Lyn Clarke, Andrea Griffiths, Caroline Barnes-Tee, Rob Grayson, Jean Bean, Julie Williams, Sue Perutz, Dianne Whyte, Katie Curnin, Amy Wilson
Documents discussed:
- Quality standards outcomes evidence from Regional heads of Sensory Services
- Fit to Learn
- Wakefield CALL - draft assessment framework
- Leeds SNAP hydrotherapy risk assessment
- Bradford draft Support Service
- York - Management of Continence Guidance
- York - Pupil Voice templates from TAG learning 'Comic life'
Discussion
1. Moving and Handling training
There are a number of training differences between LAs. Durham are now employing an OT to do all their M&H assessments. Darlington use Andrea's day a week for PN. Wakefield will have two trainers by January 2010 (one being the education OT). York had difficulties in the past but the situation is manageable. Bradford use somebody employed by the council. Most LAs use Centaur Training but North Yorkshire will be using LPS. York have a M&H policy and guidelines
- Caroline to email details of LPS for distribution
- Sue to email document for distribution
2. Leeds SNAP Hydrotherapy RA
This is available as a download from the SNAP site and includes communication problems. Wakefield are updating their swimming RA and will include communication. The form has been amended to allow more tick boxes to speed up the paperwork.
- Katie to provide copy for March 2010 meeting
Andrea described the Astor Bannerman changing plinth which will go down to 20cms and can be used with a wedge and mat to allow independent access to the swimming pool for a child who can bottom shuffle. It will support weights up to 21 stone and is suitable for a chlorine environment.
3. Fit to Learn - movement programme for Primary age children
Eileen Warburton has arranged to publish this before her retirement in December 2009. The publication has gone for professional printing and will be a ring bound folder costing approximately £12:50. The Physiotherapists involved are working on a version for the under 5s to be called 'Movement Matters' and a senior version to go on in to secondary schools.
3. Paediatric Therapy files
Dianne Whyte has been allocated the job of publishing the therapy files in the same way before her retirement at Easter 2010! Andrea has used the illustrations from the Mo-lift site to personalise her RA with the fold able hoist.
4. Liaison with Early years services and the transfer of Health information.
This seems to be a problem in many LAs which is usually solved by informal contact between professionals working in the same building rather than through formal consultation.
- Wakefield are alerted through CDT meetings and the CALL project
- Bradford hold monthly allocation meetings with their Pre 5 service
- Darlington hold termly meetings with the therapists where the Support Service is alerted to new cases.
5. Guidance on CRB checks and the new OFSTED guidance
This led to a lot of discussion from those of us obliged to show the document, those who provide a CRB number verified by phone call to those who did not realise there was a problem.
6. Continence care guidance
York have a draft policy document for continence guidance. Invasive and personal care is documented in an individuals health care plan as there had been problems with the term 'intimate' care. the continence nurse was involved in the production of the York document. Wakefield have a policy, guidance and protocol for intimate care - they will now think about changing the title as it has been produced by education for schools.
- Sue to forward the document for circulation to the group.
- Lyn to circulate the Wakefield documents
7. Building adaptations
A discussion ranged over the use of two sinks in an adapted toilet, turning circles for wheelchairs, PFI school designs, lift designs and the disposal of medical waste and soiled nappies.
8. Pupil Voice and Comic Life
Sue has used this programme from TAG learning to produce a photo document to give the child's views. The software is £11 and allows a bank of photos to be imported in to a template and speech bubbles to be added to give views. She had used it to great affect with a child with mobility issues who wears a Lycra body suit to show how difficult it was for him to manage the stairs in his school. It would also be very useful for transition visits.
9. Quality Standards
The document was circulated.
10. Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning WRAML - a talk by Shelley Williams OT
Shelley demonstrated the WRAML test which most of us found very challenging. She described how it produced a standardised score for the different aspects of memory and how useful it had been in school s to demonstrate processing difficulties and memory problems with students with good recall but poor comprehension. She had been able show what language/questioning skills could be used to prompt memory. The test is £500, should be administered by an OT and takes 90 minutes to complete. The scoring takes hours!
11. Detailed assessment of the speed of hand writing - DASH
This is an easy assessment giving a standardised score suitable for exam consideration evidence. It costs about £100 and takes 30 minutes to complete. It should be administered by a teacher and the evidence collected has been used to persuade schools that ICT is a more effective method of recording.
12. Bradford's Physical Difficulties Service draft document
Julie asked members to comment on the draft document and various suggestions were made. Sue said that York had put a lot of work in to their leaflets and to promoting the service. She is happy to share these with Julie.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
- On line training - Wakefield
- Symbol Project - York
- Swimming Risk Assessment up date - Wakefield
- Inclusive PE - Wakefield
A suggestion has been made to look at switches and for the June 18 2010 meeting to be held at Featherstone Resource base
Lyn Clarke 06.11.09 Wakefield SENSS
