Kay Coombes, Director and Speech and Language Therapist
Kay Coombes, Director and Speech and Language Therapist
Kay is one of the founders of ARCOS and our Director. A specialist speech and language therapist, she’s a member of several professional organisations, including the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Expert Witness Institute.
She has considerable experience working in the NHS, notably as a speech therapist at St George’s Hospital in London, and in universities, teaching students speech and language therapy. She carried out extensive community research Westminster Hospital and is regularly asked to provide an Expert Witness Service for speech and language cases.
Together with colleagues in Europe and Scandinavia, she has pioneered Facial Oral Tract Therapy and is involved in the development of a range of innovative therapeutic equipment.
Kate Badger, Occupational Therapist
Kate’s been an OT since 1998 and spent many years working the NHS, gaining experience in a variety of clinical areas, including learning disabilities, autism assessment, and learning disability intensive support service.
She’s also provided mentoring and support in schools to deal with the sensory needs and specialist learning needs of children in mainstream education, and has supported children and young adults with trauma histories, specialist learning needs, and learning disabilities.
Kate has a special interest in working with children, young people, and adults who experience sensory processing difficulties.
She lives in Kempsey in Worcestershire with her husband, two daughters, and two flat-coated retrievers. When not working, she loves to spend time with her family and friends.
Clare Hanson, Speech and Language Therapist
Clare has over 20 years experience as a speech and language therapist. She joined the ARCOS team in 2013 and works with adult and paediatric clients attending the ARCOS Centre in Malvern as well as seeing them elsewhere via the ARCOS Outreach Service.
Areas of special interest include assessment and treatment of children and adults with complex needs. Delivery of training to parents, carers and other professionals is part of Clare’s remit. Clare provides reports for Education, Health and Care Plans, contributes to Special Educational Needs (SEN) Appeals and attends SEN tribunals. Clare provides expert opinion to the court on speech and language therapy needs of children and adults.
Clare’s hobbies include yoga and running. She is a member of her local running club and both Clare and her sister have run the London Marathon to raise vital funds for ARCOS.
Claire Fuller, Associate Speech and Language Therapist
Claire works with ARCOS as an associate SLT, specialising in adult neurological rehabilitation. She trained in Facial Oral Tract Therapy in 1998 and utilises this approach in her work in community rehabilitation and long-term chronic disabilities. She has worked for the NHS, in rehabilitation units, and as an independent practitioner, and also acts as an Expert Witness.
When not at work, she loves nothing more than hiking through the mountains or sea swimming (no matter what season it is!).
Nick Reid, Services Coordinator
Nick joined ARCOS as a volunteer in April 2022 and has since taken on a full time role as our Services Coordinator.
He has a background in languages, having studied German at university, and worked in a local authority web team for a couple of years before spending 13 years at a translation agency. He and his partner moved to Malvern in 2021 and Nick started with us soon after.
In his spare time, he enjoys walking the Malvern Hills, the occasional run, and reading crime fiction.
Andy Lindsay, IT Coordinator
Andy has been with ARCOS since December 2021, having run his own business supplying schools and education providers with IT equipment and, before that, being Broadband Manager at Worcestershire County Council.
He lives in Powick, Worcestershire, and like to spend time with his son and daughter and indulging his love of music by playing guitar and mandolin and singing in a band.
Angela Cooper, Financial Administrator
Angela looks after our accounting and finances. She worked in an accounts role for a company in Malvern for several years, and also worked in a call centre for an insurance company.
When not at ARCOS, Angela spends her time at home in Malvern with her children, looking after her two dogs, two cows, four sheep, two chickens, and fifteen geese!
