ACQ_Vol_11_no_3_2009

in their ability to identify and adapt their communication style and treatment plan for children with communication difficulties subsequent to collaboration with speech

include a speech pathologist, because of the strong evidence in the literature of communication impairment in children with a history of abuse and neglect, management determined that the two speech pathologists working within community mental health would extend their service and collaborate with the complex trauma treatment team in the following areas: • attending case conference; • assisting with the identification and subsequent management of children with communication difficulties; • providing input into treatment planning, and enhancing the teams’ capacity to plan and deliver more appropriate intervention; • helping mental health clinicians interpret speech pathology assessments in terms of the child’s bio- psycho-social functioning; • performing communication assessments and feedback utilising a bio-psycho-social model; • providing education about communication and mental health; • psycho-education to key stakeholders about communication; and • facilitating referrals to relevant services. The aims of this study were to ascertain if the mental health clinicians within the team perceived an increase Table 1. Results of the pre and post questionnaires (n = 9) Question

pathologists. Method Participants

Participants were 9 mental health clinicians working as case managers for the complex trauma treatment team. The group included 6 clinical psychologists, 2 social workers and 1 occupational therapist. All clinicians were asked to complete pre-questionnaires when they commenced employment with this team. Questionnaires Pre and post questionnaires were developed by the speech pathologists and research officer of the complex trauma team. These consisted of: • pre-evaluation questionnaires prior to collaboration with speech pathology. This questionnaire consisted of 5 questions, asking the participant to rate their level of confidence in working with children with communication impairment on a five point scale. • post-evaluation questionnaires administered after 6 months of clinician collaboration with speech pathology.

Pre-questionnaire

Post questionnaire

Please state how confident you feel when identifying communication impairment in

25% confident 50% uncertain

71% confident 29% uncertain

children?

25% reasonably uncertain

How confident are you when managing a child with communication impairment?

50% uncertain 86% confident 25% reasonably uncertain 14% reasonably uncertain 25% very uncertain

How confident are you in adapting your therapy to meet the needs of a child or adolescent

25% confident 50% uncertain

72% confident

with communication impairment?

14% uncertain 25% reasonably uncertain 14% reasonably uncertain

Do you feel confident adjusting your style of communication to accommodate for those

50% confident 50% uncertain 25% thorough 75% uncertain

71% confident 29% uncertain

children with a communication difficulty?

Do you believe you have a thorough understanding of the co-morbid nature of

29% very thorough

communication and mental health problems?

14% thorough 57% uncertain

The role of the SLP (assessment and consultation) is adequate to service the needs of

Post only

12.5% strongly agree 50% agree 12.5% uncertain 12.5% disagree 12.5% strongly disagree

the children:

I believe the time SLPs are able to devote to the team is adequate to service the clients

Post only

25% strongly agree

with a SL deficit:

25% agree 37.5% disagree 12.5% strongly disagree

It is easy to identify if the children referred are receiving other SLP interventions:

Post only

50% agree 12.5% uncertain 37.5% disagree

I think some children would have better outcomes if they received direct interventions

Post only

50% strongly agree

from the speech and language pathologists.

50% agree

I think the time between identification and assessment of the child is acceptable:

Post only

12.5% strongly agree 62.5% agree

12.5% uncertain 12.5% disagree

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ACQ Volume 11, Number 3 2009

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