What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can we improve across system boundaries?​

Over 100,000 children and adults use Makaton either to communicate or support speech, and whilst a Non-Verbal Learning Disability isn’t clinically distinct, 175,000+ within Autism alone are non-verbal or have minimal speech.  Makaton is taught at Special Ed. schools and on TV, however it’s rarely catered for outside/ beyond education therefore removing this human right.

Using the Makaton subscription to train staff and provide signs and symbols will enable staff to communicate directly with our service users, informing how we care for them, and allowing key, agreed information to be shared with colleagues in a GDPR-approved way across the HSC system.

Not only will this provide a person-centredness, facilitating safe and effective delivery of care, it will also support service users seeking help or confiding about concerns etc.

Learning about (dis)likes can de-escalate situations, address behaviours considered challenging, promote fun learning and support our culture of inclusivity.

has context menu

What does your project aim to achieve?

This project aims to bolster the culture of inclusivity, providing staff with regular training by a qualified tutor, and tools to hear and also understand service user needs.  This will ensure staff can advocate on their behalf for their care, where training is still outstanding, and also promote service improvement.

Service users will have a better sense of fulfilment and inclusion as communication is improved, and staff will be able to appropriately de-escalate situations.

Equipped with this person-centred knowledge, professionals dealing with each individual with communication challenges can ensure that the care provided is in-keeping with their wishes and share this with colleagues, as agreed with the service user/ carer.

This project has the potential to achieve Makaton friendly status and to encourage multiple Trust locations to become Makaton friendly to meet the needs for service users as standard practice.

How will the project be delivered?

[11:49] Kelly, Stephanie

The project will be delivered by facilitating a Makaton tutor to train staff through the 4 levels of Makaton.  These staff will be nominated through the current Makaton Champion Group.

As well as gathering service users/ carer feedback through focus groups, surveys, mood charts etc., Trust locations will aim to meet ‘Makaton friendly status’, so will track the percentage of trained staff across selected Trust areas.  De-escalation time will also be tracked as a balancing measure, along with complaints/ complaints.

The inclusion of the service user and the knowledge of how best to support their needs even in the most challenging of situations will be invaluable to all staff and service users, therefore making this value for money.

Whilst services continue to be challenged with demand and capacity issues.  To mitigate this, training will be identified in areas where more service users with communication challenges are likely to present.

How is your project going to share learning?

The project will be shared across NHSCT including social media to educate individuals of areas where Makaton has been introduced.

This project will also be shared across the national and regional QI forums, such as the Q  Community and HSCQI, offering site visits and feedback sessions as opportunity arises.