Dear Lucy Todd

We acknowledge receipt of your email to Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS
FT:

Freedom of Information request - Speech and Language

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The hospital continues to see an unprecedented demand on our services and,
whilst we continue to recognise the importance of freedom of information
and the need for transparency within public bodies, care of our patients
and the safety of our staff takes precedent. 

It is likely that responses to some requests for information will be
delayed, we apologise for this position in advance, and will endeavour to
provide you with as much information as we can, as soon as we are able.

The Information Commissioners Office has recognised the current situation
in the NHS.

The reference number for your email is FOI23-9269.

Standard practice is to provide information in PDF format however
alternative formats will be available upon request. If you do require an
alternative format, please respond to this email with your preferred
format.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please reply
to this email leaving the subject line unchanged.

Yours sincerely,
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS FT

Dear Requester, 

I write in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
received by the Trust. 

In line with the Act the Trust confirms that it holds the information you
have requested as follows:

1) the total number of children under the age of 5 (Compulsory School Age)
on your waiting list for speech therapy (including all of those who are
yet to receive more than one individual Speech and Lanugage therapy
session/assessment)
We do not hold this information as a Trust.
 
2) what parents are required to do before receiving a block of speech
therapy sessions (attend a course, etc.)
 Parents are required to fill in a case history form and return it to
admin to opt in for an initial assessment.
After assessment the SLT will decide if the child requires a block of
therapy sessions or if a programme of activities will be most effective.
There are no requirements to attend courses.
We offer a 'more than words course' for children with social communication
needs but this is optional after the child has received 2-3 home visit
appointments. It is not a prerequisite or an alternative to face to face
to sessions.

3) what support you provide for children for whom an AAC device is deemed
appropriate
 We offer support for low and high tech AAC including Makaton sign
language, paper based 'core' boards, high tech communication aids,
switches.
All our SLTs are able to deliver support for low tech AAC and are trained
in basic Makaton and paper based AAC.
We have a B7 clinical lead who oversees the AAC pathway and trains staff
as well as keeping up to date with advances in this field and liaising
with the regional hub.
We also have a Makaton trainer within our team.
Children who require high tech aids are seen by our clinical lead who
liaises with the regional hub and arranges the assessment. Our lead then
supports the implementation of the device.
We have a specialist trained SLT assistant who will demonstrate activities
and follow up on our lead's advice. Targets and follow up visits are
provided as needed on an individual basis.
We also have a number of SLTs in the service who have experience in AAC
and can support children under our lead's guidance.

4) how many speech and language therapists (full time equivalent) and how
many young people under the age of 18 under your service
Number of SLTs is 19.0 wte (of which 3.6 wte are SLT
assistants/practitioners)
Number of children under the service is 3,153
 

We believe we have responded to this request in line with our
obligations.  However, if you are dissatisfied with the handling of your
request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review
requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of
the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: The NHS
Foundation Trust Secretary, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust, Calow, Chesterfield S44 5BL or via e-mail to
[Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust request email] 

Yours sincerely
FOI Administration
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust