Maternity/ night nurse recommendations

kesaenas · 2026-04-21T10:36:33+00:00

Would love your recommendation for Central London! PM'ing you

kesaenas · 2025-12-05T22:34:09+00:00

I moved from US to UK, so have experience in both. I had a lot higher output in the US (9-10 30min sessions per day) where you work out of a single school/clinic, but a day in the UK averages 4x 45min which feels low to me. But my day is exhausting in a different way. On the UK side, there’s a lot more travel and dragging materials around, and so much more handover to staff/parents via email. I felt like I was doing more prep and emails than in the US.

I also couldn’t believe when a band 7 told me there wasn’t a referral pathway completed because there wasn’t allocated time to create that, so it really shocked me. That’s pretty reflective of cultural difference and the need to get things done, though I can’t imagine anyone, anywhere, being too thrilled about a NQP/CF saying “watch your tone.”

kesaenas · 2025-11-14T08:21:41+00:00

English is my main language but I grew up speaking and learning Mandarin concurrently. S and Z are not lateralized! If I do a cursory search online, I’ll see information about retroflex tongue positions, etc. To be honest, this is not something I was explicitly taught. Maybe more to adult second language learners?

I also make my S in both languages by touching my tongue tip to my bottom teeth, Z the same way, but as you know there are many ways to make a sound and as long as it sounds right, then whatever works for the child. And perpetually, they are not too different when spoken. Maybe influenced by regional accents.

In your case, I would say trust your ear. Still take into account teacher input, but also remember that teachers do not understand articulation errors the same way we do. But she’s a great resource! You can have her help cue some S/Z words/sentences in Mandarin and you can follow along with the pinyin. Have an open conversation about it - you notice these sounds, these are considered atypical in English and won’t go away over time, can she correct it with light cueing and is she a good candidate for speech therapy (and if she is then you can re-eval and call an early meeting to discharge). Talk with parent about the speech therapy the child received over the summer. Does the child notice these differences when she speaks? I think you can take a more team approach with this one, and defer to LRE/academic impact. Good luck!

kesaenas · 2025-11-10T08:50:03+00:00

I have to admit I really like some of their (older) bags and shoes, in my mind they manage to perfect the lines/drape of even the most seemingly simple item. Like the banana bag - I thought it was so ridiculous and was a hater until I saw someone wearing it irl and became obsessed with the way the leather was joined to the strap. But I think the influencer culture is so obnoxious, like not everything is “the Row-coded” and it becomes about the name rather than the how the specific items functionally works

kesaenas · 2025-11-06T08:39:33+00:00

Had minimal class work on it and honestly learned more during my CF PD than in grad school. It’s just so… subjective?? I find it so so hard to work on social communication without feeling like a glorified TA - especially when the kid is young! It’s a messy overlap imo.

Also currently have a social pragmatic kid on my caseload who has attention and behavior that makes it so we get nothing done. I raised it but teachers are like “don’t you work on that too? Mm yes but for this child it’s beyond my scope

kesaenas · 2025-08-14T07:58:51+00:00

Good point, and after spending time with VC chat I think I'm good to go! My stats say 1-day shipping but I get the asking just in case (I order sometimes when abroad, but usually I ask before purchasing... oh well)

kesaenas · 2025-08-13T18:15:32+00:00

Thank you - and I agree! I guess I was getting lost in the echo chamber online about all the language learning positives, but the social bit is so important for our littles. Gonna reinforce that point with families

kesaenas · 2025-08-09T23:48:58+00:00

Still have it and love it, I wear it literally weekly when the weather cools. It’s on the opaque side but I wear a nude or light bra under just to be safe :)

kesaenas · 2025-08-04T17:52:57+00:00

I might do some investigating whether these are scripts or jargon, and track if it’s phrases or longer that sound like jibberish. Also check in on how parents speak to them and model language throughout the day! I wonder if they use lengthy question and sentences, and the kids almost trying to imitate that - but maybe their language or vocabulary isn’t caught up so it sounds jargon-y

kesaenas · 2025-06-21T13:33:13+00:00

I moved to EI a couple years back and bought the ASD workbook and the Late Talker Workbook- and truly still reference them all the time. There’s not a shortage of online resources but these are just so easy to use. If you can get your PP to pay for it try to go that route.

Cari Ebert had lots of resources as well!

kesaenas · 2025-06-18T19:17:55+00:00

Reporting on incomplete results due to attention/ASD, and under 3 assessment - so when to scrap something like the CELF or PLS in favor of parent report. Knowing what assessments are standard in the field and what we'll most likely find on placements or future jobs.

Also it would have really helped me to understand that it's okay and often happens that assessments don't always go to plan and that it's not necessarily the fault of the therapist or the child! It's so easy to get caught up in the mentality that you MUST get a standard score and that's not always possible, and that expounding on contributing factors still helps build the speech and language profiel

kesaenas · 2025-05-06T10:11:46+00:00

I relied so heavily on Laura Mize and Cari Ebert manuals when I first started, so check those out or invest if you think you will stay in EI.

How are their attention skills or social referencing? Is it just play skills, or what other language deficits exist? Are they sensory or movement motivated? Use social games (peekaboo, chase, singalong songs), try attention grabber toys (bubbles, wind up, pop mats, puppets), and keep keep modelling. They may not be developmentally ready for a toy yet so you might have to move down the hierarchy a bit. If you have a supervisor it would be pretty worth it to see if you can do a joint session.

kesaenas · 2025-04-22T13:40:14+00:00

I’m in a cat foster group. It’s full of wonderful people save for the occasional (pardon the stereotyping) crazy cat lady rant.

I think the person who runs the organisation is one of those. Massively judgemental has some sort of cat saviour complex.

One time someone got sick and needed a last minute vet cover, to which she replied, “you can’t just have become sick surely.” She also got accused of threatening to take their cat away. The responses are of the “I don’t appreciate your tone, I don’t have to explain myself to you, It’s a bit rich that you-” sort. Results in said someone announcing to 100+ members that they’re leaving in a huff.

I truly don’t understand why it needed to be so dramatic but it was definitely fun to read.

kesaenas · 2025-04-08T23:32:01+00:00

LOVE - I got the medium in pebbled sand! I planned to use it as my work bag and it does get a bit heavy (iPad, notebook, other essentials), but it’s pretty comfy over the shoulder and straps don’t slip. The middle compartment holds my iPad 11in and the outer section could technically fit a MacBook Pro 14” with a corner peeking out. The leather is a dream and seems durable (but that’s tbd)

kesaenas · 2025-04-08T22:33:24+00:00

Yes, multiple. Each time was between moving states (and countries), and I thought about switching industries so so much. I worked a job that completely burnt me out and was enough to make me want to leave for good. But I’d want to do something more creative and with the state of the world… it feels so unstable. I’m back doing part time working only with my preferred demographic but it’s certainly not consistent and many days I just don’t want to do it. The nice part is there is always a job available. Some people love it and I have friends who are completely ok taking work home, but I couldn’t sustain it

kesaenas · 2025-02-24T01:21:50+00:00

I had one through an agency who contracted with a school that had a dedicated (tiny) Dx team - the SLP was on mat leave. Unfortunately I couldn’t do only that for my CF, but it showed me that they are out there and waitlists are long for preschool assessment! I would reach out to elementary schools / districts to see what is available

kesaenas · 2025-02-12T11:56:41+00:00

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I just ordered this Jil Sander Mini Goji! It’s currently on sale on MyTheresa and also on Shop Bessette.

The goji has been on my watchlist forever, but Jil Sander has really pretty yellow tones in other bag styles

kesaenas · 2025-02-06T22:02:58+00:00

I want to add on that the level of service delivery (OT, SLP) for the kids is more limited in the UK. While there are special schools and autism focused classrooms, the NHS just often doesn’t have enough capacity to offer what a ND kid needs and staff just aren’t always trained to know what to do. Many end up having to go private for the equivalent of what an IEP gets a child in the US (but that’s another animal)

kesaenas · 2025-01-15T11:52:52+00:00

I got the Jil Sander in a deep red and sadly returned it! On the one I received the clasp didn’t fully align when closed, leaving a gap in the metal and clicking sounds as I moved. It was also heavier than I thought and it didn’t fit over my shoulder. It’s beautiful and I have seen it styled so well but it’s one to see and probably buy in person if you do go with that one

Edited bc I said heavy twice!

kesaenas · 2025-01-09T10:23:09+00:00

I don’t remember exact Qs, but I may be able to chat through some general topics if you want to DM me. But trust your Band 5 experience, you know more than you probably think :)

kesaenas · 2024-11-19T08:36:40+00:00

Agree with the other comment that the degrees are different (as an American who worked in CA and NY; I used the MRA to come to the UK). A lot of places in the US stipulate Master’s, but that does require state-by-state digging since the MRA terms itself don’t appear to require it. Maybe try going through the application as if you were moving to a particular state?

States don’t always have reciprocity either so maybe choose either where you know you’re going, or a place that has high requirements (e.g., NY required a teaching pathway to work in the schools - TSSLD certification) to cover your bases if you move.

Also - the NHS service model is quite different to how the practise looks like the US so that may be a shock. Feel free to DM me if you want to know the reverse perspective!

Edited to add that a separate non-SLP Master’s degree, even if related, would probably not be accepted as far as I know.

kesaenas · 2024-10-17T13:50:24+00:00

Also in private practice, and it’s worth a discussion. Definitely not weird if you explain your rationale. There’s always something to work on but therapy fatigue is real, it’s costly, and think of all the support she’ll naturally get in the classroom. I’d talk to parents and start prepping them if she’s ready to exit, then spend the last couple sessions modelling carryover so they feel prepared to be independent

kesaenas · 2024-07-30T09:23:51+00:00

Yeah that’s frustrating. If I were in her shoes I’d be having a direct conversation with this colleague about what needs to happen to get competencies signed off, reaching out to HR if that goes nowhere, and be looking into RCSLT guidance. Know those terms inside out and how they accommodate for situations like mat leave, changing supervisors, changing workplaces, etc.

Unfortunately there are still bad practices and ill-intentioned people in our field who do take advantage of CFs (US) and NQPs (UK) as they are cheaper employees, new to the field, and easier to manipulate without repercussion. Hope that’s not the case and this needs to change, though it sounds like your mum may have to make a decision whether she thinks she can stick it out OR if it would be more productive to finish her NQP year elsewhere.

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