Families in Bury who are on the speech therapy waiting list are now receiving support through a new WhatsApp service.
The Can-Do Programme, fully funded by Bury Locality, initially provided assistance to parents of more than 40 children, aged five and under, who were experiencing delayed speech or social communication challenges.
Following the success of the pilot, the project is set to benefit hundreds more families in Bury.
Parents will now be able to access resources from the programme directly through WhatsApp.
Jane Case, programme manager in Bury at NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, said: "We want to empower families to help their child begin to make progress with their speech at the earliest possible time by offering support whilst they may be waiting for assessments.
"The Can-Do Programme itself had already helped thousands of families worldwide to make the most of everyday moments to boost their child’s development.
"We are proud to have collaborated with its creator, Joanne Jones, to bring this initiative to Bury, with overwhelmingly positive feedback."
The Can-Do Programme includes video lessons, a workbook, weekly email check-ins, a community forum, daily motivational prompts, Q&A sessions, and activities to keep children on track with their speech development.
Parents will be given access to these resources for up to 12 months from the point of referral for therapy.
Joanne Jones, a consultant speech and language therapist with more than 20 years’ experience working with early years children in the NHS, said: "Can-Do is my proudest achievement.
"I developed the programme during lockdown – working with families remotely who urgently needed interventions when access to non-essential therapies was limited.
"Can-Do provides parents with practical strategies to support their child’s confidence, communication and connection.
"Just one hour a week for active learning, and another hour a week for activities, is all it takes to make meaningful progress while waiting for therapy appointments."
Audience engagement specialist Helen Nurse developed the automated 'choose your own adventure' pathway within WhatsApp, guiding parents through a series of decisions to tailor the programme to their child's specific needs.
Whether it is completing a short activity or watching a long-form video, parents can decide which elements of the programme to engage with at any moment, resulting in a personalised experience for each user.
Helen Nurse, a director at Capture 1, said: "The Can-Do approach has proven phenomenally effective, but we have to be realistic about the busy lives people lead.
"We have focused our strategy and creativity on developing a way to use this technology that keeps parents highly engaged, while ensuring the experience remains easy, convenient, and user-friendly.
"With all data kept secure, any concerns around safeguarding are eliminated.
"WhatsApp is transforming the delivery of healthcare, and we are proud to collaborate with Joanne and Bury Local Authority to make a life-changing impact on children facing speech challenges."
It is hoped that the use of WhatsApp will revolutionise the way families receive assistance, making it more accessible and convenient for all.
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