Ms Esther Jolliff

Biography

Esther is a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and Chartered Psychologist with expertise in acquired neurogenic communication disorders. Following a series of clinical posts as an SLT, she was seconded from the NHS to conduct research with clinical populations. Esther became a clinical lecturer and was awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in recognition of innovation in her teaching, curriculum development and quality assurance activities. She is an experienced clinician and practice educator having combined the development of specialist clinical services with professional student training in a higher education context. Esther is passionate about the use of group work having run numerous intervention groups for people with acquired communication difficulties including aphasia (acquired language disorder) and Parkinson’s Disease. Her current research focus concerns identity and adjustment in people living with post-stroke aphasia. Esther joined the University in 2024 as part of the postgraduate studies team within the School of Health Professions

Qualifications

Doctorate in Clinical Research, University of Exeter (due to complete 2024)

MSc Psychological Research Methods, University of Plymouth (2003)

BSc Psychology (First Class), The Open University (2000)

BSc Speech Pathology and Therapeutics, De Montfort University (1993)

Professional membership

Certified member of The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

Registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council

Chartered Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE)

Member of the British Aphasiology Society

Member of the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs)

Roles on external bodies

HCPC Visitor, involved in the assessment of institutions and education and training programmes (Health and Care Professions Council)

Committee member of the South West Aphasia Clinical Excellence Network

Journal manuscript reviewer for Aphasiology

Teaching

Teaching interests

Acquired neurogenic communication disorders

Cognitive psychology and neuropsychology

Developmental and acquired disorders of cognition

Research methods

Staff serving as external examiners

MSc Language Pathology, Newcastle University (2017-2021)

BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy, Birmingham City University (2008-12)

Research

Research interests

Acquired neurogenic communication disorders

Biographic narratives, identity and adjustment to long-term conditions

Group interventions

Aphasia rehabilitation including acquired dyslexia and dysgraphia

Clinical education

Esther has a particular interest in using language based qualitative methods including narrative analysis, critical discourse analysis and conversation analysis

Publications

Journals

Jolliff, E., & Tope, L. (2024). Group intervention for acquired writing disorders in aphasia. Aphasiology, 38(2), 366–388. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2023.2190836

Pettit, E., Williams, T., & Burton, D. (2023). Reading the room: The practice educator, the student and the client. Three perspectives on a specialist reading and writing clinic for people with aphasia. Bulletin of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, (834), 46–47.

Parrott, L., Pettit, E., Mallinson, A., Knox, P., Bates, S., & Callard, J. (2021). How was it for you? University practice educators’ reflections on delivering a creative clinical placement during the COVID-19 pandemic in the the UK. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 23(3), 134–139. https://speechpathologyaustralia.cld.bz/JCPSLP-Vol-23-No-3/24/

Pettit, E., & Tope, L. (2018). Retraining spelling and writing for conversation: A group intervention approach for people with aphasia and dysgraphia. Aphasiology, 32(sup1), 162–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2018.1487012

Beveridge, M., Jarrold, C., & Pettit, E. (2002). An experimental approach to executive fingerprinting in young children. Infant and Child Development, 11(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.300

Beveridge, M., Jarrold, C., & Pettit, E. (1999). Inhibition and working memory in executive functions: Towards executive fingerprinting. Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment, (Special issue), 13–16.

Cooper, M., Pettit, E., & Clibbens, J. (1998). Evaluation of a nursery based language intervention in a socially disadvantaged area. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 33(supplement), 526–531. https://doi.org/10.3109/13682829809179480

Cooper, M., Pettit, E., & Jones, P. (1994). Parentwise: A collaborative project to promote effective parenting. Bulletin of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, (512), 8–9.

Chapters

Parrott, L., Pettit, E., & Leather, M. (2012). Up the creek without a communication aid: Speech and language therapy and outdoor education. In What is research-led teaching? Multi-disciplinary perspectives (pp. 162–166). CREST.

Presentations and posters

Jolliff, E., & Smithson, J. (2023). ‘The most important thing that ever happened to me was the stroke’: Biographic narratives of people with aphasia. 8th Nordic Aphasia Conference. Reykjavik. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34922.70081

Pettit, E., & Smithson, J. (2022). Biographic narratives of people with aphasia: The story so far. British Aphasiology Society Research Update Meeting, online

Pettit, E. (2022). Marjon Connect: Fourteen years, three thousand conversations and quite a few cups of tea. Knowledge Exchange in Higher Education: Implications for Teaching and Research. Plymouth Marjon University.

Pettit, E. (2022). Reading and writing clinic: A University-based service for people with aphasia. Knowledge Exchange in Higher Education: Implications for Teaching and Research. Plymouth Marjon University.

Shepherd, C. J., & Pettit, E. (2021). Living with aphasia under lockdown: The carers’ perspective. Nordic Aphasia Conference, online.

Parrott, L., Pettit, E., Mallinson, A., Callard, J., Knox, P., Bates, S., … Stewart, J. (2021). Squaring the circle: Rapid in-house placement expansion using virtual patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrating and Disseminating Good Practice across Health Care Professions. Health Education England, SW.

Elswood, M., & Pettit, E. (2019). Semantically primed anagram (SPA) therapy: A cross-modal approach to improving naming. Proceedings of the British Aphasiology Society Clinical Symposium. Norwich.

Rolland, S., & Pettit, E. (2018). The impact of acquired reading difficulties on adults with neurological impairments. Proceedings of the British Aphasiology Society Biennial International Scientific Conference. Sheffield.

Taylor, B. M., & Pettit, E. (2018). What happens when a service closes down? Multiple perspectives on the closure of Connect. Proceedings of the British Aphasiology Society Biennial International Scientific Conference. Sheffield.

Pettit, E., Frayling, J., & Stewart, J. (2017). Quest, chaos and restitution: Narratives of people with aphasia. Proceedings of the British Aphasiology Society Therapy Symposium. Bristol.

Pettit, E. (2017). “Writing groups”: A feasible therapy format for people with aphasia and acquired dysgraphia? Proceedings of the British Aphasiology Society Therapy Symposium. Bristol.

Pettit, E., & Stewart, J. (2017). “I don’t want to look like a lemon”: A comparison of pre-placement worries expressed by first and third year undergraduate SLT students. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Conference. Glasgow.

Stewart, J., & Pettit, E. (2017). “Have a bit of bloody confidence woman!” What I’d tell my first year student self. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Conference. Glasgow.

Parrott, L., Pettit, E., & Leather, M. (2017). “I feel like I would have a heart attack if I did that now”: Adults with cerebral palsy reflect on childhood experiences of outdoor learning. 16th European Institute for Outdoor Aventure Education and Experiential Learning Seminar. Plymouth.

Pettit, E., Parrott, L., & Evans, J. (2014). Conversation partners for adults with cerebral palsy who use AAC: A pilot. International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) 16th Biennial Research Conference. Lisbon.

Parrott, L., & Pettit, E. (2012). “I feel like a normal person”: Some reflections on adventurous recreational activities. International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) 15th Biennial Research Conference. Pittsburgh.

Parrott, L., Pettit, E., & Leather, M. (2010). Children who use alternative communication systems in outdoor education: Benefits and barriers. International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) 14th Biennial Research Conference. Barcelona.

Personal

Additional information

In 2023 I changed my name from Esther Pettit to Esther Jolliff

Profiles

Lecturer in Rehabilitation (Postgraduate Studies)

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)