Our aim is to support each child and young person to be the best communicator they can be. We offer a range of different appointments that are described below.
Initial assessment
Each child or young person that is referred into our service will have an initial assessment as their first appointment.
During this session, we will spend time finding out more about the child or young person’s communication skills and early development. We will also ask about any worries or concerns and complete an assessment of communication skills.
At the end of the session, we will offer advice on how to promote communication and consider the next steps in agreement with the child, young person and parents or guardians.
Review assessment
A review assessment is offered to review any progress made following advice given at the session before or after a block of therapy sessions. The child will have been given some time to work on their targets and new skills before being reviewed.
Further assessment
At times, when we have been unable to get a full picture of the child or young person’s communication skills in a single appointment we may ask to see them again for further assessment. This is to ensure that we have a full understanding of their communication development and needs.
Modelling session
Modelling sessions are really useful sessions where we can show how to work on a child or young person’s targets with them.
In these sessions, we ask that a parent or member of staff be available so we can show them the best ways to develop the child’s communication skills around a particular target.
We see that the most progress is made by children and young people who are well supported by the people around them and where their communication needs are being helped throughout the day.
We aim to share our skills with others to support children and young people in reaching their full communication potential.
Therapy
Therapy sessions are offered in blocks. There is no set number of sessions for a block of therapy as we change it to meet the child or young person’s specific needs.
Therapy sessions are typically carried out by our skilled speech and language therapy assistants who work with the child or young person and the people who support them.
Activities are carried out to develop communication skills against the targets agreed in assessment.
It is ideal when parents and professionals join our sessions so that targets can be worked on all of the time, leading to more progress being made and improved communication skills for the child or young person.
Training
As a team we provide a range of training opportunities.
Training may be specific to the needs of one child or young person and delivered as part of their therapy sessions; or we may offer training to groups of staff or parents to help them understand how communication develops, what problems can arise and how other people can help children with these problems.
What happens in an episode of care?
We know that children’s speech and language therapy support is best delivered regularly by people around the child or closest to home. The service provides periods of support (often called ‘episodes of care’) to help this happen at the times when it is needed most.
Sometimes a child or young person will have a short period of support from the service. For others, they might need to access support for longer or over multiple episodes.
The aim of each episode of care is:
- To identify the child/young person’s current speech, language and communication needs or eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties
- Select key priorities at that time
- Set agreed outcomes
- Ensure support is in place to best meet their needs