Message from the Chair of ASLTIP

August 2007

Well, I can not believe it is time to write you all another note. Last time, I thought I had nothing to say and ended up writing a rather long note. It seems to me that this one will be shorter, probably the influence of all this delicious summer weather.

You should have all received the information about the Strategic Planning Meeting on the 8th September. I also hope that you will be able to attend the day. It is your chance to have a real influence on the future direction of ASLTIP (without making the commitment of volunteering for the committee, which of course you should all consider doing as well). If you are unable to attend, please return the pre information sheet as all of this important information will be fed into the discussion on the day.

RCSLT Managers Conference 25-26 June

Mary Hampton and I attended this on your behalf, but I will not say much more here as there is a longer article in this issue and of course there was feedback in the recent RCSLT Bulletin.

CPD:

RCSLT has asked ASLTIP to provide two sample profiles to add to the examples they already have. We need to give them a sample profile of an independent SLT working in school and another working in other settings.

I have not been exactly inundated with volunteers following my last Note (you can imagine how many there have been), so we really need some this time. I know that the 600 of you out there have fabulous CPD records and this is a great opportunity for you to practice writing a profile as required by HPC and to get feedback from RCSLT on how you have written it. It is NOT a test or exam, there will be constructive feedback on the profile.

Let me know if you would like to take up this opportunity. Please do not leave it to someone else. If everyone does this there will be no sample profiles for independent SLTs for those lucky ones asked for their profiles by HPC to refer to.

CRB checks

We are still investigating the best way forward, which appears more complex than at first glance, so at present we are unable to give advice on which organisations to approach to arrange these.

Just say no

This is just a reminder that it is possible and advisable NOT to offer assessment or intervention to all potential clients and their carers that enquire. This can be very difficult to do at times, with the potential client pressing hard, saying things like: there are not very many of you, you know, all the other therapists I have contacted are too busy,have waiting times,etc. However, if you feel that you do not have the right experience assessing or treating the difficulties described, you and the client are much better off if you just say no.

Di Gibson is overseeing the review of the information pack and the advice sheet on this area. Volunteer reviewers are still required.

Quality of Life Research Project, Portsmouth University

This is an opportunity for clients of independent SLTs to be included in a piece of nationwide research. It consists of a six page questionnaire. If you are interested, further details of the project and the researchers contact details are to be found in this issue.

Contacting the Executive:

The easiest way to contact any member of the Executive is to use the form on helpwithtalking.com.

Keeping in touch:

Please look at the ASLTIP WEBSITE (www.helpwithtalking.com) regularly as information there will be up to date and new information will be placed there first.

Robyn Johnson, Chair