Congratulations to Dr Val Brooks, Speech and Language Therapist from Devon Youth Offending Service (YOS) and service user Gulliver who received an award from HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex at the recent Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists awards ceremony in Glasgow in September.
The award was for their part in a BBC Points West programme (broadcast in February 2017) in raising awareness of the role that Speech and Language therapy can play in reducing crime. As a result of the programme a number of other local authorities have expressed an interest in following the Devon example by integrating a similar provision of speech and language therapy for young people who offend or are in danger of offending.
Val assesses any young person at the Atkinson Home who has undergone screening which has flagged them as having complex Speech and Language needs. She then advises us on how best to work with the young person to enable them to access the curriculum fully.