Currently the SLD is offering regular SLP services to four resource centres in Malta and one resource centre in Gozo.
Students have access to SLP services at the resource centres where they are registered. Students who attend both a resource centre and mainstream school will be offered services at the school where they are registered. SLPs attend on established days at the resource centres.at the resource centres where they are registered. Students who attend both a resource centre and mainstream school will be offered services at the school where they are registered. SLPs attend on established days at the resource centres.
The SLP is acknowledged as a member of an interdisciplinary team when providing services in resource centres. Effective communication and its influence on educational progress are central to the speech language program in this setting.
Aims of Service Delivery
Referral, Assessment, Intervention and Discharge process
Carers’ consent is requested at the beginning of the academic year. Following the initial stages of assessment the SLP will adopt a holistic approach and will decide whether the client may benefit from intervention. If intervention is indicated, a relevant program, targeting communication aspects and/or feeding and drinking difficulties, will be drawn up in the light of the assessment findings and planned in conjunction with the carer/s and school staff. The responsibilities of all participants will be specified and agreed upon.
The SLP will determine the type and frequency of intervention that will be most beneficial to the client’s needs. The program may involve both direct intervention (one-to-one with client/groups) and/or indirect intervention (improving the client’s communicative environment). The effectiveness of intervention will be reviewed once every scholastic year, or at shorter intervals as stipulated by the SLP according to the needs of the student. During the summer vacation period, speech language pathology services will be offered by the SLP/s at the Resource Centre. Only students registered as full-time students within that Resource Centre will benefit from services.
The final decision regarding discharge process is the responsibility of the SLP in line with the discharge policy of the SLD.