Local Offer

What the Speech and Language Therapy service does

Our aim is to provide a high-quality speech and language therapy service to children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties and/or eating and drinking difficulties in the Wigan area.

This service is delivered by a specialist team of staff in partnership with all those working with the child / young person.

The focus is on supporting children and young people to maximise their ability to communicate and participate in education, at home and in their community. The aim of the services is to support children and young people to reach their full potential. The child/young person and/or their parents/carers will be able to confidently self-manage their communication.

This service also has an impact on children/young people’s social interactions, emotional and educational development.

This is through:

• Where we work
  • We offer services in a range of locations including community clinics, mainstream and special schools, other venues in the community and in the patient’s home as appropriate to the child’s and family’s needs.
  • The majority of buildings we use are accessible e.g. they have wheelchair access – however if you have accessibility needs, please contact us before your appointment so that we can support those needs.
• Who we see

  We support children and young people aged 0-16 (0-19 if attending special schools) with an identified or suspected speech, language and communication need and those with eating and drinking disorders.

  

  The Team provides a service to children and families who live in Wigan and /or have a Wigan GP and/or have other on-going educational input from Wigan Local Authority.

• How to use the service

  We have an open referral system: anyone can refer to the speech and language therapy service including parents/carers.

  Parents/carers must give consent if a referral is being made.

  Professionals must use the service referral form.

  It includes referral information, consent and age specific criteria. Use our Children’s Speech & Language Therapy Referral form or contact our office on 01942 483613.

  Parents who have concerns about their child’s communication skills can make a referral by completing our parent referral form or phoning 01942 483613.
  
  Referrals should be sent to:
  Speech and Language Therapy
  The Bungalow
  Longshoot Health Centre
  Scholes
  Wigan
  WN1 3NH

  Email: wwl-tr.wiganslt@nhs.net

  All referrals are considered by experienced speech and language therapy staff before being accepted for assessment. Any referral that cannot be accepted is sent back to the referrer with an explanation or requesting additional information so that the referral can be reconsidered.

  Once a referral is received and accepted, parents/carers will be sent a letter asking them to phone the department to make a convenient appointment at a range of locations.

  If parents/carers do not respond within 10 working days to our letter, the child is discharged from the service.

  All children are seen for an initial assessment within 18 weeks of referral.
  
  Speech and Language Therapy service is free at the point of care.

• About our staff and services

  Children, young people and their families can access expert knowledge in the following aspects of communication:

  

  All members of staff receive training in disability awareness and undergo regular supervision and clinical training to maintain their skills and develop new expertise. Every member of the team has an up-to-date DBS check.

• How decisions are made about how we work with families

  What families can expect from speech and language therapy:

  • Expert assessment (including in-depth collation of information about your child or young person’s communication skills/ eating and drinking difficulties to inform diagnosis).
  • Assessment informally through play/observations or more formally with set questions and use of picture books. This may also include speaking with others who are involved with the child/young person such as teaching staff.
  • Treatment, advice and management for the child/young person with communication disorders and mechanical swallowing / eating and drinking difficulties.
  • Families need to be fully involved in the development of a plan for their child/young person. Parents/carers know the child best and how the difficulty is impacting on their everyday life.
  • The plan will contain clear measurable goals and expected outcomes.
  • Information will be collated and shared in a report format with parents. With the relevant consent, any reports and information will also be shared with health, education and social care colleagues.
  • The goals will link to communication strategies for families and others to implement on a daily basis. This will enable parents and teaching staff to develop their skills in using appropriate strategies on a daily basis.
  • Families can expect coaching sessions which may include a defined number of coaching sessions with the child individually or in a group, or a training package for parents/carers and teaching staff.
  • Signposting to other agencies and services where appropriate and when families consent. Speech and Language Therapy advise and provide support and recommendations on technology for use in communication (Alternative Augmentative communication).
  • Systems such as signs and symbols may be used where appropriate.
  • Speech and Language Therapist’s may also be requested to contribute to Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans and annual reviews for children and young people with additional needs.
  • Once a request is received for contribution to an EHC Plan, the speech and language therapist will work within legal timeframes to collate this information, in collaboration with the parents.
  • This report will be shared with parents, the Local Authority SEND team and the child’s educational setting.
• Moving on – Transitions and Discharge

  When the service is involved at times of transition such as at school entry or moving from primary to secondary school, childrens' to adult services, links are made with other services where available to ensure transition is as seamless as possible.

  When appropriate advice, coaching and/or intervention has been completed, the service will discharge the child.

  This is likely to be at the point where:

  • Communication skills are at an optimum level. This means the child/young person is communicating effectively in everyday activities and communication difficulties no longer have a significant impact on their development.
  • The child may still have ongoing communication difficulties; however everyone around the child/young person is trained to support them. Therefore specialist speech and language therapy support is no longer required.

  The decision to discharge will always be discussed with the child/young person, their family and other relevant professionals to ensure that there is understanding of the reasons for discharge.

  Children and young people can be re-referred to the service in future if there is a change in need or circumstances which impact on their communication.

• Working with our partners

  We aim to form a partnership and support others around the child / young person to maximise their potential. Evidence shows that the best results are achieved when we work as a team.

  As parents/carers you are a key part in the team, have a unique knowledge of your child and we value your role.

  The Speech and Language Therapist’s provides support and coaching to the significant people in the child’s life.

  This enables them to develop and support their child/young person’s communication skills and use strategies and therapy techniques in daily life across environments.

  In order to offer integrated, high-quality services for children, we share information about the outcomes of assessments and recommended strategies with preschools, nurseries and schools.

  This is to ensure everyone involved knows how to support the child/ young person. We may also provide information on attendance at appointments. We feel this will greatly help your child, but it you do not wish information to be shared you may withdraw your consent at any time.

• How we communicate with service users and how you are involved in decision making/planning

  Communication is routinely face to face, by letter and reports or by phone. Email between parent and therapist is also used with parental consent.

  Where possible, parents/carers and child/young person are involved in setting goals on treatment plans /programmes. Parents/carers are invited to meet with the speech and language therapist at school or clinic.

  Parents/carers also get a review report or plan to inform of child’s progress. All others who work with the child also have this written information with parent consent. Parents/carers are always invited to contact us if they have any queries about their child and their progress.

  Where required an interpreter can be made available on request.

• What support do we need from you as parents/carers?

  We really value your knowledge about your child and your support in helping your child to progress as far as they are able to.

  We need you to:

  • Attend appointments to watch and discuss how to help your child at home.
  • Carry out suggested activities and ideas at home and in other situations on a daily basis.
  • Let us know if you have anything that you would like to talk to us about your child’s communication / eating & drinking.
• We value what you say

  We routinely ask for feedback from you and your child/ young person to see how we are doing. This may be a request for verbal feedback, or we will ask you to complete a feedback form. Families are also requested to complete a Talk to Us questionnaire at various stages of involvement.

  This information will be treated confidentially, and may be used by the team in order to improve our service.

  We operate a Patient Partner Service and we would like to invite families to work with us.

• Who you can contact for more information?

  For general enquiries regarding Speech and Language Therapy, specific enquires about a child, to access our training or to make a referral, use our website or telephone us on 01942 483613.

  You can also continue to get support from universal services such as your GP and Health Visiting or School Nursing Team.

• What to do if you are not happy with the Speech and Language Therapy service

  We always try to provide a safe high-quality evidence-based service for you and your family.

  If for any reason you are unhappy or would like to give us any feedback please contact the department on 01942 483613 and ask to speak to the Team Leader who will be able to discuss and try to resolve any concerns.

  You can also contact the Patient Relations Team on:
  Telephone: 01942 822 376
  Email: patient.relations@wwl.nhs.uk