Discharge / moving on

Discharge is a medical term which applies when specialist level services are no longer needed. This is always the end goal of any specialist level service, as it often indicates that the input has been successful in achieving the agreed outcomes.

Discharge plans are always discussed with the child / young person and their parents / or carers.

A child or young person will be discharged from our services in Halton when:

• The child or young person’s speech, language, communication is within normal limits.
• The aims of intervention have been achieved.
• The North Staffordshire Risk Matrix score indicates that the child or young person’s needs can be managed by their daily communication partners.

Discharge may also be appropriate when:

• Progress is limited by a young person’s levels of motivation, engagement with our service or their implementation of guidance.
• A person with parental responsibility withdraws consent for us to provide the service.
• A family and / or educational setting does not engage with the service or take up appointments offered.
• The child / young person moves out of the commissioned area.

Discharge will usually take place following an assessment or episode of care. Where this is the case, a care plan with targets and resources may be supplied. Advice will also be provided about when to re-refer.

When to re-refer

Most children and young people should be re-referred when there is:

• A significant change in the child/young person’s speech/language/communication or feeding.
• A change in the environment that the child or young person is in or the management of their speech, language or communication needs.
• A change in readiness/commitment to therapy (child, family and/or school/setting)