Total Communication

What is Total Communication?

Total Communication is the term used to describe the use of pictures,objects,signs,gestures and spoken word to enable people to express themselves and understand what is being said.

It is evidence based and has many methods in addition to easy read/accessible communication, which only targets people with a mild/moderate Learning Disability. The majority of people with a learning Disability in Brighton and Hove require additional communication supports in the form of Total Communication approaches.

NEWS

January 2014

Here is a link the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists document 5 Good Communication Standards
http://www.rcslt.org/news/docs/good_comm_standards

March 2012

Brighton & Hove Intensive Interaction Special Interest Group

The Intensive Interaction Training Team has set up a Brighton & Hove
Intensive Interaction Special Interest Group.
Meetings are held every 2 months and are open to people who have
attended the one day Intensive Interaction training Course provided by
Brighton & Hove City Council.
The meetings are an excellent opportunity to:

• Ask Questions
• Share Good Practice
• Feed back on how Intensive Interaction is being implemented within services
• Access Support and the chance for further regional networking

If you think your services would benefit please contact Diane Skudder at
the Community Learning Disability Team on 01273 295550 or email
diane.skudder@brighton-hove.gov.uk
The next meeting of the Brighton & Hove Intensive Interaction Special
Interest Group meeting is on:

• 25th April 2pm at Denmark Villas
  The theme will be barriers to Intensive Interaction

Please note change of workshops!

TC Workshops 2012

Everyone is welcome, email lucy.westcott@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk to book as places are limited.

February 2012

Good to see those of you who came to the first workshop of the year on 2 February; those of you who couldn't make it - you were missed!

Here's a quick update:

A copy of the DVD will be included in the new Total Communication Resource pack which East Sussex will be marketing this year - watch this space for more information on when….

• The workshops are held every 2 months.
• They are about different communication resources or issues.
• So far we've had workshops about Social Stories, Graphic Recording, Talking Mats, Intensive Interaction, Communication Passports, Makaton, Objects of Reference, Visual Timetables and Total Communication.
• The workshops are for anyone who works with, cares for, or supports people with a learning disability.
• Service users can come to relevant workshops.

TC Charter Review meetings

March 2012

Calling all our brilliant Communication Champions!

Here are your meeting dates for the year:

These meetings are to support you in making sure your service is meeting the TC Standards.

February 2012

Our fantastic Communication Champions had their first meeting of the year on 19 January - great to see those who were able to come and sorry to miss the ones who couldn't be there - here's a quick summary:

• We talked about evidencing Standard 1 in your services by creating a Communication Policy.
• Standard 1 is: 'Services know about the Communication Bill of Rights. These are rights about communication. Services agree with what the Bill of Rights says'.
• 4 services are working on their Standard 1 at the moment and will be bringing their draft policies with them to share at the March meeting.
• We've put together some Communication Policy Guidelines to help you get started – click here: Commmunication Guidance Guidelines_

January 2012

Go for GOLD!

TC Charter recognition for your service…

This year we are awarding certificates to services to recognise your hard work implementing the TC Standards.

If your service is achieving 3 Standards or more you can apply for a Standard Review – it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:

• Email me on lucy.westcott@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk or tell us at a Charter Review meeting when you’re ready to go for your award.
• We will arrange to come and look at your communication folder (or whatever method you’re using to document your evidence) and see the standards in practice at your service.
• We will award you a certificate for display at your service:

• Bronze Award – 3 Standards
• Silver Award – 6 Standards
• Gold Award – all 10 Standards

You will also get a jpeg of the relevant award logo to use on all your service documents, leaflets, posters etc AND a list of achievers will be posted on this website.

• If you need any help or have any questions about the TC Charter Standards please contact me on lucy.westcott@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Charter sign ups so far…..

We now have 18 Communication Champions across Brighton & Hove implementing Total Communication in 11 services!

Services signed up to the TC Charter are:

• Outreach 3way
• Grace Eyre Foundation
• Brighton & Hove Day Options – Wellington House, Buckingham Road, Belgrave Centre, Albany View, Connaught Centre
• Brighton & Hove Residential Services – Windlesham Rd, Preston Drove, Beaconsfield Villas, Leicester Rd, Old Shoreham Road
• Care Management Group
• Southdown’s Housing Association
• St John’s College
• Brighton & Hove Workforce Development Team
• Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH)
• Brighton & Hove Community Support Team
• Beach House, BHCC Respite Service

What is the TC Charter?

The Total Communication Charter is a set of 10 standards to help support people with learning disabilities and their carers to communicate as effectively as possible.

How does it work?

• Service providers sign up to the Charter and commit to implementing the Total Communication (TC) Approach in their service.
• Each service nominates a Communication Champion who is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of TC in their service e.g. finding out which service users need communication passports and ensuring they are supported to make one.
• The Communication Champion fills out monitoring forms and documents evidence of TC in action at their service.
• Progress is reviewed through the nominated Communication Champions at bi-monthly Charter Review meetings.
• If the standards are met the service is awarded a certificate of achievement and the right to use the Total Communication graphic device on their documents.

Total Communication Champions

Useful Websites, Services and Resources

Useful Websites

Clear for all

Aiga symbol-signs

Devon County Council Total Communication

Making Information Easy project

this website has many free guides to making documents with plain English

Portsmouth’s fantastic accessible information website

Services & Resources

Change launched their new picture bank in February 2011

Gloucestershire Total Communication offers training courses in communication and has picture and symbol banks (click on 'CD Contents') and a helpful bank of corporate logos (click on 'Logo Images') you can use.

Inspired Services, free clip art collection

creative support to the community: design for web, print and audio

a life skills and social issues CD Picture Library