Northern Ireland Policy
Policy and campaigns in Northern Ireland
Information about our work in Northern Ireland
- See also the RCSLT Policy Twitter handle @rcsltpolicy.
RCSLT NI Manifesto
‘Communication at the heart of health and wellbeing’.
RCSLT NI are calling on politicians to work with us to improve outcomes for people in Northern Ireland with communication and swallowing difficulties and support the work of the speech and language therapy profession.
Our ‘high five’ manifesto asks were developed in consultation with members.
- RCSLT NI Manifesto High 5
- NI manifesto briefing paper health and social care workforce
- NI manifesto briefing papers children
- NI manifesto briefing paper young people
- NI manifesto briefing paper adults
- NI manifesto briefing paper communication disability
- RCSLT NI makes an impact upon NI Regional HSC equality and disability action plans
For additional information please contact RCSLT NI on 028 9044 6387 or contact us.
Voice Box is Northern Ireland’s national joke competition designed to raise awareness among children of the fun and importance of communication.
Voice Box 2017 was the most successful Voice Box Awards so far with more than 3,000 school pupils taking part. The live grand final was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast on 5 June 2017. All entries from the 2016 and 2017 are included in the Voice Box joke book.
For further information on the Northern Ireland Voice Box in March 2017, please contact us.
My Journey My Voice is a powerful photographs and stories exhibition designed to raise awareness about communication disability. It features the photographic portraits and audio recordings of individuals, who happen to have a communication disability, as they tell listeners about a favourite journey, in their own words.
Briefings
- RCSLT NI briefing to the Health Committee on SLT Workforce 27 February 2020
- RCSLT briefing to the Northern Ireland Affair Committee: Stroke services (January 2019)
- RCSLT briefing: NI Assembly Health Committee review of the impact of the AHP professions to community care (November 2016)
- RCSLT MLA briefing (March 2013)
Consultation responses
- RCSLT NI response to the PBNI Draft Corporate Plan 2020-23 (October 2019)
- RCSLT response to Reshaping Stroke Care consultation (August 2019)
- RCSLT response to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee inquiry into education funding (Sept 2018)
- RCSLT response to the Draft Strategy for Looked After Children (August 2018)
- RCSLT response to Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework 2018-2021
- Response to The Future Provision for Children in the Early Years with Special Educational Needs (SEN) (May 2018)
- Response to Regional Equality and Disability action plans (Nov 2017)
- Reshaping Stroke Services – Response Questionnaire (September 2017)
- Submission to the Northern Ireland Programme for Government Consultation (Jan 2017)
- Response to consultation on draft Special Educational Needs Regulations (May 2016)
- Submission to the Sign Language Framework, Department of Communities (July 2016)
- Submission to Improving Health within Criminal Justice consultation document (June 2016)
- Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland consultation questionnaire (Aug 2015)
- Submission from the RCSLT to the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on the Mental Capacity Bill (June 2015)
- ‘Supporting the best start in life’ Infant Mental Health Framework and Action Plan 2015-2018 Consultation questionnaire (May 2015)
2014
- Response to NI Draft Mental Capacity Bill (August 2014)
- RCSLT NI submission to The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Northern Ireland (July 2014)
- Response to Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Employment and Learning inquiry into post special educational need provision in education, employment and training for those with learning disabilities (March 2014)
2013
Campaigns and projects
Giving Voice – aims to ‘give voice’ to people with speech, language and communication needs, to ensure their needs and those of their carers and families, are met. We equip our members to demonstrate locally how speech and language therapy makes a difference to individuals and society, whilst RCSLT officers work to engage decision makers and the media at a national level.
- NI CEN Sure Start; The role and impact of SLT provision in Sure Start in Northern Ireland
- Children’s Services Share and Learn event 2019
Stroke
Proposed changes for N.I.
Northern Ireland
Care Standards Allows for the regulation of a range of health and social care services, and for the development of minimum standards for these services.
Education Training Inspectorate Promotes the dissemination of good and innovative practice identified across the education, training and youth sectors.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Provides guidance, advice, quality standards and information services for health, public health and social care.
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman Provides for an independent review of people’s complaints, and ensures that public services improve as a result of the complaints.
Patient and Client Council The independent voice for people using health and social care services.
Quality 2020 10 Year strategy designed to protect and improve quality in health and social care in Northern Ireland.
Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) Responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services.
‘Up to standard’ Guide to the Quality Standards for Health and Personal Social Services.
Who should I influence in N.I.?
External stakeholders in Northern Ireland you can seek to influence include:
- Local government departments
- NI Assembly Committees
- Elected representatives – MLAs
- Local Councils – Council officials/Councillors
- Department of Health Lead AHP Officer
- Health and Social Care Board Programme of Care Directors and Commissioners
- Public Health Agency Programme of Care and Allied Health Profession Directors
- Children and young people strategic commissioning programmes
- Children and Young People Care Services and policies
- Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership
- Schools
- Director of Education
- Local Youth Justice teams – Youth Justice Agency
Resources
Resources to support you in responding to any proposed changes to your service’s structures and priorities.
Nation specific resources
Contact
- Contact us
- Telephone: 02890 446385
- Postal address: Arthur House, 41 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GB.