Speech and Language Therapy

What do we do?

 

 

We provide evidence-based support to children (0-19) with a range of specific speech, language and communication difficulties and those with difficulties swallowing, eating and drinking.

 

 

Waiting times

There is a target wait time of 18 weeks for an initial assessment for children with communication needs and eating and drinking difficulties. This is being achieved for many children, however longer waits are being experienced in some teams.

There is a small group of children, whose needs pose a risk to their health, who are identified at referral and seen more quickly.

 

 

Therapy

In Birmingham, we are moving towards a new way of working called ‘The Balanced System® framework’ from September 2023. This involves everyone working together to support children’s speech, language, and communication skills. This means we will work closely with families and other partners (e.g. health visitors, nursery and school staff).

If your child is currently on a waiting list, you will be contacted by us regarding next steps. Early years (pre-school) children who live in Birmingham will receive an appointment letter for a booked speech and language therapy (SLT) drop-in session, which will be held within your local area. All other pre-school children will be sent an appointment at a local Health Centre. During this appointment, you will meet with an SLT who will look at your child’s communication skills and discuss how to best support your child.

If your child attends a Birmingham Local Authority school, the school’s link Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) will work with school staff to support children within the school. In the autumn term, your child’s communication needs will be discussed with the school’s SENCo, to think about how support is best delivered, e.g. training / advice to staff, assessment / observation, 1:1 intervention. The link SLT will liaise with you as these discussions occur and advise how you can support your child at home also. All other school-age children will be sent an appointment at a local Health Centre. During this appointment, you will meet with an SLT who will look at your child’s communication skills and discuss how to best support your child.

 

Advice Line

• Are you the parent/carer of a child or young person with speech, language or communication needs and/or eating, drinking and swallowing concerns?
• Are you a professional or member of school staff/children’s workforce involved with supporting children and young people with speech language communication needs and/or eating and drinking concerns?

 

If so, you can contact the speech and language therapy team for advice, strategies and support.

 

The phone line is open 24 hours a day and a short message can be left. Qualified speech and language therapists are available to respond to messages on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 4pm on:

0121 466 6231

 

They will be able to provide advice, information and resources.

 

The child/ young person you are calling about must be:

• aged 0-18 years (or up to 19 only if in full-time special school education)
• registered with a Birmingham GP or attending a Birmingham School.

 

 

BCHC App Library

Our BCHC App Library is a collection of apps we recommend to help with your health and wellbeing, or to help you / your relatives and friends to manage their health condition.