To ask the Minister of Health how Health and Social Care Trusts ensure that all staff, including those recruited from different countries, are trained to engage appropriately with non-verbal patients to prevent communication shutdown and support ongoing mental stimulation.

Health and Social Services are provided in accordance with a person’s care plan, aligned to their assessed need. Care plans contain all necessary information to enable staff to meet the needs of the person. If there are tasks that require specific professional input, this will be clearly stated. All staff must familiarise themselves with a person’s care plan, prior to working with that person.

If specialist communication methods are required, these will be clearly outlined within the care plan, with instructions to support staff to communicate with that person. Staff who regularly work in environments with individuals with complex communication needs, undertake additional training in communication methods, such as Makaton. Speech and language professionals also provide support to staff in all service areas, to optimise communication with people who have complex needs. Additional training is available to support staff if required.

Hospital passports have been implemented in Northern Ireland to support people who have communication needs relay their wishes. The Hospital passport ensures that within the busy and complex environment of the hospital, communication can continue to be optimised.

Health and Social Care Trusts do not differentiate between staff based on their country of origin.