The winning initiative, entitled ‘Service Evaluation into the use of Alternative Augmentative Communication’, aims to improve communications between the dental team and children with learning disabilities. The communication resource folder for clinicians is a valuable resource, outlining practical yet straightforward advice to support non-verbal communication.
Outstanding Innovation Award 2025 winner
The project was conducted within the Birmingham Community NHS Foundation Trust. It focused on assessing and improving the knowledge, awareness, and use of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) in dental settings, for families with children who have additional communication needs. The resulting resource toolkit was developed to assist clinicians in integrating AAC into their practice. The folder pulls together already existing resources, including Widget Symbols and Makaton signs, moodboards, and links to online resources and videos.
The judging panel, which comprised members of BSPD’s executive committee, chose Harriet’s initiative as the winning submission because they recognised how these resources can help address the inequalities faced by children with learning disabilities when accessing dental care.
According to the society, Harriet’s initiative supports the spirit of its mission, which includes helping vulnerable children and young people. Her focus on children with learning disabilities, to ensure that they receive the same standard of care as other children, has their long-term oral health at its heart. The judges said the solution she delivered, in the form of a resource toolkit for clinicians, showed an innovative and practical approach.
Shannu Bhatia, BSPD president, said, “Your initiative will make the experience of going to the dentist less stressful for children with learning disabilities, and help to encourage young patients to make regular visits and adopt a preventative oral health approach. The judges recognised your dedication to investigating and addressing a real need. I am very much looking forward to hearing Harriet’s presentation on her initiative at the BSPD 2025 conference in London in September 2025!”
Highly commended award
In addition, Clement Seeballuck has been given the highly commended award for his submission to the BSPD OIA 2025 award. Dundee Dental Connect (DDC) was recognised by the judges as an initiative that is also aimed at improving oral health inequalities. Dundee Dental Connect is a staff-student co-creation initiative that aims to tackle oral health inequalities with family and community oriented interventions, including events covering topics such as caries prevention and dental visits.
The events which he has run as part of this initiative are delivered in multiple languages, which aligns well with the spirit of BSPD’s mission.
Shannu commented, “With BSPD’s focus on the most vulnerable in our communities, we are delighted to see how the DDC initiative provides a programme to support dentistry professionals to advocate a preventative approach for the community. Clement has ensured a prevention message focus and also made the process of learning about good oral health engaging and an enjoyable one for families.”