Frequently Asked Questions

BCHC Plus Speech and Language Therapy Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

How does BCHC Plus differ from the core service?

The core service is provided through local health commissioning and is accessed through a referral system to meet the communication needs of children and young people who meet the criteria agreed with commissioners.

 

BCHC Plus is supplementary to the core service, and is most often purchased by schools and other settings to support the learning needs and achievement of children they identify who can benefit from speech and language therapy support and who do not meet the core service criteria.

 

BCHC Plus does not replace the core service, but extends speech and language therapy support to a larger group of children. BCHC Plus SLTs will also help to identify children likely to meet the core service criteria.

 

BCHC Plus operates within your school or nursery; a familiar setting for children and parents. The core service is usually delivered in a clinic setting, although school and home visits are also carried out.

 

The core service provides specialist, evidence-based interventions for those children receiving treatment. BCHC Plus can also carry out targeted and universal work in your setting, working towards objectives agreed with school staff.

 

 

Who provides the service?

Services are provided by qualified NHS Speech and Language Therapists employed by BCHC (Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust). Speech and Language Therapists are often referred to as SLTs or SaLTs.

 

 

How much time will our SLT spend at our school?

The needs of every school are different and we will agree a solution to meet your desired outcomes and your budget.

 

 

How do I know it will be a high quality service?

All our therapists are fully qualified and registered to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Health and Care Professions Council. Feedback from our schools.

 

Our therapists have experience in working with schools, families, and other professionals. They are experienced in working collaboratively in the school environment and skilled in delivering evidence-based interventions. They are part of BCHC’s NHS speech and language therapy team and have strong links with the core service.

 

 

Why should I choose Speech and Language Therapy from BCHC Plus?

Our SLTs are all members of the local NHS Speech and Language Therapy Team, which means that:

• Our SLTs hold the appropriate professional qualifications to practise as Speech and Language Therapists.
• We provide clinical governance and ensure they receive regular clinical supervision and that their professional registration is maintained.
• Our SLTs are compliant with NHS Trust mandatory training.
• Our SLTs have access to internal and external training opportunities to ensure they are skilled in supporting their individual caseloads.
• All our SLTs hold clearance through the Disclosing and Barring Service (DBS – previously CRB).
• Our SLTs have access to safeguarding supervision and training, as well as health & well-being support.

 
We can offer a range of options to support Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) within your school. We will agree needs and objectives with your team when your service commences and review this regularly to ensure that results and outcomes are specific and appropriate. We aim to provide a balance of support at universal, targeted and specialist levels.

 

 

Will the BCHC Plus SLT provide reports and targets?

We recognise that every child and their situation is unique. Your SLT will discuss and agree specific needs and objectives with you and provide appropriate reports as evidence of progress. The SLT can also provide reports to feed into the statutory assessment process for Education and Healthcare Plans (EHCPs).

 

 

How long do I have to commit to the service for?

Service agreements are for a minimum of 12 months and at the end of this time will continue as a rolling programme unless the needs of the school change.

 

 

Can I purchase the services through my schools consortium or cluster?

Schools can purchase BCHC Plus speech and language therapy service either individually or via a cluster or consortium, for example two days per week split between four schools. We work on this basis with a number of schools.

 

 

How much does it cost?

Service charges depend on the specific needs in individual schools, the amount of time required, and also on the budget available. Please contact the BCHC Plus team to arrange an initial consultation (free of charge) to discuss the specific needs in your setting and obtain a quotation.