The Balanced System ® and Kent wide SLCN project
Supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs in Kent: implementing the Balanced System®
Kent County Council (KCC) and NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) are working together to transform support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) within the Kent County Council area. The initiative is underpinned by use of the Balanced System®, an outcomes-based framework and delivery model for integrated services, created by Marie Gascoigne and available through Better Communication CIC.
Find more information on the Balanced System® website
Outcomes
KCC and NHS Kent and Medway ICB are working with Better Communication CIC towards the following outcomes:
- A needs-led service for speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) with equitable outcomes at the core
- Families who are confident in the system to support them and their children and young people
- SLCN being seen on a continuum with all language and communication, with everyone in the system understanding their contribution to the overall outcomes
- Defined measures of impact at individual, cohort and county wide level.
Please see our plan on a page for an overview of the project.
Scheme for Schools and Settings
KCC and Kent and Medway ICB are funding licences for up to 40 schools and settings who want to develop their SLCN provision.
There are two categories for places on this project:
- Schools who have implemented the Balanced System® approach and would like to build on their existing good practice to achieve Centre of Excellence status.
- Schools and settings new to the Balanced System® who would like to work towards accreditation.
The scheme typically takes 12-18 months and includes local mentor support, access to local networks and communities of practice as well as the opportunity to gain national recognition through the Balanced System® accreditation. The Balanced System Schools and Settings® takes a strategic approach to understanding need, mapping existing provision and gaps, and supporting decision making to enhance provision. Better Communication CIC has developed the accredited award scheme with partners NAPLIC and Afasic
For more information about the Balanced System Schools and Settings® visit What is it?: The Balanced System
As of September 2022, all licences have been allocated to schools and settings in Kent. However, for any interested school/setting, we are able to facilitate a meeting with your local speech and language therapist and other communication specialists who support your school/setting. Using some free tools available from Better Communication CIC we can support you to understand and map your current provision and identify areas for development, leading to a shared action plan for the setting.
Kent Wide SLCN Project update
For updates and to get involved, visit the Balanced System® Kent page
Contact Details
Email: SENTherapies@kent.gov.uk
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