SALT assessment results ...we won't get a copy!!

[mysonben]

Is this standard procedure? I'm a bit by this.

DS goes to SAL unit twice a week since november.
Today we had a home visit from one of them, we discussed various points , how he settled in, his strong points and his weak ones, what is been done to help him along... all good !!

They have finished their full SAL assesmnent and she spoke to us about their findings, DS has unequal delays, he is most delayed with his understanding of verbal language where he has the level of a 2 y old and he is 4.3. But when visual prompts are used his understanding is augmented to level of a 3 y old.
The rest like speech sounds, fluency, use of correct syntax are delayed between 12 m and 18 months.

They have set some specific targets from the results of the assesment, and they'll go through these with us shortly when we get our copy.
But when i asked if we would get a copy of the actual results of the assesment we were told 'no'!! although at resquest we are allowed to see the document.
We are not allowed to have a copy, it is NHS SALT policy.

and ....why can't we have a copy? it is our child after all, seems weird.
Anyone knows if that's really standard policy or is there any obscure reason behind it?? usually we get to have a report about other assessments or observations.

Thanks.

just hazarding a guess- but wonder if the assessment is done on a pre-printed checklist type proforma, and they don't want parents to "teach to the test" as it were if they know details of how the assessment is carried out?

If you really want a copy they must give you one. Anything on your child's file should be accessible to you unless it relates to child protection.

Starlight had thsi problem. You'd need to do what she did and demand it under DPA / FOI.

I see what you mean. I'm unsure, we were told early january that they were doing some formal assesments of his speech and language, which would help to set specific tailored targets to work on.

Sorry Wetaugust, cross posted. Maybe starlight can shed some light on what she did....don't know what DPA/FOI are. i'm not too good with paerwork, documents , procedures all that kind of stuff.

DPA= Data Protection Act and FOI = Freedom of Information Act. These are the laws that give you access to your/your child's medical records and other official files unless there are exceptional circumstances.

I know when DS had his very first SAL assesment at age 2, we did get a copy of the report they wrote about it. It has in big bold letters 'NOT TO BE USED FOR STATMENTING PURPOSE' at the top. Don't quite agree with this but it's clear.
The reason why they won't give us a copy of the noew one is nebulous...policy!!!

Thanks TC for info.

It has in big bold letters 'NOT TO BE USED FOR STATMENTING PURPOSE' at the top.

Ignore the caveat. If it's in 'your' domain you're entitled to use it anywhere and everywhere you see fit as evidence of your child's disabilities.

The reason they put that is because they (NHS) are terrified of the LEA askig them to contribute towards funding of special educatonal needs.

If the LEA see the NHS report they could consider that the child's needs are health-related so NHS would be asked to contribute - juat as scoial services could also be asked if the LEA thought the child's needs arose from social disadvangtage.

You can then get what they call tripartite funding of SENs where LEA, SS and NHS all contribute.

But hey! as we always say down here - funding is their problem - so feel free to use the report whenever you want.

You have the right to see your child's SALT file and these assessments and notes on them will be in the file.This is your legal right and is specified quite clearly in SLT professional guidanbce handbook (Communicating Quality 3).

Write to the manager, requesting access to the fiel.You won't be allowed to take it hom,e but you are free to come into the dept. look it over in your own time and photocpoy anything in it.

Had the excuse given to me years ago from SLT who was administering tests on my child that i was not allowed to 'see' the test being carried out as i might let other parents know how it works, what was involved, etc and that i would TELL THEM, giving their kids an unfair advantage.

so very funny. Of course, i told them that was ridiculous and I sat in on the tests and i got copies of results as well.

dont fall for their ridiculous excuses. I have every test/document/assessment on my child, and it starts with asking and not taking no for an answer.

Thanks . Yes we were told that we can indeed come to the office and look at the document, but they won't give us a copy, the only thing they said we'll get a copy of is the targets set for DS according to assessment results.

I will raise the issue again with the other salt on wednesday. My only reasons for wanting it is: 1) i like to keep copies of every report or letter concerning DS. 2) we have decided to apply for statment and these results clearly indicate that DS will need extra support at school so are useful to have.

'dont fall for their ridiculous excuses. I have every test/document/assessment on my child, and it starts with asking and not taking no for an answer.'

I'd agree with this.
Patently nuts to accept this.
Write to SALT manager (and cc Chief Exec.) saying you want copies if need be.

That shifts things!

Obviously Moondog knows aboutt the SLT stuff but I know somePaedswho say they can'tallowtests out of their sight as the tests themselves are not allowed to be seen (on the MA we got to see one but it was collected back in sharpish). Something they agree with he tests designers apaprently, both to guarantee validity and tosafeguard the wads that come with a popular test design.

Could it be that same belief getting into SLT?

Never heard it myself.

I think it's a case of many health professionals not accepting that parents have a view and an opinion.

Well said.
Bloody well said FD!

I agree FD,indeed we alwys get ds3'sincluded in his reports.

I know we weren't allowed ADOS though,and that is one that SLT adminsiters here (however we have a specilaist ASD SLT who is highly trained at tertiary level..... don't be jealous people,i've only ever seen her on a lectern myself,n ever with the boys)

Thanks for replies. It appears everyone think and believe the same about this issue. So i will be asking again tomorow first to view the document as we were told we could do that , then ask for a copy of the actual results it is what interest me , i don't care to know the ins and outs of the actual tests they did to obtain these results.
If my request is turned down i will try the 'we're trying to understand the problems DS has with language in order to help him as best we can' tactic.
Let's hope we don't go down the data protection request route...i'm not one for dispute i'm far too shy

Cheers anyway.

"...i'm not one for dispute i'm far too shy
"

I think we all were once - but dealing with stupid people and their stupid, illegal, self-imposed and unnecessary "rules" will harden you.

No one likes to complain / make a fuss / upset the status quo but if you want to get the best outcome for your child (and having a full documented account of their diabilities is essential), then you just have to steel yourself and get assertive.

We all have

Best wishes

I have received a copy of every report- though it usually takes about 4 months after he 'block' of assessment for our SLT to actually type it and send it

I am impressed that you got such detailed information though. Ours was very very basic, and this is from a 'flagship' children's centre.

We got the information during the initial home visit they made. They wanted to discuss how he had settled in at the unit, and speak to us about the assesment results and the targets they had consequently put in place.

I don't think the info we got was that detailed to be honest, we were expecting to be given exact centiles but instead they gave us a breakdown of his speech and language using age levels.

WE got a copy of the targets set for him today, it's all written up in an IEP style.
Quite descriptive actually i 'm pleased with it. It even says at the top under 'identified needs': significant speech sound delay and language disorder.
But i have asked to see the assesment results again today and have been told i'll have to wait until half-term and they are happy to give me the exact centiles.

Thanks FD, that's a polite non antagonistic way of requesting it. Will use it and they'll know we mean business.