Archived decisions

PAEDIATRIC SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION REGARDING PROPOSED CHANGE

EDUCATION SERVICES

Management Level

The paper outlining the proposed change has been presented to senior managers in both Portsmouth City and Hampshire Education Authorities (Department for Children and Families) who are broadly supportive of the change.

Hampshire have shared the paper with senior staff and requested comments that are to be fed back to the Speech and Language Therapy Department. Hampshire have also requested that the other Speech and Language Therapy providers across their area consider operating in a similar way to ensure consistency across the County

Portsmouth City Education team are keen to work with the speech and language therapy department in producing a joint paper to go out to all schools outlining the shared responsibilities in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs. (SLCN) This will incorporate the ideas for change proposed by the Speech and Language Therapy Service.

Teacher Level

Speech and Language therapists are meeting with teachers and Special Needs Coordinators of schools individually from the beginning of November to present the paper and to discuss and record their responses.

These responses will be collated by the Paediatric service manager and will guide the future change process.

PARENTS

Parents were involved informally in the initial phase of developing the ideas for change.

Speech and Language therapists will attend school parents' evenings during the Spring Term to meet with parents, discuss the planned change and record parent's responses.

Individual discussions will take place from January 2006 during routine meetings to explain the proposed change and how it would affect their family in particular.

Parents' responses will be recorded and collated and the plans for the change will be further amended as a result.

HEALTH VISITORS/HEALTH COLLEAGUES

It is planned to attend Health Visitor meetings in both Portsmouth City and East Hampshire/Fareham and Gosport to explain the plan for change and to record responses.

Paediatricians locally have been sent a copy of the paper and invited to comment. Comments received so far are very supportive of the change.

October 2005