The Communication Trust (TCT) is widely recognised for its provision of research and resources to support the workforce who delivers interventions for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
A
particular focus of TCT’s work, with funding from the Department for Education,
has been to support the ongoing dissemination of the Better Communication Research Programme (BCRP).
One aspect of this work, the development of the ‘What Works’ database,
illustrates TCT’s concern to base guidance and support for practitioners on
research evidence. TCT has also been commissioned to provide guidance
concerning the support of the workforce regarding the involvement of children
and young people with SLCN in decisions that concern them. This is in response
to the Children and Family Act 2014 and the related Code of Practice which
requires that children and young people must
be involved in “discussions and decisions about their individual support and
local provision” in order to increase participation and inclusion of children and young people,
the early identification of needs and the delivery of high quality support. TCT
has already developed a resource to support professionals to implement the Code
of Practice (“Communicating the Code”) which contains a chapter on the
involvement of children and young people with SLCN.
TCT
intends to develop practical guidance for practitioners to ensure that children
and young people with SLCN are fully involved in discussions and decisions
about their individual support and about local provision. It is the intention
of TCT that this guidance be informed by independent research that investigates
the experiences of children and young people with SLCN and their parents of
current practice regarding their involvement since the introduction of the Code
of Practice and their views of best practice for their involvement in developing
their individual support particularly around the setting of outcomes and in
developing local services. The Bristol Speech and Language Therapy Research Unit (BSLTRU) are working with the TCT to achieve this. But we need your help!
Would you be willing to complete a short on-line survey (click here), or maybe take part in a telephone interview (about 30 minutes; email lydia.morgan@speech-therapy.org.uk, or call 0117 340 6529). |
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