AFASIC CYMRU INITIATIVES

Welsh Language Board

Welsh Language BoardThe Welsh Language Board is a statutory organisation, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government. It was established in December 1993 under the terms of the Welsh Language Act. Its main function is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language.

The Board's work includes: offering advice and information to central government and to the public; ensuring that public sector bodies treat the Welsh and English languages equally in their services; and other key work.

Further information about the Welsh Language Board

Commission calls in evidence on disability-related harassment in Britain

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating whether public bodies and public transport providers are fulfilling their legal obligations to prevent disabled people from being harassed. Councils, police forces, schools and other public bodies as well as bus, train companies and other public transport providers found to be failing in their duties could face enforcement action.

DHFI Press Release
DHRI Terms of Reference

Commissioning of Speech and Language Therapy Courses

The Minister for Health and Social Services agreed the proposed options regarding the provision of Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) courses in Wales.
Date of decision: 20 April 2010

Statement of information: Each year Welsh Assembly Government commission training for non-medical healthcare professions. The numbers commissioned are determined by the needs of NHS Trusts and LHBs and the priorities of NHS Wales. The professions include Speech and Language Therapists.

Commissioning numbers are based upon a workforce planning process led by the Workforce Development Unit (WDU) which is part of the National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare (NLIAH).

During 2009 workforce planning data were collected as part of the new workforce planning process. Key stakeholders, including Professional bodies and staff organisations who are members of a Stakeholder Board were provided opportunities to discuss and amend proposals based on WDU recommendations which had been informed from a number of sources of intelligence.

SALT courses are currently provided by one education provider only. The decision to contract with a second provider offering a graduate entry programme was agreed in 2006, although to date the programme has not been delivered.

This submission seeks the Minister’s agreement to the future commissioning arrangements for speech and language therapy courses.

Local Health Boards Reorganisation

Full details are available in the attached document.

Working together to tackle speech and language difficulties

Historically, extensive work was carried out by the Speech and Language Therapy Action Group (SALTAG), which culminated in the publication in June 2003 of the 'Working Together' document. This report made a number of recommendations regarding the delivery of speech and language therapy services.

The Welsh Assembly Government's strategy for the delivery of services for children and young people requiring input from speech and language therapy services across Wales was announced at Afasic Cymru’s inaugural conference in October 2004 by the former Ministers of Education and Health. The WAG strategy was to initiate joint working across education and health in the development and improvement of service provision for children and young people with speech, and language and communication difficulties.

Soon after our Conference, the Welsh Assembly Government invited bids from consortiums of Local Authorities, Local Health Boards (LHBs) and NHS Trusts to establish pilot projects across Wales that would explore approaches to the implementation of joint commissioning services for children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties. The speech, language and communication pilots commenced in April 2005, with four Phase 1 pilots. In 2006 and additional seven pilots joined Phase 2 of the pilot programme. A final pilot joined the programme in 2007 in Phase 3.

In October 2007, CRG Research Ltd. was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to conduct an evaluation of the speech, language and communication pilots. The evaluation can be downloaded here.