Goal-setting

Goal-setting is utilised in neurorehabilitation in order to focus the professional team on the values and QoL of the patient, to optimise motivation and participation in rehabilitation and to offer a personally-relevant measure of progress. The approach is widely recommended by national SLT professional bodies. This chapter presents the evidence base for goal-setting with PwBI, and how this assists clinicians to maximise their therapeutic input with this cohort of people. In particular, it identifies core ingredients for successful goal-setting in the context of working with people who may have incomplete insight into their abilities and rehabilitation potential. There is a clear summary of the current evidence base specifically on goal-setting for communication and swallowing rehabilitation. The practical clinical section introduces strategies to facilitate goal-setting and attainment feedback with people with significant communication impairments with examples and practical resources for clinical use. This section includes guidance on goal-setting preparation (with additional online resource), timing, goal hierarchy, communication and cognitive support strategies, as well as SLT goal content and wording.