Services Available

Feeding and Swallowing

Support for individuals with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties, including those requiring non-oral or enteral feeding (e.g. gastrostomy).

Asessment and intervention is evidence-based and in line with the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) framework.

Multidisciplinary collaboration with other health professionals and settings including nurseries, schools and care settings and support for around onward referrals, where appropriate, including instrumental swallowing assessments such as Videofluoroscopy Swallow Study (VFSS).

You may need support with:

Coughing or choking when eating or drinking
Difficulty managing certain food textures or liquid consistencies
Long, effortful mealtimes
Food pocketing/ holding food in the mouth
Avoiding particular foods/ textures, or having a very limited range of foods
Nutrition or hydration being impacted by eating/ drinking challenges
Unexplained respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing when eating/ drinking, chronic cough, symptoms of wheeze or recurrent chest infections

Communication

Support for children and young people aged 0-18 with a range of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), associated with neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, learning disability, social communication differences and neurodivergence, including specific learning difficulties, ADHD or attention related difficulties and Autism.

You may need support with:

Early language development (including babbling, gestures, first words), attention and play skills
Language difficulties
Dysfluency or stammering
Reluctance to speak in certain situations
Difficulty with interaction skills or social communication
Speech sound difficulties (difficulty being understood)
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
Bilingual or multilingual development, including learning English as a second language

Working with Professionals

Resources, education and training for nurseries, schools, colleges and adult care settings, to ensure joined-up care and appropriate support available for indivduals with communication needs and feeding/ swallowing difficulties.

You may need support with:

Consultative support — combining bespoke training, advice and resources for staff in your nursery, school, or adult care setting
Guidance on supporting the environment and daily routines to meet the needs of individuals with communication or swallowing difficulties.
Capacity assessment for young people and adults with communication or swallowing needs, to support their advocacy and decision making
Advice on when and how to refer for specialist assessment
Joined-up working between professionals/ settings and families/ carers