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The Balanced System ® Transformation

Speech, Language and Communication Pathway and The Balanced System ® Transformation

Something exciting is happening to how we provide CFHD Speech and Language Therapy Services across Torbay and Devon.

To help meet the needs of the children and young people of Devon, we are using a framework called The Balanced System®. This system is designed to make sure that everyone, including children and young people along with their support networks, including parents and carers and health and education professionals, have the right support, at the right time to develop and improve speech, language and communication skills. 

You can find out more about CFHD Speech and Language Therapy Services and The Balanced System ® Transformation by watching and listening to our presentation. Use the blue button below:

Find out more

We are starting new easy access drop ins for children under the age of 5 years. These sessions are now being held in different places across Torbay, South Devon and North Devon. Exeter, East and Mid will be starting very shortly in September 2025

Right now, only families who have been waiting the longest will be invited to these sessions. Later on, anyone can come to talk about their child’s speech and communication. Watch this space for updates.

Timeframes:

Torbay, South and West – Currently we are running easy access drop in sessions across the localities, across a range of venues, days and times.

North Devon – Currently we are running easy access drop in sessions across a range of venues, days and times.

Exeter, East and Mid – We will be starting to run these from September 2025, across a range of venues, days and times.

Right now, only families who have been waiting the longest will be invited to these sessions. Later on, anyone can come to talk about their child’s speech and communication. Watch this space for updates.

At the session, a speech and language therapist and a therapy assistant will be there. The session will last about 30 minutes. You will be able to talk to a member of the team about your child’s speech, language and communication skills, whilst we observe your child’s skills during play.

Link therapist: Therapists are linked to schools, settings or a cluster of settings. They work with the school team and consult with them regularly to identify needs so that all children and young people access the right support at the right time in their learning context.

Link therapy timeframes:

  • Torbay, South and West – September 2025
  • North Devon – January 2026
  • Exeter, East and Mid – January 2026

The Role of the Link Therapist:

  • Relationship Building:

A link therapist builds a strong relationship with a school or setting, becoming familiar with the staff and the specific needs of the children.

  • Needs Identification:

They work with the school team to identify children who may need support with their speech, language, or communication.

  • Support Implementation:

The link therapist helps to implement the Balanced System framework within the school, ensuring that appropriate interventions are in place.

  • Resource and Training:

They may provide training and support to school staff on how to identify and support children with SLCN.

  • Collaboration:

They collaborate with other professionals, such as SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), to ensure a coordinated approach to support.

  • Functional Outcomes:

The link therapist focuses on supporting children to achieve functional outcomes that will help them in their learning and social interactions.

 

Benefits of the Link Therapist Model:

  • Improved Outcomes:

By providing targeted support at the right time and place, the link therapist model aims to improve outcomes for all children with SLCN.

  • Early Intervention:

It facilitates early identification and intervention, which can be crucial for preventing long-term difficulties.

  • Empowered Staff:

The model empowers school staff to better understand and support children’s communication needs.

  • Effective Use of Resources:

By taking a systematic approach, the framework helps to ensure that resources are used effectively to meet the needs of all children.

 

Torbay, South and West – Currently we are running easy access drop in sessions across the localities, across a range of venues, days and times.

North Devon – Currently we are running easy access drop in sessions across a range of venues, days and times.

Exeter, East and Mid – We will be starting to run these from September 2025, across a range of venues, days and times.

Core Principles of the Balanced System

The Balanced System Five Strands. The five strands put focus on:

Find more information here What is it : The Balanced System.

We want to make it as easy as possible for children, young people and their families to access support across Devon and Torbay.

 Easy access means families can access support that enables:

    • Early identification: Children and young people’s needs are identified early. Parents, carers and professionals are supported to identify when their child may need support and how to access services in a timely manner

        • Appropriate assessment: Assessment are made through an enquiry based process, using easy access drop ins.  The child or young person is assessed when the need arises and this is carried out in consultation with the child or young person; their family and school or setting.

    • Early identification: Children and young people’s needs are identified early. Parents, carers and professionals are supported to identify when their child may need support and how to access services in a timely manner

        • Appropriate assessment: Assessment are made through an enquiry based process, using easy access drop ins.  The child or young person is assessed when the need arises and this is carried out in consultation with the child or young person; their family and school or setting.

Link therapist: Therapists are linked to schools, settings or a cluster of settings. They work with the school team and consult with them regularly to identify needs so that all children and young people access the right support at the right time in their learning context.
  • Families access support and information from the speech and language therapist in the place that the child or young person learns and accesses on a regular basis.

The Balanced System® has at its core the importance of a continuum of support, this includes approaches that promote the speech, language and communication skills of all children and young people, as well as robust targeted support for those that need more. Specialist or individualised support could include:

    • training, coaching and support for colleagues in the wider workforce, such as early years practitioners, teachers and teaching assistants
      • direct delivery by therapists of interventions, support and adaptations

        • specialist interventions which are in addition to universal and targeted support that is in place

    • training, coaching and support for colleagues in the wider workforce, such as early years practitioners, teachers and teaching assistants
      • direct delivery by therapists of interventions, support and adaptations

        • specialist interventions which are in addition to universal and targeted support that is in place

This will include:

    • a ‘one stop shop’ for families and practitioners wanting to understand what support is available across Devon and Torbay for the children and young people.

        • Services ensure all information is in one accessible place.

    • a ‘one stop shop’ for families and practitioners wanting to understand what support is available across Devon and Torbay for the children and young people.

        • Services ensure all information is in one accessible place.

A focus on meaningful outcomes for children and young people by capturing the impact of the support.
  • An increased confidence in the multi-agency support through shared outcomes

New system launched across Devon to support children’s speech and language development

This year will see a change in the way that the children and young people across Devon and Torbay access speech, language and communication support.

NHS providers together with devon County Council are using The Balanced System, a framework designed to make sure that everyone, including children and young people along with their support networks, have the right support, at the right time to develop and improve speech, language and communication skills.

Sarah Davies, Head of Integrated Therapies and Nursing at Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) said, “Early intervention plays a crucial role in supporting children’s speech and language development. This new system equips both families and professionals with the confidence and consistency they need to make a meaningful difference.”

The framework enables whole system accountability and responsibility in identifying and supporting children and young people’s communication needs, which as we know is key for learning, relationships and well-being.

These changes come at a time when speech, language and communication needs are increasingly recognised as a priority in child development and education settings. Devon aspire to achieve improved outcomes for our children and young people, through services working together, using the Balanced System Framework, providing the right support, in the right place, in a timely manner.

Sharon Martin, Principal Speech and Language Therapist and Professional and Clinical Lead for Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy at CFHD said, “One of the biggest challenges we face is when a child’s needs go unnoticed until much later. This system helps everyone—parents, carers, and professionals—spot the signs early, take action, and work together to create a supportive environment for speech, language and communication to flourish.”