What is the Paediatric-Optimised Conversation Approach (POCA)?

Understanding clinical barriers to a child's progress.

Therapists are trained in a range of evidence-based techniques to support a child’s communication skills and development. However, the successful implementation of these techniques and programmes in practice can be challenging. The issues therapists face can be due to a number of barriers at wider service level (e.g. limited time, money and resources) as well as at the individual session level (e.g. levels of engagement, attendance and motivation).

Nearly all therapeutic interventions require a behaviour change to a certain degree from the parent or adult who is implementing the strategies, and as with any behaviour change this can be challenging for the individual.

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How does the Paediatric-Optimised Conversation Approach overcomes these barriers?

The Paediatric-Optimised Conversation Approach (POCA) takes the theoretical knowledge of concepts such as; parent engagement, therapeutic relationship and strengths-based approaches and packages them into a practical conversational framework. POCA acts as the conversational vehicle for successful and realistic behaviour change in the adult involved with the child on a daily basis.  Since it is a conversational clinical approach, it complements existing therapeutic strategies and programmes. Therefore, the approach can easily be implemented by therapists in their next therapy session for tangible, rewarding results for their clients.

TheSpeechie. courses are designed to provide therapists with tools by which to have practical, positive and productive conversations during their sessions, resulting in real-life impact for the child. The set of resources and courses to raise their awareness of the successful techniques they are already using and further strengthen their sessions with new and innovative approaches and strategies.