A recent collaboration between one of Godfrey Care’s service teams and our specialist behavioural practitioners has been very successful in facilitating excellent communication with one of the people we support.

Godfrey Care recognises the importance of a Total Communication Environment as a critical part of our care model. Under the guidance and direction of our Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) team, we use Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods where required.

DW, who lives at our Station House service in Rolleston, has certainly benefited from that approach. The PBS team recommended the implementation of specific communication aids, enabling DW to express her emotions and helping the support team to build a better understanding of her emotional management.

The strategy has been very effective in helping DW to communicate with the Station House team. She has been using the method to indicate how she is feeling before engaging in planned activities. The service team have also used Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) symbols and personalised social stories to help DW focus on a specific activity or task, preventing her from feeling overwhelmed.

Andy Fairman, PBS Clinical Lead at Godfrey Care, said:

“We are delighted to see the progress that DW has achieved with the use of tailored methods of communication. The Station House team has seen a huge difference in the way she engages in activities. Godfrey Care works towards the principles of the 5 Good Communication Standards, set out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). In each service, we apply a Total Communication approach as a whole and work alongside speech and language therapists to embed the strategies advised for each individual we support. We accept all forms of communication and offer training to our colleagues to help them adapt their own communication methods and meet the needs of the people they are supporting.”