Speach and Language Therapy (SALT) - Meetings, agendas, and ...

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It is recommended that the Director of Public Health of Barking and Dagenham confirms the need for increased speech and language therapy services for adults as a matter of urgency. 48
6.7 Service delivery to those with learning disabilities There is a continuing question of the adequacy of services to those who are in transition between childhood and adulthood. It is recommended that the Director of Public Health of Barking and Dagenham confirm the need for increased speech and language therapy services for those with learning disabilities as a matter of urgency. 6.8 Early identification and intervention There is consensus on the importance of early identification and intervention for children with speech and language difficulties. This will soon become even clearer with the introduction of neonatal hearing screening. Central funding for this initiative is for the screening programme itself and not for the consequential investigation and treatment. Some of this treatment will fall on the NHS and some on the Education Authority with an emphasis on the preschool and pre-nursery age group. It is recommended that the Council and the PCT make increased provision in their 2005-6 budgets for the treatment and support of children with hearing problems, which will include those identified by the Neonatal Screening Programme. 6.9 Recruitment and retention The recruitment and retention of speech and language therapists is a national problem. A survey commissioned by the DFEE found that recruitment difficulties nationally are part due to a shortage of speech and language therapy courses and this is now being addressed. With regards to retention they suggested that there is a need to develop an educational specialism that is attractive to speech and language therapists, allowing them recognition and status as autonomous and adequately remunerated professionals. The latest proposal from the Government ‘Agenda for change’ has not been well received by speech therapists and at present it appears that more may be leaving the public services than are recruited. In fact in a recent telephone pole 90% of SALTs said they would leave the profession if Agenda for Change went ahead. SALTs may not agree to levels of pay. In Barking and Dagenham it was stated that some SALTs are currently in posts that command a higher grade than they are being paid. Even if financial resources became available it might still be difficult to recruit therapists and attract them to the area. One factor is that there are only limited numbers of therapists available. One possible way forward would be to increase the training of other grades and other staff so that they can extend their role within the overall service. Agenda for Change (AFC): how will this affect recruitment and retaining of therapists? It is recommended that the Council and the PCT review their existing policies for supporting key workers and formulate and implement an action plan to improve the recruitment and retention of speech and language professionals in Barking and Dagenham, looking at issues including pay, work/life balance, benefits and affordable housing. It is also recommended that both organisations acknowledge the 49
Page 1 and 2: London Borough of Barking and Dagen
Page 3 and 4: The Speech and Language Therapy Ser
Page 5 and 6: 3. Costs 36 3.1 Current costs of th
Page 7 and 8: Recommendations The Health Scrutiny
Page 9 and 10: 1. Introduction 1.1 Background to s
Page 11 and 12: 2. Description of current services
Page 13 and 14: As a result of the change programme
Page 15 and 16: nursery staff, health visitors etc)
Page 17 and 18: 2.2.4 Recommendations from the LBBD
Page 19 and 20: Speaking and Listening Focus The de
Page 21 and 22: times and no applications have been
Page 23 and 24: H would be seen each term at school
Page 25 and 26: is a success story although a big d
Page 27 and 28: carers as and when appropriate, whi
Page 29 and 30: Given that the audit covered a two-
Page 31 and 32: Information was not available for H
Page 33 and 34: Time spent by therapists on differe
Page 35 and 36: 2.5. Learning disabilities 2.5.1 Ch
Page 37 and 38: Estimated cost £309,700 £401,300
Page 39 and 40: 3.1.4 Summary of current costs and
Page 41 and 42: Neurosurgical Unit 15 1.00 Domicili
Page 43 and 44: clinical specialist Tracheotomy /Vo
Page 45 and 46: 5. NHS plans The NHS planning syste
Page 47: It is recommended that the Council
Page 51 and 52: 6.10 Service evaluation The speech
Page 53 and 54: organisations. The Panel would prop
Page 55 and 56: National Deaf Children’s Society
Page 57 and 58: Appendix 1 List of written evidence
Page 59 and 60: Item Date 33 July 2004 Author Title
Page 61 and 62: Appendix 3 Information provided fro
Page 63 and 64: joined the mainstream school. Howev
Page 65: introduction of the intervention pr

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