children of all ages with particular specialisms in autism, stammering, speech sounds, language difficulties and selective mutism. She has worked across a range of settings, including NHS hospitals, clinic settings, educational settings and children’s centres in London. Elena conducts a range of formal and informal assessments, depending on the child's presenting need. She has also written, delivered and reviewed Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

In the therapy sessions, Elena supports the key adults in the child's life to gain  confidence and the knowledge to use speech and language strategies to effectively support the child between sessions. As a result, the strategies are tailored and impactful for the child and the key adult sees the positive and rewarding changes in their communication. To find out more follow the 'for families' button.

Qualifications
BMedSci, University of Sheffield
MRes, UCL
Churchill Fellow (2017)
NIHR Fellow (2018)

Accreditations
HCPC
RCSLT

ASLTIP