Meet the Grow & Thrive team!
The team here at Grow & Thrive work together to ensure individuals get the support they need. Over the years, we’ve developed a process that puts you at the centre of everything that we do. Our talented hand-picked, multidisciplinary team are passionate about this too, and their clinical work is driven by the Grow & Thrive ethos. We really are with you on the journey to understanding neurodiversity. Every single step of the way.
The Grow and Thrive Team
Jude Philip
Clinical Lead, Consultant Speech & Language Therapist/ Chief Executive Officer
With qualifications from Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh University and a wealth of experience working and mentoring for the NHS in Speech and Language Therapy (SALT), Jude has continually demonstrated her passion for supporting families. After a few years offering part-time private SALT, she joined forces with Katy to found what you now know as “Grow Communication”. Jude’s desire to ensure all voices are heard and wanting to help them thrive is integral to the Grow ethos. And in her role as Clinical Lead, she is always reading, researching and continuing to learn and develop evidence-based practice, in order to make sure that Grow is at the forefront of the profession.
She says: “I love what I do and value the trust families put in us at Grow.”
They say: “Jude went above and beyond with help and support not only for our son but for the whole family. Our son loved his assessment sessions. We now have some added support from the nursery since they have read Jude’s very detailed and in-depth report – had we not had this we could quite possibly have been waiting a while! Would highly recommend Jude for support, advice and guidance with any Speech and Language worries”.
Mum of 3 1/2 year old
Specialist Experience & Training
Autism assessment, diagnosis and support (trained in ADOS-2, DISCO) Girls and Autism, Attention Autism
Selective Mutism advanced training (specialising in SM + Autism)
LSVT LOUD (dysarthria with cerebral palsy), PROMPT, Colourful Semantics, Intensive Interaction
A range of AAC training – Podd, apps for iPad, Eye-gaze, PECS, AAC and literacy
Speech and Language Therapist Team
jude Philip
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist
Jane Macer
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist
Jane Macer is a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist specialising in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and complex neurodevelopmental needs.
Jane trained in 1976 in Edinburgh, moving to the Blackfriars School of Speech and Language therapy London and gaining distinction in her clinical work. In 1989 she gained a Masters Degree in Human Communication Studies at City University, focusing on interaction patterns in pre-school age autistic children. She is trained in a range of assessments and interventions specific to autism and neurodevelopmental conditions.
In mid-career, Jane worked as lead SALT clinician for children at the Kings College and Maudsley NHS Trust in Camberwell , moving to The Donald Winnicott Centre and Queen Elizabeth Children’s Hospital in Hackney London.
Throughout this time Jane also worked at the National Autistic Society Lorna Wing Assessment Centre as an associate clinician carrying out assessments with families.
In 2003 Jane and her family moved to Scotland to be near extended family. Since relocating, she has had a number of roles, including a resource development project with Talking Mats when it was based at Stirling University. After a period of time working at the State Hospital Carstairs with neurodiverse men, Jane returned to full time work with looked after young people. Over the past 10 years, s has been developing a broad based therapeutic service for children in a specialist care setting in Fife.
Clinical Psychology
Dr Jill Ogston
Clinical Psychologist
Dr Jill Ogston is a Clinical Psychologist. She has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, both from University of Glasgow. Dr Ogston is registered with the Health Care Profession Council (HCPC).
Dr Ogston has worked in a National Autistic Society school and held a specialist Autism post within the NHS for eight years, providing assessment, diagnosis and intervention and support to people with neurodevelopmental differences and their families.
She is trained in ADOS-2 and DISCO and has extensive experience in administering holistic diagnostic assessments. Giving an individual and their family a profile of their strengths and areas for development is an important part of her role. She also has significant experience in offering mental health intervention to people on the autism spectrum both within the NHS and independent sector.
Dr Charlotte Metcalfe
Clinical Psychologist
With over 20 years experience as a Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS and third sector, Charlotte’s integrative approach combines evidence-based therapies - including CBT, EMDR for trauma processing and EFT for emotional regulation - with practical life coaching strategies to support both emotional healing and personal growth. Charlotte has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Edinburgh (2005) Over 20 years experience as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS and third sector, working across the life span and is very skilled in delivering neurodevelopmental assessments.
Charlotte offers professional, compassionate support to children, young people and adults facing emotional and psychological challenges, by providing a safe and supportive space to help regain clarity and confidence. She has particular expertise in supporting young people and their families when life feels especially challenging - whether due to difficulties at home, school, or in the wider community, This may involve emotional or behavioural struggles , family conflict, or the impact of neurodiversity. My approach is thoughtful and collaborative, aiming to strengthen understanding, communication and connection within the family system.
Dr Suzy O’Connor
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Suzy is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who completed a PhD in Psychology in 2000 and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2003. Suzy has worked with children, young people and their families and systems across a range of NHS service settings; early interventions, CAMHS, medical paediatrics as well as in private practice and workforce development.
Suzy is trained and experienced in the ADOS 2 assessment method and has extensive training and experience in the delivery of psychological assessments, formulations and evidence-based interventions with children, young people and their families, including those who have neuro-developmental profiles. Suzy is registered with the HCPC: PYL19162, and is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society (092094).
Dr Claire Hogarth
Clinical Psychologist
Claire Hogarth is a qualified Clinical Psychologist who completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2006 and went on to spend 6 years working in psychological research including time spent within the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Glasgow.
Claire completed her postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology also from the University of Glasgow in 2015 and went on to work within Community Paediatrics and CAMHS settings in the NHS. In this role she worked with children and young people who had a variety of neuro developmental presentations and complexities as well as those with significant mental health difficulties.
Claire currently works with adults in clinical health psychology but still very much enjoys time spent working with children and their families.
Dr Jennifer Shields
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Jen Shields is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with additional training (Post Graduate Diploma) in Paediatric Clinical Neuropsychology. Jen is also a Lecturer in FASD and co-leads the Fetal Alcohol Advisory, Support and Training (FAAST) Team based at the University of Edinburgh.
Jen undertook her Psychology honours degree at Strathclyde University and thereafter her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Glasgow. She is HCPC registered and has worked for many years in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Community Paediatrics.
Jen has a high level of expertise and training in the identification and support of complex neurodevelopmental presentations, particularly Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). She was a member of the guideline development groups for the SIGN Guideline for Autism (SIGN 145) and the SIGN Guideline for Children & Young People exposed prenatally to alcohol (SIGN 156).
Partner Organisations: Grow works with the following fantastic partner organisations to ensure that we can meet individuals families needs.
Dr Judith Piggot
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Grow and Thrive works with a partner organisation SMARTS for Life. Dr Piggot has been a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for over 20 years. She is a specialist in mental health and neurodevelopmental presentations and passionate about making a difference for people presenting with mental health and developmental difficulties.
Dr Piggot was a Clinical Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Glasgow University, during which time she gained an M.Sc. in Genetics with distinction and a PhD in Neuroscience, before undertaking Post Doctoral training at Stanford University, California in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience. Dr Piggot was then appointed to Clinical Senior Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Consultant Lead for Specialist Autism Spectrum Service, University of Cardiff, and joined the Academic Faculty and Clinical Director of the Centre for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she started to develop the SMARTS approach before relocating back to Scotland and taking up a consultant position in the NHS.
What people say about Judith and SMARTS:
Working with Judith and SMARTS has been transformational in understanding our child’s strengths and needs. We have made changes which help us to help her through understanding more about how brains work.
Parent of teen
Occupational Therapist & Physiotherapist
Grow and Thrive can works alongside other specialist organisations who are able to support with Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy needs.
Susan Doogan – Specialist Children’s Occupational Therapist – Motorvate Therapies (www.motorvatetherapies.co.uk)
Kirsteen Chassells - Specialist Children’s Occupational Therapist - Activate OT
Kirsteen Grieve – Specialist Children’s Physiotherapist – Movement Physiotherapy https://www.movementphysiotherapy.co.uk
Administrator
Moray
Administrator
Moray works behind the scenes with Grow and Thrive supporting with administrative tasks and day to day running.
