Coming Soon...'The Box: What's it like to be inside?'
Help open The Box and improve the life chances of vulnerable people
A shocking 70 per cent of young offenders have speech, language and communication needs that are often undetected and can contribute to antisocial behaviour, exclusion and in many cases, a custodial sentence.
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is taking action to help those working with vulnerable people to spot this hidden disability to improve their life chances as well as break the cycle of re-offending for those in custody.
The RCSLT is launching The Box – What’s it like to be inside?, a free e-learning tool which brings together the expertise of speech and language therapists working across the country in the justice sector.
Available for all professionals who come into contact with vulnerable people –both witnesses and offenders– it helps develop an understanding of communication difficulties. The online tool is designed to help spot warning signs, reduce aggressive behaviour and increase productivity by enabling professionals to make more of an impact.
Kamini Gadhok, chief executive of RCSLT says:
“We know that a staggering 70 per cent of young offenders have problems with talking, understanding and listening but, alarmingly, these difficulties are not always obvious and it can be very easy to miss the warning signs.
“This is where the cycle begins. People around these vulnerable individuals mistake their difficulties for behavioral problems - or just not wanting to engage - and begin to give up on them. This can result in frustration and often manifests as challenging behaviour
“Working in the justice sector can be challenging and not being equipped to identify and support those with communication needs makes it even more difficult. Using speech, language and communication expertise can help professionals to adopt simple techniques into their daily working life to make their job easier and safer. ”
The e-learning is now available to trial, and we are looking for services to pilot the course. If your service would be interested in participating, or if you would like to register your interest for the face to face training please email thebox@rcslt.org.
The Box Trailer
About Giving Voice
Speech and language therapists work with a huge variety of people, from young children with learning difficulties, to older people recovering from stroke and other brain injuries. They aim to help give them ‘voice’ by improving their communication abilities and addressing their swallowing, eating and drinking difficulties. The Giving Voice campaign will highlight the benefits of speech and language therapy by telling the stories of those who have benefited from treatment and by encouraging people to communicate how therapy has benefited their lives. For more information visit: www.givingvoiceuk.org
About the RCSLT
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has more than 15,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct. The RCSLT provides an information service and careers guidance about speech and language therapy.