speech therapy group : policy document

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• The Speech and Language Therapy Group specific to children with Down's Syndrome is run in addition to the statutory provision provided by the Primary Care Trust.
  
  The Group was set-up in April 2000 and was funded through corporate funding and the Swindon Branch Down's Syndrome Association's own fundraising. The Swindon Branch Down's Syndrome Group achieved charitable status in April 2003 and is now the Swindon Down's Syndrome group.
  
  
• The aim of the Swindon Down's Syndrome Group's Speech and Language Therapy Group is to provide weekly speech and language therapy sessions for pre-school and school age children with Down's syndrome who live or are educated in the SN postcode area and meet the criteria in the "Rules of membership"- appendix no. 1.
  
  
• Membership of the Speech and Language Therapy Group is achieved by the following steps:
  • Parent/carer contacts the Swindon Down's Syndrome Group's Speech and Language Therapy Group's secretary for membership form and Rules of Membership - appendix no. 1 and Rules of Attendance - appendix no. 2. 
    
    
  • Parents/carers will have been members of the Swindon Down's Syndrome Group for 6 months before their child is added to the waiting list.
    
    
  • If the parent/carer agrees to adhere to the Rules of Membership - appendix no. 1 and Rules of Attendance - appendix no. 2, they then need to return the completed membership form to the Speech and Language Group secretary.
     
  • The membership form is then dated and forwarded to the Swindon Down's Syndrome Group's Speech and Language Therapist and the child's name is added to the waiting list.
     
  • The Speech and Language Therapist will then contact the parent/carer to arrange an initial visit and to discuss inclusion into a group when a suitable place becomes available.
     
  • "Rules of Membership" must be adhered to by all who attend the groups - appendix no. 1.
     
  • "Rules of Attendance" must be adhered to by all who attend the groups - appendix no.2.
    
    
• The Swindon Down's Syndrome Group's Speech and Language Therapy committee will meet with the Director of Speech and Language Therapy of the Swindon Primary Care Trust and the Speech and Language Therapy Group's Speech and Language Therapist once a term to discuss issues surrounding the running and funding of the Speech and Language Therapy Group.
  
  
• Written records are held on all children in the Speech and Language Therapy Group and on the waiting list. The access to these records are restricted to the Speech and Language Therapist and the responsibility for the safe storage of these records lies with the Speech and Language Therapist. All information is kept strictly confidential.
  
  
• Parents/carers will keep the Swindon Down's Syndrome Group and the Speech and Language Therapist informed, in writing,of any changes, e.g contact details, change of address or no longer requiring a place in the Group.
  
  
• The Swindon Down's Syndrome Group have Public Liability Insurance with the Sterling Insurance Company for £2,000,000.
  
  
• If you have a complaint or dispute please see attached "Complaints Procedure"- appendix no. 3. 

Date for review-January 2007