The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) recommends that children and young people in care have access to specially commissioned speech and language therapy service.
Walsall Virtual School and Walsall NHS Healthcare Trust SaLT Team have been working together since September 2019 to improve outcomes for children and young people in care with Speech, Language and Communication Needs. Service delivery is underpinned by guidance published by the RCSLT and incorporates the 5 Good Communication Standards for Care Experienced Children and Young People.
Hannah Carter and Helen Appert work as part of Walsall Virtual School’s Specialist Support Team alongside our Educational Psychologists and CAMHs Practitioner.
Walsall Virtual School SLCN Support aims to:
- Screen: Screen children in care to determine whether they are currently or previously known to Walsall NHS Healthcare Trust Speech and Language Therapy Department
- Train: Provide advice and training to carers and teaching staff to enhance use of positive communication strategies and remove barriers to effective communication
- Support: Facilitate access to core NHS Speech and Language Therapy services with provision of an enhanced service when beneficial for the child/young person/carer. Deliver appropriate support in terms of timeliness, location and resource allocation through joint-working between Walsall NHS Speech and Language Therapy Department and Walsall Virtual School
SLCN in Care-Experienced Children and Young People
- Walsall Virtual School offers training/ advice for education staff and parents/carers
- Training can be case-specific or delivered through interactive workshops that are tailored to different Key Stages
- Workshops and individual support can be arranged to focus on specific areas of communication (e.g. Dysfluency, AAC, selective mutism)
Details of upcoming training events can be found on the 'training calendar' tab on the main home page