Three’s company when commissioning Speech and Language Therapy Services The London Borough of Ealing in West London has a very ethnically diverse population. A large number of Ealing children learn English as an additional language (EAL). NHS Ealing and the Local Authority have joined forces with I CAN to support all children with speech, language or communication difficulties. Together, they have developed a joint commissioning approach to Speech and Language Therapy services that has really helped to integrate children’s services in Ealing.
Innovative Commissioning
Karen Benedyk, Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Manager at NHS Ealing, and Margaret Allan, Senior Adviser for School Inclusion, have developed an innovative way of delivering children’s services. Together, they manage the very positive relationship that has evolved between the NHS, Local Authority and I CAN. Karen’s department is part of Ealing Service for Children with Additional Needs (ESCAN). ESCAN is a joint initiative between NHS Ealing and Ealing Council, designed to join up services for children and young people with disabilities across Ealing. Delivery of SLT services has been improved significantly through this arrangement. Joint funding of SLT posts has broadened the reach of Ealing’s SLT service. NHS Ealing’s joint commissioning model has also increased the profile of SLT services in the borough and illustrates a progressive and possibly replicable commissioning approach.
Early Talk and Every Child A Talker (ECAT)
I CAN has been working with Ealing for just over four years on the delivery of the Early Talk programme. Early Talk provides pre-school practitioners with the knowledge and skills to encourage all children’s speaking and listening skills. It then helps settings to measure and monitor their service through a process of accreditation.
Ealing has fully embraced the Every Child a Talker (ECAT) programme through the deployment of two Early Language Consultants who work with approximately 30 pre-school settings in the borough. These consultants provide mentoring and training and help the settings to develop action plans and staff skills. These settings have received Early Talk training and are now working towards accreditation.
Staff at Ealing Early Years settings have been extremely impressed with Early Talk. Lizzie Ross from Ealing Hospital Children’s Centre One said: “Early Talk is fantastic, especially the focus on how children develop their speech and language skills. It should be essential training for all staff in early educational settings. A practitioner at Cyber-tots commented: “I really enjoyed this training. It gave me lots of practical ideas on how we can help children with their talking.” It was noted in an annual review how Early Talk provided staff with a clearer understanding of children’s language needs and allowed them to better observe children and identify needs earlier.
Another aspect of the I CAN/NHS Ealing partnership is I CAN’s inclusion on the steering group, which also includes a Head of Early Years and Senior Advisor for School Improvement from the Local Authority. This group meets regularly to progress development of SLC services in Ealing. Further Accreditations through joined-up working The Early Talk specialist provisions in Ealing Borough were accredited in June 2009 with a 96% pass mark. This was the second round of specialist accreditation with two sites taking part in the process – South Acton Children’s Centre and St John’s Primary School, Early Years provision. Outstanding aspects of this service include: “the commitment and expertise of the staff team being a tremendous asset to both the service itself and to the local population” “The teachers and Speech & Language Therapists across both settings work with a high level of collaboration” “The core staff demonstrate a clarity of understanding of each others roles, and confidence in their skills and abilities, which is a great achievement considering the challenges they face when dealing with children with severe to profound speech, language and communication needs. The teaching and therapy environments are extremely positive and all aspects of the children’s learning and development are considered and catered for.” “The service at I CAN specialist provisions in Ealing is of high quality, characterised by professional, skilled staff who together provide an excellent example of collaborative practice in Early Years education for children with speech and language impairments.” These quotes from the grass roots reflect Ealing’s commitment to joined-up working across education and health, aimed at meeting the needs and expectations of children and their families. Ealing’s vision in action
NHS Ealing and the Local Authority have a vision that goes beyond the Early Years. NHS Ealing describes a 0 -16 pathway which will address SLCN at all ages and stages. Both agencies have plans to realise their vision by trialling I CAN’s Primary Talk programme. Primary Talk enables school workforces to work with the full range of children from the very confident communicators to those with severe or complex speech and language needs. Ealing is also interested in I CAN’s Secondary Talk programme and views I CAN as its voluntary sector partner of choice to bid for possible grant-funded SLT work in the future. Ealing is currently exploring the Youth Justice area in affiliation with I CAN who are keen to continue supporting the Ealing vision for children and young people’s communication. Conclusion
I CAN has developed a mutually beneficial partnership with NHS Ealing and the Local Authority in delivering SLC services. I CAN has been able to support Ealing at strategic and operational levels, acting as an unbiased advisor when required. This unusual three-way partnership across the stutory and voluntary sectors delivers value for money, productivity and outcome-focused services to the children and families of the Borough.
To find out more about programmes, training and consultancy services please call 0845 225 4073, email consultancy@ican.org.uk or visit www.ican.org.uk |