Terms of Reference
Speech and Language Disorder Consultant
July 2015
Background
The island of St Helena is an internally self-governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom located in the South Atlantic approximately 4,000 miles from the UK. The Government comprises a Governor (who is appointed by the Crown) an Executive Council, which has the general control and direction of Government, and a Legislative Council. The Governor retains responsibility for internal security, external affairs,defence, the public service, finance and shipping.
The island’s population is around 4,500 and it has a typical small island economy with a high import dependency, a narrow economic base, a large public sector (around 790 staff), and significant outward labour migration. St Helena receives UK Government financial assistance to support recurrent and capital expenditure as part of their obligation to ensure that the reasonable needs of the population are met.
The overall vision of the St Helena Government (SHG) is
“Strengthened community and family life through vibrant economic growth, with opportunities for all to participate, within a framework of effective government and law.”
To support this vision there are three National Goals:
- A vibrant economy providing opportunities for all to participate
- Strong community and family life
- Effective management of the environment
The Island’s first ever airport is nearing completion with the first scheduled flight earmarked for late February 2016 pending certification and operational readiness. In March 2015, it was announced that Comair Limited had been appointed the provider of the air service. They will operate a scheduled weekly service between Johannesburg and St Helena Airport. This will significantly enhance St Helena’s economic prospects and have a dramatic impact on the island community.
SHG is embedding a change programme that will enable the Public Service to improve its delivery of the government’s developmental objectives.Achievement of the Goals and Strategic Objectives will require sound management and transformation of the public sector to make it a professional, modern, and flexible organisation able to initiate and respond to change. Central to this programme has been the re-structuring of Government functions and directorates. There are currently five directorates reporting to the Chief Secretary who is the head of the Service; Education, Health, Safeguarding, Environment & Natural Resources and Corporate Services. The Police Service reports to the Governor.
Education & Employment Directorate
St Helena is in a period of significant economic development, and there is a corresponding focus on improving education standards and outcomes to help prepare the island to meet the human capital need to underpin sustainable economic development. This translates to a renewed emphasis on improving teaching and learning and levels of attainment in schools.
There are currently four schools on the Island, one secondary school, Prince Andrew School and three Primary Schools, Harford, Pilling and St Pauls. In total approximately 350 pupils are in Primary education and 250 students in Secondary education.
Amongst the population are a small but significant group of young people and adults with speech and language disorder. In terms of schooling, these children and young people are catered for in the mainstream.
Providing adequate education for such children is a serious test for the islands educational resource.
Children with learning difficulties are assessed by the visiting education psychologist. There is no speech and language therapist on island. There is reason to believe that children with speech and language difficulties are not achieving their full learning and development potential. These children would benefit from a thorough assessment and the development of a clear step-wise learning plan which would take account of their needs. Local staff would benefit from basic training and on the job guidance and coaching.
The 2013 DAPM agreement provided short term TC support for a Speech and Language specialist to come to the island to provide specialist advice to the Education and Employment Directorate.
Key purpose
To conduct assessments and provide practical advice and support to key staff and family members, and advise on strategies to be put in place to assist children and young people with Speech and Language difficulties to cope better with their daily lives and maximise their learning and development potential and to improve educational attainment.
Requirements
The Director of Education and Employment is seeking support from an experienced Specialist in Speech and Language difficulties who is trained and experienced in assessing and supporting children and youngsters with a speech and language impairment.
Specific objectives
The expert will:
-Assess the speech and language therapy needs of children in all 4 schools on the island
-listen to the views and opinions of those staff (teachers, nurses, social workers, SHAPE staff/volunteers) who are working on a daily basis with children and young people with speech and language difficulties (CASE conferences could be organised if/as considered useful)
-take account of the views of carers, families and parents
-Provide diagnostic advice to teachers in schools on personal ,social and emotional learning and assist with the development of individual learning plans for children/youngsters requiring additional speech and language support based upon small steps to progress and optimise learning and development potential
-provide practical strategies, advice and guidance and assistance on building weekly programmes for individual children and young people
-Provide demonstration lessons in each of the three Primary schools
-Provide pointers as to which teaching and learning strategies might prove most beneficial.
-Run training sessions for teachers and teaching assistants in Speech and Language difficulties as well as for others working with and/or caring for children and young people with speech and language difficulties
-Run a workshop for parents in each of the three Primary schools (and parents of children attending creche, secondary school and or SHAPE)
-Work with early years providers to increase understanding of early language development to improve early detection of any speech and language impairment and enable early intervention when required
-Provide on the job training and coaching as agreed with the Directorate.
-6 weeks of Specialist Adviser time on island is required with up to 5 days work within a month, post-visit
Activities
Arrival and initial briefing from Director and Senior Officers
Visit to St Paul’s School for classroom observations and assessments
Visit to Pilling Primary School for classroom observations and assessments Visit to Harford Primary School for classroom observations and assessments
Parent training session and meeting with Inclusion Team
Visit to Secondary (SENCO) Prince Andrew School
Creche visits
Visit Ebony View, Barnview and SHAPE
Individual assessments of children/youngsters with speech & language difficulties
Training Days for front line workers (teachers, social workers, nursing staff)
Individual work with relevant staff as agreed by the Directorate
Hosting Parent Classes
Work with the Early Years teachers
Final debrief and Departure
Outputs
-Individual step-wise learning plans for children/young people with speech and language difficulties
-Improved knowledge and skills of teachers and teaching assistants to provide support and monitor the implementation of the learning plans
-Teachers and Teaching Assistants with greater levels of confidence in dealing with children with Speech and Language difficulties in an inclusive setting
-Higher level of understanding of Speech and Language difficulties and the strategies to overcome barriers to learning by the family members of the students
-Improved awareness and understanding of the special needs of children with speech and language difficulties amongst nurses and social workers and others working with / caring for children/ youngsters with Speech and Language difficulties
-A written report for the Director of Education and Employment, practical in nature, which staff can use to embed learning into daily practice.
Expected outcome over time:
-Improved levels of educational attainment for children with Speech and language difficulties and improved integration in society and workplace
Reporting
Reports both written and verbal will in the main focus be upon the individual needs of the children and young people who are the focus of this activity. A final report must be submitted to the Director of Education and Employment nearing the end of the visit.
Timing
6 week visit during early 2016