The teams offer an interdisciplinary assessment of children, with actual or potential developmental difficulties, to determine the nature and extent of a child’s needs.
Referrals for assessment can be made by health professionals using the Mid-West Children’s Disability Services – Regional Referral Form and returned to the appropriate team.
Catchment Areas for each Early Intervention Teams – (Currently being updated)
Details of each School Age Teams – Primary and Post Primary Schools are available here.
The Care Pathway for Children Presenting to Primary Care Physiotherapy and / or Occupational Therapy Services in the Mid-West here
Referral Criteria for Early Intervention Child Development Teams
The following children should be referred to their local Disability Services Early Intervention Team:
Children under 6 years of age (up to and including their 6th birthday) not yet attending school who:
- Have been diagnosed with or are considered to be at risk of developing a disability (physical or intellectual)
and
who have complex needs that require a team approach (i.e. from two or more disciplines) from a specialist disability service.
- Are or have been a ‘High Risk Neonate’ by meeting criteria a, b or c:
a. <29 weeks gestation
b. <1,500g birth weight
c. Infants >1500g with history of any of the following:
c.1: broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease or oxygen dependent for at least 4 weeks)
c.2: Grade 3-4 intraventricular haemorrhage
c.3: Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Term infants with birth asphyxia treated with Head Cooling
4. Have been appropriately screened** by another service / referrer and who have a query of or diagnosis of ASD. This will include the broad definition of ASD as outlined in the UK National Autism Plan for Children (NAPC).
*Children presenting initially with a query of sensory and/or motor coordination difficulties will be seen by Primary Care Physiotherapists/Occupational Therapists in the first instance, and may be referred to the Early Intervention team following a Paediatric Resource Clinic as per the ‘Care Pathway for Children Presenting to Primary Care Physiotherapy and/or Occupational Therapy Services in the Mid West, 2012’
Referral Criteria for Disability Services School Age Child Development Teams
The following children should be referred to a Disability Services School Age Child Development Team:
Children over 6 years of age, or under 6 years of age and attending school who:
1. Have primary physical, sensory (hearing or vision), or intellectual disabilities
and
who have complex developmental needs requiring input from two or more therapy disciplines within a specialist disability team *.
2. Have been appropriately screened by another service / referrer and who have a query of or diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This will include the broad definition of ASD as outlined in the UK National Autism Plan for Children (NAPC).
*Children presenting initially with a query of sensory and/or motor coordination difficulties will be seen by Primary Care Physiotherapists/Occupational Therapists in the first instance, and may be referred to the School Age team following a Paediatric Resource Clinic as per the ‘Care Pathway for Children Presenting to Primary Care Physiotherapy and/or Occupational Therapy Services in the Mid West, 2012’’.