Children & Young People's Services Resource guide for professionals

5.3 Speech and Language TherapySpeech, language and communication skills (SLC) are fundamental building blocks for social,emotional and academic well-being and success. Communication happens all day, every day,everywhere.The service, which is an integrated provision across Education and Health, aims to provide training toparents and all professionals working with children to:• Raise awareness and understanding of SLC• Facilitate early identification of risk of / need for SLC support• Develop facilitative communication styles and provide strategies to support SLC development• Facilitate the development of nursery settings, Children’s Centres and Hackney maintainedschools to become sustainable, inclusive, communicative environments• Understand and support eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (EDS) in infants, childrenand young people• Provide assessment for any child / young person at risk of / identified as having SLC needs• Provide appropriate interventions to meet the needs of children with targeted or specialistSLC needs. The service works within an integrated children’s services Framework to effectivelymaximise resources and with the wider children’s workforce to support children and youngpeople in the right context / environment• Work in partnership with parents to support SLC development and to empower young peopleto understand their communication strengths and employ strategies to compensate for theircommunication difficulties• Provide assessment and appropriate interventions for infants, children and young people with EDS.The service has three specific areas of service provision:Early YearsCo-located in Children’s Centres to maximise integrated working, this service is for 0 – 5 yearolds, unless the child attends a maintained primary school. Training, prevention and earlyidentification are key delivery areas. Drop in sessions for advice and assessment, “Talking – Walkins”,are offered monthly in each Children Centre area – easy access with no need for a referral.Interventions are offered in groups to provide a natural communicative environment and supportparents; individual sessions may be offered where clinically appropriate. Children with morecomplex needs may be seen at Hackney Ark.PrimaryA named ‘link’ Speech and Language Therapist works in every school on a half term on/off basis;based upon an annually reviewed formula of need, 9 to 24 days may be given. The aim is tomaximise communication support as an inclusive element of the school day. Referral is via theSpecial Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in school; where appropriate an assessment willbe offered (parents will be invited). The focus of intervention is to provide skills, through plannedtraining, to all school staff to support the child every day, including whole class approaches. Thereare three levels of support; the school may take responsibility at Wave 1 and/or 2, Speech andLanguage Therapy may be offered directly at Wave 3.Many primary schools now buy-in additional Speech and Language Therapy services. Each schoolwill discuss service delivery models directly; the majority choose to provide a weekly service in linewith the core offer.Resource Guide for professionals | Updated January 2013 17