About me

I am a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and supervisor based in West London.

I qualified at the University of Sheffield in 2001 and since then I have worked with adults with acquired brain injury and stroke across a range of settings - acute, community and inpatient rehabilitation. I have worked in the NHS and charitable sectors supporting patients and their families with the most severe and complex impairments.

I have worked at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability for over 20 years leading a team of SLTs and developing the service. I am a level 3 FEES assessor and Endoscopist and have been Clinical Lead for the FEES clinic since 2014.

I have developed a specialism in working with adults in Prolonged Disorder of Consciousness (PDOC) completing a PhD at UCL in 2025 investigating how to assess the return of communication in patients emerging from PDOC. I am an RCSLT advisor in this field and contributed to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) national PDOC guidelines. I also chaired a group of specialist SLTs to produce specific DOC guidelines and competencies for SLTS. SLT-DOC-guidelines-RCSLT-version-Jan-2020.pdf

I take a holistic approach to patient intervention and value the expertise of my AHP colleagues in the multidisciplinary team.

 

My clinical areas of expertise include:

  • PDOC
  • Severe Cognitive Communication Disorder (CCD)
  • Complex dysphagia
  • Tracheostomy
  • FEES
  • Mental Capacity assessments and complex ethical decision making
  • Facial Oral Tract Therapy (FOTT)

 

I have managed an SLT team for many years providing clinical and professional supervision for SLTs at all stages in their careers. I have also provided clinical supervision to SLTs working in a variety of NHS and independent settings across the UK and Ireland.  I believe that participating in regular supportive supervision enables individuals to grow personally and professionally while ensuring high quality and safe patient care. I have also provided mentorship and leadership support to other AHPs.

I am a collaborative inclusive leader and value input from all team members. I enjoy supporting others as they develop skills and confidence and work towards their goals. 

I also enjoy training others and have organised and contributed to a wide range of study days and conferences on a range of topics including dysphagia, FEES, tracheostomy, severe CCD and assessment, swallowing and communication in PDOC. 

 

My Supervision, Coaching and Leadership Training

  • 2022 Advanced Change Leadership Programme - In Professional Development
  • 2016 Coaching for Leaders two-day workshop - The Beech Centre
  • 2015 -Senior Leadership Development Programme - The Beech Centre 
  • 2013 Manager as Coach Workshop, using the GROW model to structure conversations - Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability
  • 2009 Skills for Clinical and Case Supervision - Skills Development Service

 

Publications

  • Pundole A, Duport S, Fleming V, Beeke S, Varley R. Assessing functional communication in patients emerging from a disorder of consciousness: Impact of task and stimuli on response accuracy. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/02692155251403995
  • Pundole, A., Varley, R. and Beeke, S. (2020). Assessing emergence from a Prolonged Disorder of Consciousness: current opinion and practice in the UK. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 5(13) 1-25.
  • Pundole, A. and Crawford, S. (2017). The assessment of language and the emergence form Disorders of Consciousness. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09602011.2017.1307766
  • Morrissey, AM., Gill- Thwaites, H., Wilson, B., Leonard, R., McLellan, L.,Pundole, A. and Shiel, A. Role of the SMART and WHIM in Behavioural Assessment of Disorders of Consciousness: Clinical Utility and Scope for a Symbiotic Relationship (2017 submitted). Neuropsychological Rehabilitation.
  • MDT Collaboration including Pundole, A., (2015) Tracheostomy Therapy Outcome Measure in Enderby, P. amd Johns, A. (2015) Therapy Outcome Measures for Rehabilitation Professionals Third Edition, J&R Press Ltd
  • Pundole, A. and Lindeck, J. (2008). Express Yourself a collaborative group work project between SLT
  • and Music Therapy working with head injured adults- a case study in Twyford, K. and Watson, T. (Eds) (2008) Integrated Team Working: Music Therapy as Part of Transdisciplinary and Collaborative Approaches, Jessica Kingsley: London.
  • Pundole A. and Lindeck, J. (2006) Express yourself with Music a collaborative group work project between SLT and Music Therapy working with head injured adults. Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Bulletin, Issue 655

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