Introducing WAIT-UP SLT

Waiting and Access In Therapy - Understanding Perspectives in Speech and Language Therapy (WAIT-UP SLT) is a multi-stage research project that aims to explore perspectives and experiences of waiting in children's speech and language therapy services in England.

Whilst speech and language therapy waiting lists and times have long been a source of concern, there has been limited attention paid to this issue specifically within academic and published research. This project aims to address this gap by exploring the perspectives and experiences of:

Individuals working within speech and language therapy teams (including speech and language therapists, speech and language therapy assistants, managers and services leads and administrative and clerical staff
Parents and caregivers
Children and young people

Each phase will be designed in collaboration with advisory groups to ensure that the research is relevant, fit for purpose and as accessible as possible.

It is hoped that through the research we will be able to:

Better understand within-group and cross-group experiences of children and young people, parents and caregivers and speech and language therapy services
Identify aspects of good practice
Identify issues of concern
Suggest potential improvements that could be made to services

Findings will be shared as widely as possible to maximise the likelihood of positive influence and change. Key mechanisms for sharing findings are expected to include:

Research papers in academic journals
Academic and professional conferences
Community and charity forums and events
Charity websites

Updates about the research project, related activities and opportunities to get involved will be shared via this blog and the WAIT UP X account. Please bookmark and share with anyone who you think might be interested and if you have any questions, or would like to know more, please get in touch.

Comments

How expert voices will shape WAIT-UP SLT: A look at our advisory groups

Research should be designed and carried out in partnership with the communities that it seeks to represent. WAIT-UP SLT therefore adopts a participatory research approach, centring the value of genuine and meaningful participation and direct collaboration with those affected by the issue under consideration (Vaughn and Jacquez, 2020); in this instance: 1. children and young people 2. parents and caregivers 3. individuals working within speech and language therapy teams . A key element of the participatory research approach within WAIT-UP SLT is the recruitment of advisory groups who will act as partners, inputting into the design, delivery, evaluation and dissemination of the project. What does being an advisory group member involve? You would be asked to attend online meetings with me and other advisory group members to discuss how the research should be designed, carried out, evaluated and shared. The meetings would take place over Microsoft Teams ...

Waiting Lists Are Falling - But Not for Children Who Need Speech and Language Therapy

Today the Government has been celebrating significant reduction in waiting lists, with ' waiting lists in 20 areas falling three times faster than the national average '. But behind the headlines lies an uncomfortable question: Who is being counted? And who is being left out? The 'Further Faster 20' programme sits within the Government's elective reform plan which ' covers a broad range of planned, non-emergency services including tests, scans, outpatient appointments, surgery and cancer treatment '. Siva Anandaciva, Director of Policy, Events and Partnerships at The King's Fund has said : "It is a good thing that waiting lists in parts of England are coming down. But the reality check is that the overall hospital waiting list in England stood at 7.5 million last year and has only fractionally fallen to 7.4 million despite a full year of funding, energy and focus from the government and NHS. While progress is happening, it is slow going and the go...

What to do if you are unhappy with the wait for children's speech and language therapy (SLT)

In the last blog post, I talked about what to do whilst waiting for speech and language therapy for your child . I hope that the recommended strategies and supports will be useful but you may feel that they are an inadequate replacement for specialist speech and language therapy, personalised to your child. You’re not alone. In England, long waits for community health services - including speech and language therapy - are an ongoing source of concern for parents and professionals alike. So, here is a guide to some steps you can take if you’re unhappy about the wait: how to advocate for your child, where to go for support, and how to raise your voice to push for change. 1. Start by Understanding the System You’re Navigating Children’s SLT in England is usually delivered by local NHS community health trusts, commissioned by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Waiting times vary hugely by area and are affected by: Numbers of referrals Vacancies and/or posts not being replaced once therapi...

Waiting and Access in Therapy - Understanding Perspectives in SLT (#WaitUpSLT)

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