Speech and Language

Dear Lucy

Ref: FOISA request FIFENHSIR:5353 Child Speech & Language appointments

Thank you for your request made under the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002 (FOI(S)A). We received your request on 2024-06-27
10:24:00 with regards to:

Child Speech & Language appointments

We will respond to your request once we have collated the information you
have requested. This will be no later than 20 working days from the date
of this acknowledgement to your request.

If we fail to respond to your initial request, you may write to us and
request a review of our failure to respond at:
Information Governance and Security Team
eHealth Department
Lynebank Hospital
Halbeath Road
Dunfermline, KY11 8JH

[email address]

Alternatively you can raise your concern with the Scottish Information
Commissioner's Office at:
Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife KY16 9DS

http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/

Yours Sincerely,
NHS Fife FOI Team

Dear Ms Todd,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST NHS Fife:5353.

Thank you for your request made on 27/06/2024 under the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOI(S)A) for Child Speech and Language
appointments.

NHS Fife has completed our search for information held in relation to your
request and can provide the following response.

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 Language therapy
session/assessment)

There are 266 children under five years old on the Speech and Language
Therapy (SLT) waiting list.

2)   What parents are required to do before receiving a block of speech
therapy sessions (attend a course, etc.)

Parents are not required to do anything prior to a block of speech therapy
sessions, as we operate a needs-led, tiered and balanced system.   For
some children, a targeted solution (e.g., a parent course) may be
recommended, however, this is not a requirement before individual therapy.
Targeted support may be offered to provide family support, enhance the
communication environment or upskill the team around the child for
example. This is an evidenced based way to maximise the outcome with
minimal disruption to the child and family.

NHS Fife also signpost families to universal strategies via information
sessions, video clips and handouts.  These may be helpful while they wait
for more bespoke support.  There is, however, no requirement to access
these before individual therapy begins.

3)   What support you provide for children for whom an AAC device is
deemed appropriate

AAC support is provided in line with legislation regarding provision of
and support for communication equipment. 

All CYP teams have access to an AAC toolkit; these resources are used as
trial devices prior to referral to our specialist AAC Service, Fife AAC
Team (FaacT) for further in-depth assessment and long-term provision of
equipment. 

Intervention is delivered on a needs-led basis and provided via episodic
care with negotiation about who delivers the intervention (ie the local
SLT in consultation with FaacT or FaacT in consultation with the local
therapist).  Ongoing technical support for high-tech devices is provided
FaacT. 

4)   How many speech and language therapists (full time equivalent) and
how many young people under the age of 18 under your service?

NHS Fife currently have 32.9 WTE Speech and Language Therapists and 6.3
WTE Healthcare Support Workers.

There are 1,335 young people under the age of 18 currently within the SLT
service.

I hope this information is helpful to you. If, however, you are unhappy
with any aspect of how NHS Fife have dealt with your request you can ask
us to review the handling of your request. Please write to us specifying
the reasons you are seeking a review within 40 working days of the date of
this correspondence.

NHS Fife will undertake a review of our response, which will be led by a
senior staff member who is independent from the original response. If you
are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right
to make a formal complaint to the Office of the Scottish Information
Commissioner.

Kind Regards,

Kellyanne Tosh

The NHS Fife FOI Team

[1][email address]

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