Tim Allan

Tim is a Therapy Support Assistant who works within the Speech and Language team at Hedley’s Horizons.

Tim plays a key role in supporting our members through effective communication, while also empowering the wider team with training, resources and ongoing support.

How long have you worked at the Percy Hedley Foundation?

I’ve worked at the Percy Hedley Foundation for around 5 years now.

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

I started out as a Bank Support Worker at Northern Counties School just after the COVID lockdown ended.

After a couple of years I moved to Horizons. Then a job advert came up – a Therapy Support Assistant with the Speech and Language team. It was a leap of faith; I’ve never worked in the therapy side of things, but I’ve seen first-hand how much of a difference things like Intensive Interaction can bring to people’s lives.

I joined the team at the end of October last year, and so far they’ve let me stay!

What does an average day look like for you? 

I don’t think I’ve had one yet! And I love that.

On any day I can be helping people develop their skills with amazing communication aids, working with the Quality of Life team to develop resources that will help people through some pretty big life events, helping with the Horizons Community meetings and Co-Production groups, assisting with training our staff, working on new projects from our Dysphagia Lead or badgering venues and organisations to serve food that people with swallowing difficulties can eat too!

Soon I’m hoping there’ll be sensory story sessions and communication groups to join in with.

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

I’ve seen some of the people I supported at Northern Counties School move to the Hub and been amazed at the progress they’ve made.

Since I joined the Speech and Language team we’ve expanded with 2 new therapists, moved to new offices along with the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy teams, and redesigned our provision from scratch. It’s an exciting time for us.

What’s your favourite part about your role?

The variety, the difference it can make, and meeting so many different people who do fantastic things.

What is your greatest memory of working at the Foundation? 

Helping a young person who really struggled with sensory needs and limited communication to film a recreation of his favourite song, all at his direction. That was a great day.

Being invited to watch Intensive Interaction and “Holding the Space” (communication) sessions with people who are non-linguistic was absolutely magical and inspiring.

Being guided to assist my first ever TacPac session (a communication resource using touch and music) – seeing the joy and excitement of the man I was supporting was fantastic.

For the future, I can’t wait for the Hedley’s Live Lounge music event where our members and students will perform a live concert.

A piece of advice to someone joining the Foundation? 

There are so many different roles here and so much scope to develop the things you love and the skills you have.

Wherever you start you can find your niche, and it may well be something completely different to what you thought you’d be doing!

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