Explain how multi agency teams work together to support speech, language and comm.

[Nazia786786]

Explain how multi agency teams work together to support speech, language and communication. need help

[Rick]

Explain how multi agency teams work together to support speech, language and communication. need help

Once parents and those involved with the child have identified that a child needs additional support a multi-agency approach may be used. The child’s GP or health visitor will make an appropriate referral.

It would be a childminder's responsibility to help identify a need in the first place as the parents may not have picked up on potential issues. It would not be their responsibility to sort the issue out if it is out of their expertise, only to assist in the referral process. They could then give any information or evidence they have to assist the agency or agencies to which the child has been referred to.

The GP may refer directly to the speech and language service, although in some areas settings can do this or there may be drop in sessions for parents. For some children an assessment by an educational psychologist will be required, especially if communication difficulties are linked to other learning difficulties. Once it is established what type of support a child requires, a collaborative approach is required in order that all professionals, the parents and the setting work together.

It will be necessary for all agencies involved in a child to come together and discuss strategies for moving forward and forming an action plan. The action plan involves: gathering information, undertaking an assessment, analysing the results and planning a way forward. Information must be continually shared throughout the whole process so all agencies have the same information.
The management, training and staffing of each agency although separate, are synchronised so that the sharing of information is thorough and accurate. One of the barriers to multia-gency working is that each agency uses its own language. This must be overcome in order that correct and accurate information is shared.
All agencies, settings and parents regularly review progress to ensure the initial assumptions on the way forward are still valid and the child is making progress.

Does that help?