Our Feeding Clinic
The Feeding Trust uses a trans-disciplinary method of assessment and treatment.
This means that you are seen by a variety of professionals in the same place, at the right time for you.
The SOS Approach
We use the world-renowned Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding. This is an evidence-based therapy programme that teaches families and schools how to approach food and mealtimes in a whole new way. More information regarding the programme itself can be found on the SOS website here.
Our programme
The therapy programme itself is split into two pathways - family meals and food exploration sessions. We use the ‘32 steps of feeding’ to offer a systematic, desensitisation approach, making mealtimes a more relaxed and enjoyable experience for everyone. We teach families, and if appropriate school and nursery staff, how to support your child/young person during mealtimes, using a non-pressurised approach, working on range of foods first, before volume.
We can offer bespoke feeding therapy to meet the needs of you and your child/young person. Each programme is tailored to each individual to meet the goals we set during our initial assessment. The feeding therapy programme itself tends to last around 12-18 months but how often you attend the clinic depends on your circumstances and geographical location. We can offer weekly 1:1 therapy sessions, small group sessions, to more intensive half day training sessions for families who live further away.
How we make mealtimes matter
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You'll start with a consultation with our dietitian. This will focus on your child's current diet and nutritional intake, and how we will support this during the therapy process. We can do this over the phone, or face to face.
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After our initial consultation, you'll be invited to our feeding clinic at Waseley Hills Country park, for a full day of assessment with one of our Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists. This visit is usually made up of half a day of assessment, a short break (where you can enjoy the calming surroundings of the country park) and then a feedback session. During our feedback session we'll discuss the outcome of the assessment, set treatment goals and talk through the therapy programme, providing you with a detailed report which can be shared with other professionals involved in your child’s care.
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Direct therapy, education and training will be provided at our feeding clinic at 17 The Square, Alvechurch, with the option to complete school or nursery visits if this is geographically possible.
The goals that we set together in the previous assessment and feedback session will be reviewed regularly to ensure that we're continuing to meet the needs of your child and family.
As part of the process, you and your family will be expected to complete a large portion of therapy at home, including making changes to your mealtime routines and how food is presented to your child. This can be a daunting task, but we'll make sure that you're fully prepared. We need this level of commitment from yourselves to make sure that the therapy is as successful as it possibly can be, and we can truly make mealtimes goodtimes for your child and family.
