1 December 2009
Who will speak up for children in the justice pathway?
At least 60% of children in contact with youth justice services in England have communication difficulties which affect the way they interact with those services.
This is the shocking message of the new Children’s Communication Coalition, to be launched at Westminster tomorrow (2 December 2009).
An alliance of national organisations, experts and service users, the Coalition will speak out for all children with communication disability within the justice pathway.
Former Chief Inspector of Prisons Lord Ramsbotham will chair the launch, which will include a video presentation from Rampton High Security Hospital on the service user view of speech and language therapy.
“Communication is the key life skill, the means by which we meet our needs, form relationships and access education, employment and the rest of society,” says Jane Mackenzie, England Policy Officer at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and coalition chair.
“Research shows that the level of speech and language development in children as young as two years of age is a powerful predictor of future achievement, and that a high number of children with communication difficulties are wrongly labelled as having behavioural problems.
“Unless we intervene early to identify children with communication difficulties and provide them with the support they need, the cost to the child and to society is vast.”
The coalition calls on Government to:
- Introduce holistic communication screening for all pre-school children in order to identify vulnerable children early on and provide the support they need.
- Put in place a communication screening process for children as they enter the justice pathway to identify vulnerable children at the earliest point.
- Adopt the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ model of service delivery of speech and language therapy services within the justice pathway.
Notes to editors
The Children’s Communication Coalition is an alliance between the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Association of Youth Offending Team Managers, the Prison Reform Trust, the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, experts in the field of communication and justice, and service users.
The launch takes place on Wednesday 2 December 2009 at the House of Commons from 12.30pm to 3pm.
To attend the launch or for more information contact RCSLT Communications Manager Steven Harulow, tel: 020 7378 3004.
Contact RCSLT England Policy Officer Jane Mackenzie via her mobile: 07973 702 772.
The RCSLT is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has over 13,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct.
References:
Bryan K, Freer J and Furlong C. Language and communication difficulties in juvenile offenders. IJDLC, 2007. 42; 505-520.
Read the BBC online article Communication skills 'cut re-offending'