Signalong why It's Important and why funding is vital.

As part of the National Lottery funded Communicate and Connect project, we have been working closely with services who provide support for adults with learning disabilities, particularly Persona Care and support Bury. Support workers can be overlooked as key to the success of communication with people with learning disabilities. Many are highly skilled, adapting their communication, altering their spoken language and using sign support. Our next blog was written by such a support worker from Persona Care and Support Bury.

We were approached by Coral after the training to say she had written something to support our next bid. We decided it would make a great blog so we could share her views from the perspective of support staff.

‘My name is Coral Mulligan and I am a support worker, supporting adults with learning disabilities at one of the many day centres run by Persona Care and Support. I am hoping to make a difference and advocate for those who do not have the capabilities to be able to voice their needs vocally. Within the day centres at Persona, we support a variety of lovely individuals who differ in terms of their level of support needs and ways of communication. As a member of staff my first priorities are to; deliver care and support that is person centred, safeguard the individuals and build positive relationships with them. Being able to communicate with who I support to learn more about them, ask questions and understand them is an essential part of my role. Those I support communicate with staff to express feelings, likes and dislikes and also concerns. This ensures the safety and positive well-being of all at the centre.

A part of my role is to undertake many forms of training which can be mandatory or voluntary. I recently put myself forward, as did other staff at Persona, to take part in a days training of Signalong with Alison and Helen from Total Communication Services CIC. This was a training session that was offered, however only a certain number of staff were able to participate in this, meaning a lot of staff did not get to experience this. During this training session we learned many essential signs that I have been using now myself in my work. The sessions were led by Alison and Helen from Total Communication Services CIC and students studying speech and language therapy at university and are currently focusing on connecting and communicating with others.

The knowledge, understanding and passion those people had have inspired me greatly. They made the training session fun, interactive and very memorable, providing very helpful books with basic signs I am going to need in everyday life. The books were to take home with us so we can further our own knowledge. Our staff knowledge was tested and put to practice when they visited our different day services to teach Signalong to the individuals we support. Again, this was a fun session which even more staff and the individuals gained a lot from. For the second time I was a witness to the passion, knowledge and thought put into the sessions that made who I support all feel included and learn new skills. At Persona we focus on the enablement of who we support. The training I have received will allow us to develop a way to confidently and competently use Signalong in our roles which will subsequently empower those who communicate non- verbally, which is a large amount of those I support.

Some of the people I support can face communication barriers daily and they are considered to be very vulnerable in their day-to-day lives. From this training I am confident I can communicate basic needs and wants with them. to ensure I am person centred. This consequently improves the relationships, and their safety and wellbeing by having a better understanding of one another. The people I support will now feel more included and a part of the community as Signalong is an inclusive form of communication.

The value and appreciation I have placed upon this training as well as Total Communication Services CIC for delivering this, is immense, and I am so glad that myself, my colleagues and people I support will benefit from this. I truly do believe other companies will benefit just as much and everyone learning Signalong will better the quality of lives of non-verbal people. As a company and staff team we ourselves face many barriers which include funding for the best resources, that are also accessible to who we support. To further develop what we have learnt we will need the best resources we can find, many of which I believe should come from Total Communication Services CIC due to the understanding they have of Signalong, the passion they exude and the connection they have secured with Persona. We have discussed many ideas that have been agreed on by other staff that will further benefit who I support.

Signalong is a great and necessary way of communicating that I wish more people know, understand and are taught. It is a vital way to communicate and connect with people. I hope Total Communication Services can receive more funding so they are able to share these training sessions, Signalong resource packs with many more people so thousands of other people can feel and notice the positive impact this will have in the work place, communities and one day the world. As one staff member in one company I feel the benefit of just two sessions. Imagine the wider impact they can have with the funding allowing them to reach more people and do more sessions with better resources to share.

The National Lottery Fund is a distinguished way to help those achieve inspirational ideas and Total Communication is absolutely a service that is more than deserving of some funding to benefit many people in terms of communication, connection and inclusion.’