Hello Communication Charter
In the national year of communication, the Hello campaign wants every local
authority and their health partners in England to make a clear commitment to
improve services for children with speech, language and communication needs
and their families.
To help local authorities make this commitment we have developed a
Communication Charter.
The Communication Charter is a set of commitments that local authorities sign
to show that children and young people with speech, language and
communication needs are a priority in their area. They are signed by the Lead
Member for Children’s Services – because these people set strategy and have
a responsibility to engage with children and families in their area.
We have created this charter because we know that services for children and
young people with speech, language and communication needs are a postcode
lottery.
We hope this charter will help children and young people with speech, language
and communication needs and their families to be able to hold these local
bodies to account on the services they provide. We are calling on everyone to
lobby their Local Authority to sign up to this Communication Charter during the
National Year.
Hello Communication Charter
By April 2012 we will ensure that in our local area…
1. Our local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) includes children and
young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN); as a
result we know how many children and young people with SLCN live in our
area, and what their needs are.
2. On the basis of this knowledge and together with our health partners (GPs,
PCTs or through our Health and Wellbeing Board), we are commissioning a
comprehensive range of services for children and young people with SLCN.
3. Commissioning of services for children and young people with SLCN is
addressed in documents such as Children and Young People’s Plans
4. Our workforce development strategy includes a commitment to ensure that all
those who work with children and young people have at least a basic
knowledge of SLCN.
5. We track the progress of children and young people with SLCN, to help us
evaluate the effectiveness of our provision.
6. We know how many service providers for SLCN there are in our area and are
monitoring and evaluating their performance. We are also enabling and
encouraging users to judge the effectiveness of their service provision and
offer clearly signposted routes into the Local Authority where users wish to
comment upon the services provided to them or their children.
7. Families are provided with information about universal communication
development, provided with timely support and advice and further signposting
for parents of children and young people with SLCN.
8. Schools and settings are offered specific guidance on universal
communication development and guidance on becoming communication
supportive
9. We are aiming for all children and young people with SLCN in our area to get
accurate and timely information and advice on the full range of services
available to them and their families.
10. Together with our health partners, we are commissioning comprehensive
specialist services for children and young people with severe and complex
SLCN, including those who use augmentative and alternative communication
(signs, symbols and communication aids).
Signed
Lead Member for Children’s Services (or equivalent)
Name of Local Authority