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Sefton Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service Leaflet PIAG 285 (322kB)
Introduction
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is a specialist service that can help you support your child’s speech, language and communication development.
We work closely with parents, carers and other professionals to provide assessment, advice and therapy. We have an open referral system with parental consent.
Where do we work?
We work in a variety of settings, including clinics, schools, nurseries, and in patient’s homes. Our aim is always to work together to ensure you have the knowledge and skills to continue input with your child.
Who do we work with?
We can help children from birth to 18 years who have difficulties in the following areas:
- Listening and attention
- Play and interaction
- Understanding and using language
- Social communication
- Speech sound production
- Fluency
- Voice
- Eating, drinking and swallowing
What will happen on the first appointment?
This will last approximately 30 minutes and will involve a discussion with you about your child’s development and an assessment of your child’s communication skills.
Assessment may include play, observation and looking at pictures and books where appropriate. Depending on the age of your child we may also carry out some formal assessments. We will discuss the outcome of the assessment with you, so that together we can decide on the best way to meet your child’s needs.
Following this, you may be offered:
- Parent workshops
- Therapy in a group setting or on an individual basis
- Programmes of therapy activities for home / nursery or school
- Advice and support for parents, carers and other professionals
- A referral on to other professionals
Your child may or may not require direct input from us.
We work through episodes of care; your child may need intervention for their current communication need and then come back into the service at a later date if further intervention is needed.
Within an episode of care, we aim to train the key adults to enable them to continue to support their child’s communication skills on a daily basis at home, school or nursery.
How you can help your child before your appointment
You can ask your child’s nursery or school for any ideas to try at home, speak to their teacher or SENCO.
If your child has been referred for Speech and Language Therapy assessment, we will send out some general information when we receive the referral.
You could look at these websites for more information and ideas:
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or if you wish to make a referral.
Where can you contact us?
Netherton Health Centre
Magdalene Square, Netherton, L30 5SP
0151 247 6109
All members of Sefton’s Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service wear an identity badge. Please ask to see this before admitting a member of the team to your home.
If you have any comments or concerns, you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS Team) for Alder Hey.
Please give or send any written compliments about the service to the Speech and Language Therapist you see or via our dedicated online form.
Attending appointments
The Speech and Language Therapy Service receives a high number of referrals and currently has a waiting list for a first appointment.
We have an ‘opt in’ system. When your child is near the top of the waiting list you will be sent a letter asking you to contact us to book an appointment. If you do not respond we will assume your child no longer needs to be seen by the service and we will discharge your child.
If you cannot attend for any reason, please contact us before the session. A new appointment can be arranged.
If your child is not brought to an appointment your child will be discharged.
If 2 consecutive appointments are cancelled by you, we will discharge your child from the service.
Following discharge, a re-referral would be needed if you feel SLT intervention is still required.
If you would like to discuss our attendance policy, please contact us.
This leaflet only gives general information. You must always discuss the individual treatment of your child with the appropriate member of staff. Do not rely on this leaflet alone for information about your child’s treatment.
This information can be made available in other languages and formats if requested.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
PIAG: 285