Role of the Service Provider

Key Role

Hands joined together symbolising unity

 

The service provider can offer professional support for the steps involved in deciding upon and implementing a Lámh programme, which are:

 

(a) assessment  

(b) implementation of a signing programme

(c) choosing vocabulary and recording progress and  

(d) providing training for families and staff when appropriate. 

 

  

 Breakdown of Steps:

  1. Staff members trained in Lámh, e.g. speech therapists, nurses, social care staff or teachers, will facilitate an assessment for use of Lámh. 
  2. If Lámh is suitable, the team and family will choose some signs and start to use them.
  3. The service may already have a signing environment established.  A signing environment is a deliberate planned attempt to use a certain number of signs around a person in every situation possible, by every person possible.
  4. Staff will support the use of signs with the Lámh user, implementing strategies for supporting the use of sign and checking for understanding of the signs.
  5. The service provider may organise Lámh training for staff.  There may be a Lámh Tutor on staff, or the service provider may be linked to another service that runs Lámh training.  Otherwise, a Contract Tutor may be brought in to deliver a course.   
  6. The service provider may organise a Lámh Family Course in the same way.

 

This structure ensures that there is a cohesive approach to implementation of the Lámh signing programme, with information and training coming from the same source and a clear progression route in place.