From complex to creative - Speech and Language Therapists improve patient resources
Almost one year after they were introduced, our Speech and Language Therapy service reflects on the success of their advice handouts for children and families.
BCHC provides specialised Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) services for children aged 0-19. The SLT service offers advice, strategies, and support sessions for a range of specific speech, language and communication difficulties.
As part of their care plans, the Early Years SLT team often provide handouts for parents/guardians to take away and follow with their child at home.
After a year of using them, members of the team identified that some of the handouts were too wordy and didn't represent the client group as well as they could have.
The team got to work over the summer in 2024, launching a small working group where they could update the handouts.
Together, the team updated the current handouts to be more accessible and easier to follow. They also created additional handouts to fill in gaps that were identified and suggested by the wider team.
Emma Winterbottom, Speech and Language Therapist said:
“It can be difficult for parents to remember everything we have told them verbally during our sessions. Our handouts mean they have something physical to take away and look back on after we have discussed what's right for them.”
Crucially, as well as having helpful and accurate information, the handouts now use visuals that reflect a larger variety of ethnicities and cultures.
Emma continues:
“We want all our families to feel accepted and understood in our service, so this is one small way of helping them feel that we see and value them.”
Speech and Language Therapists Emma Winterbottom, Chelsea Leahy, Reemah Suleman and Amy Marshall-Unitt, supported by Early Years Coordinators Lisa Wash and Deborah Berzins have now updated and produced over 70 handouts and don't plan on stopping any time soon.