Herefordshire Paediatric AAC Service

Speech & Language Therapy Service, Benet Building, Ruckhall Lane, Belmont
Hereford
HR2 9RP
Tel: 01432 363 975
Contact: Saffron Hughes (Speech and Language Therapist)
Email: [email protected]

Service

Area covered
Herefordshire

Population served
School age 5-16 (5-19 in special schools).

Scale
Current High-Tech caseload: 6 active; 2 under assessment.

Services provided

  • Assessment
  • Trial loan
  • Provision of high-tech VOCAs
  • Ongoing support and monitoring
  • Training for school staff and parents

Staffing
Low-tech AAC support: Speech & Language Therapy Service; Access & Improvement Teams (Specialist teachers for physical and sensory needs, social communication & ASC, learning and behaviour difficulties); Kite Centre teams (including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, community nurses for children with learning difficulties, Psychology)

High Tech AAC team: 1 Specialist advisory teacher for PD & AAC; 1 Specialist S&LT (AAC); Paediatric OT and physiotherapy teams

Funded by
Herefordshire Council Children & Young People’s Directorate; Herefordshire NHS PCT

Permanent or project
Permanent

Referral process

  • Open referral to S&LT service (with parental consent)
  • S&LT service uses West Midlands AAC care pathway as required
  • Internal referral form in use to refer to high-tech AAC team