Business News Ongoing specialist support for children
A clinical audiologist from Glasgow is celebrating 15 years of delivering onsite help to pupils at Doncaster School for the Deaf. Jim McHugh came to Doncaster
with the plan of working at the Deaf Trust for a few years and then going back to the NHS, but 15 years later he is still supporting pupils, students and staff every day. Jim said: “I honestly don’t know
where the years have gone. I started at the Trust in October 2004 and here we are 15 years later and I really cannot imagine doing anything else. “Working onsite at a school and
college for the deaf is so rewarding. Not many specialist schools have their own onsite audiologist. “I get to meet pupils when they
join us and check their hearing loss and the overall hygiene of the ear so that I can help to make sure they have the best possible equipment or support to help them throughout their school day. “I do daily equipment checks for
the pupils with hearing aids and have a very good relationship with Doncaster NHS, which enables me to manage the children’s earmolds onsite. “I also arrange and take the pupils
to hospital appointments, which can be difficult for parents to sort. It is all about helping each individual child in the best way for them. “The first question I asked at the
interview was can I learn to sign, because I knew how important it was in a clinical setting to be able to communicate with people using their language.” The Deaf Trust audiology area is
set up like a satellite clinic for deaf children and Jim makes sure that the pupils have the right hearing
Pupils at Doncaster School for the Deaf
aids and can sort out hearing aid loans or replacements when necessary. Each child at the
‘Not many specialist
schools have their own onsite
school gets an annual review of their hearing loss so that any changes can be picked up and addressed. As well as providing the service
audiologist’
for school pupils, Jim also works with the students at Communication Specialist College Doncaster. He added: “There is a good
hearing aid culture at Doncaster Deaf Trust. Normally students will say no when asked if they want to try hearing aids. Generally, two months later they will come back and give them a go as they have seen other students using them. “This can have a really positive
impact on their learning and on their interaction with others. “I teach the students how to do
their own maintenance and how to look after their hearing aids. I make sure that I teach them the terminology as well, so that they can communicate with the hospital
using the right information.” Jim makes sure
that he has a spare set of earmolds for each pupil and has aids
on charge permanently so that they
are ready for use. “I have a great rapport with the
pupils. I’m not a teacher, I’m not here to teach them their lessons, I’m there to help them understand their hearing loss and help them to find the best approach for them. “Two pupils may have the same
hearing loss but their likes and dislikes can be very different. My job is to get them to trust me so that I can help them to work out what works for them,” Jim concluded. Doncaster Deaf Trust manages
Little Learners Day Nursery, Doncaster School for the Deaf, Communication Specialist College Doncaster, Specialist Employability Services and a care home. Alexis Johnson, Executive Principal, said: “We are the only provider in Yorkshire that has and
Milestone for local law firm
Renowned South Yorkshire law firm, Howells Solicitors, celebrated a milestone in October, with 40 years as one of the leaders in their industry.
Originally founded in Sheffield, the firm has
gone from strength to strength, facing dramatic changes to their industry and even facing severe floods.
Originally having seven offices in Sheffield, the
firm decided to reduce down to one main office in Love Street Sheffield, before disaster struck with the great flood of Sheffield in 2007. “There were tables and computers floating out
on the street!” said Heather Smith, Head of Client Care at Howells Solicitors. “The damage was so bad we had to move
offices.” In 2004 Howells decided to expand its work
Howells’ offices in Sheffield
in South Yorkshire and opened up an office on Ship Hill in Rotherham, and later in 2008 its
Regent Street office in Barnsley, both prominent locations in both towns. However Howells is no stranger to having a high street presence. Partner and Head of Family Law Alyson
Siddall said: “Howells was actually the first law firm in Sheffield to have a high street presence. We were also the only law firm to offer advice on welfare and benefits, and we have always been renowned for our legal aid work. This has always reflected the firm’s ethos of being a client focused company.” And Howells’ reputation of ‘giving back’
doesn’t stop there, as the firm is an active fundraiser for local charities Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and Barnsley Hospice. The firms Partner and matrimonial specialist,
Sharon Lockwood, is an ambassador for Bluebell Wood. She said: “I’m proud to work with Bluebell Wood so closely, and especially proud that Howells supports such a fantastic cause.”
Autumn 2019 CHAMBERconnect 17
audiologist integrated into the curriculum. Jim is a real part and parcel of the fabric of our organisation. “Our pupils, students and their
parents feel so well supported that we have Jim onsite four days a week providing such as specialist one-to-one service. “We are thrilled that he has been
with us for 15 years and know that he has made a real difference to hundreds of young people and their families during that time.”
Visit:
www.deaf-trust.co.uk Jim McHugh
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