The South Ayrshire Communication Friendly Environments (SACFE) Communities Team are currently working collaboratively with community settings within the South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to successfully develop Communication Friendly Environments in the community e.g. Primary Care, businesses, leisure, voluntary groups and the 3rd Sector.
Community settings are supported by the SACFE Communities Team to work towards and achieve five badges, starting with ‘Environment’ (see diagram below) which forms the ‘Communication Friendly Accreditation’:
What is the project’s goal?
The SACFE Communities Team work collaboratively with community settings within South Ayrshire HSCP to successfully support the communication skills of the entire South Ayrshire population and ensure that services are accessible for all through establishing effective Communication Friendly Environments, therefore enhancing life-long outcomes for all service users.
Establishing effective Communication Friendly Environments throughout our community settings will enable everyone to successfully support the communication skills and independence of the entire population to ensure that South Ayrshire services are accessible for all, resulting in improved attainment, inclusion, positive mental health and life-long outcomes.
Why get involved?
1.9 million children (1 in 5) are behind in speech and language skills (Speech and Language UK, 2023), with estimates predicting a 50% increase in the number of people with dementia over the next 20 years and the Parkinson’s population rising to around 15,000 (Scottish Government, 2023).
The increase in the number of children with speech, language and communication needs coupled with Scotland’s ageing population demonstrates the need to establish effective Communication Friendly Environments throughout our community settings to enable us to successfully support the communication skills and independence of the entire South Ayrshire population. Local businesses, community services and third sector partners have important roles in developing speech, language and communication skills through adjusting the environment to remove barriers and utilising supportive interaction styles to fulfil the communication potential of all, therefore enabling everyone to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
What does the project entail?
Community settings will work alongside and be fully supported by the SACFE Communities Team to achieve all five levels towards full Communication Friendly Environment accreditation. The whole process is completely free and settings will nominate a ‘Communication Champion’ to lead and embed the Communication Friendly Journey in their establishment. The project involves:
- The SACFE Communities team arranging an initial meeting with an establishment to explain the Communication Friendly Environment journey.
- Once registered, an official ‘launch’ session is then carried out with the Communication Champion with training packs provided.
- The SACFE Communities Team will conduct an initial baseline ‘walkround’ of the establishment with the Communication Champion to gauge required visuals as part of the ‘Environment’ badge. A joint action plan is set and the Communication Champion completes a list of required visuals for the SACFE Communities team to make and print.
- The SACFE Communities team then re-visits the establishment to provide the requested visuals and carries out an informal check-in with the Communication Champion to gauge readiness for the badge accreditation visit.
- A time is then arranged for the badge accreditation visit by the SACFE Communities Team with the badge awarded if successful.
- Once an establishment achieves their ‘Environment’ badge, they then commence ‘Supportive Communication Approaches.’
Communication Friendly Environments in the community should have:
- Areas signposted and labelled using words and symbols e.g. toilets, entrances/exits, storage, specific resources etc. This supports everyone in successfully navigating the environment and accessing what they need, therefore developing independence.
- Staff consistently wearing name badges with a staff photo board on display. This makes communication easier and more enjoyable for all.
- Use of symbols and pictures to aid understanding e.g. visual menus, communication boards, British Sign Language, Makaton etc. This ‘total communication approach’ ensures that understanding is supported and spoken language is reinforced through various methods. Settings will participate in a Makaton workshop as part of their Supportive Communication Approaches badge.
- Acceptance of non-verbal communication as well as verbal communication with staff having an awareness of effective use of non-verbal communication e.g. gestures/symbols.
- Staff using a range of language strategies to effectively support speech, language and communication skills through everyday interactions e.g. pausing for processing time, information given in manageable chunks and getting down to the individual’s physical level (especially children’s) when interacting with them. Settings will participate in a Communication Friendly Awareness workshop as part of their Interaction Styles badge.
- Staff supporting and promoting the use of the local SLT Helpline and virtual drop-in as appropriate e.g. information/communication board or SLT business cards.
Current in South Ayrshire there are over 40 community establishments on their Communication Friendly journey with over 20 settings accredited.
Communication boards are dotted around a variety of community settings throughout South Ayrshire.
Here is some feedback from our service users who have begun their communication friendly journey:
“I was able to use Makaton with a patient this week. I felt so confident introducing myself – I’m buzzing!”
– Staff Member
“Amy was amazing to us today. Our first visit for my son’s birthday and it’s definitely not the last. My son is non-verbal with SEN and the attention to detail from all the staff was amazing! Thank you for such kindness and a wonderful dining experience.”
– Parent (feedback from parent regarding impact of staff training at Tempura and the use of communication boards to support the child’s needs).
“Children are responding very well to the lanyard visuals. This is allowing them to communicate their needs more easily and parents have commented on the Communication Friendly notice board, saying it is helping with smooth transitions between home and playgroup”
– Staff Member (feedback from Domino Playgroup, Prestwick as a result of their staff training and use of visuals.)
“My son Jacob is 7 with Autism and ADHD. We attend multiple appointments in different settings and with various different medical professionals. He never coped well with these appointments previously. We attended A&E recently and we asked for the social stories book and a stop card, the difference in Jacob was amazing. He knew exactly what was going to happen and felt in control using his stop card. This meant for a smoother time at the hospital. It also meant that Jacob was well prepared and happier after. Jacob even said himself that it helped him”
– Parent (feedback from parent regarding impact of A&E staff training and the use of communication boards to support the child’s needs).
How can a community setting get involved?
Call 07483157590 or email: jordann.ford@aapct.scot.nhs.uk or claire.morrison3@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
We will arrange an informal discussion at a time that suits yourselves to explain more about what the Communication Friendly journey involves.