Jennie Morgan

Jennie is the Dysphagia Lead at the Foundation, providing education and guidance to staff while supporting individuals with eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties.

She works across the Foundation to ensure service users can enjoy mealtimes safely and that staff are confident and well supported through up-to-date training.

How long have you worked at the Percy Hedley Foundation?

I joined the Percy Hedley Foundation in May 2025.

What has your journey been within the Foundation to get to where you are today?

I worked in the NHS as a Speech and Language Therapist for 25 years before coming to the Foundation as the Dysphagia Lead in 2025. My background was working largely with older adults, but my dysphagia skills are transferable to children and younger adults too.

What does an average day look like for you? 

There is no such thing as average!

Over the course of the week I aim to visit all of the main sites (Northern Counties, Percy Hedley School, Hedley’s College and Horizons) and work with staff and service users at each site.

In addition to that I’m involved in more strategic work and provide advice and support to the residences and ISL too. Most of my days involve sitting at my laptop and there are a lot of emails to answer and Teams meetings to join. Lunchtimes are always busy as that is the best time to monitor how someone is doing with their eating and drinking and catch relevant staff.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in your time at the Foundation?

I think my role is a big change for the Foundation and I have seen and heard the benefit to staff to have someone who has a Foundation-wide perspective of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. Since starting we have already made several changes, including provision of IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative) levels 3-6 meals on all sites as well as providing inhouse training to all staff.

What's your favourite part about your role?

All of it! I love that dysphagia is taken seriously at the Percy Hedley Foundation and that my role is valued and respected. It is great to work with a wide range of people across the foundation, especially the dysphagia-trained Speech and Language Therapists and wider therapy teams.

What is your greatest memory of working at the Foundation?

I’m making lots of new memories at present and especially enjoyed celebrating Christmas across the Foundation.

A piece of advice to someone joining the Foundation? 

It’s a lovely place to work full of friendly, caring and helpful people. Be prepared to listen and learn how things work and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

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