We permanently foster a sibling group of 3 children. The youngest was three and a half years old when they came to us 19 months ago and had very limited verbal skills due to his traumatic past and his Global Developmental Delay. We made contact with the Health Visitor Service and they were very good. We asked for a referral to the North Ayrshire Speech and Language Service and were told they had a very long waiting list and we would wait over a year for a service. Their recommendation was that we wait and see if his speech improved and if it didn’t, we should refer him then. We were not happy with this, as we desperately wanted him to receive help prior to starting Primary 1.
He spent an extra year in Nursery to give him a chance to catch up with his peers. We could see how frustrated and upset not being able to adequately communicate his needs was making him feel and we felt it was affecting his confidence generally and his ability to build relationships with the children and adults at nursery. It was our view he should go on the waiting list and if his speech improved - we could remove him. Eventually this was agreed and he went on the waiting list in February 2020.
We received an assessment call last summer (when we outlined how vulnerable he is and the impacts on him of his communication struggles and our desire to have some support prior to starting Primary 1) and have had absolutely no contact since. This is a very vulnerable, care experienced child who is desperately in need of support with his speech issues. He has now been on the waiting list for a service for 16 months. As his permanent Foster Parents we feel very disappointed and let down by The North Ayrshire Speech and Language Service. He will start school in August and we have heard nothing. His speech has improved somewhat - but how much better could his speech and confidence and relationships have been if he had received a Service at the right time? We feel sad he has not had the support he so deserves.
"He has not had the support he so deserves"
About: Ayrshire & Arran Community Services / Health Visiting - South Ayrshire Ayrshire & Arran Community Services Health Visiting - South Ayrshire Ayrshire & Arran Community Services / Speech and language therapy Ayrshire & Arran Community Services Speech and language therapy
Posted by Kenbren99 (as ),
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