Vision
The Balanced System® in Kent for speech, language and communication needs
Kent County Council (KCC) and NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) have committed to improving 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
The vision
KCC and NHS Kent and Medway ICB are working with Better Communication CIC to achieve:
- 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 countywide level.
See the original plan on a page for an overview of the project.
Whole system approach
A ‘whole system’ approach means that everybody involved with children and young people has a role to play in supporting speech, language and communication. This includes parents, midwives, health visiting staff, early years settings, family hubs, schools, colleges, specialist teaching services, as well as speech and language therapy services.
15 High Level Outcomes
As a whole system in Kent, we are working to meet 15 Balanced System® outcomes which are arranged into five strands and three levels.