Frequently Asked Questions

Referrals

You can find out how to make a referral by visiting our How Do I Refer? page. Once your child’s referral is received by the CDNT, we’ll review it to see if our team is the best fit

A parent/guardian can refer a child themselves.  A healthcare or education professional can also refer, with the parents/guardians consent.

After a referral is processed, the team will meet the child and family. 

We will let the family and referrer what the outcome of the referral is.  

If the CDNT is the most appropriate services,  we will write a letter that will include information on next steps for the child and an estimate of how long the child may be waiting for supports.

If  we have any information on community supports / activities that may be of benefit to the child and family, we will provide this.

 

Once received, the CDNT reviews the referral and determines the next steps:

  1. CDNT is appropriate – Your child is added to the waiting list.
  2. More information needed – CDNT may request additional details or invite you and your child for a meeting.
  3. CDNT is not appropriate – The referral may be transferred to Primary Care Services or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
  4. Joint approach needed – CDNT may collaborate with another agency, such as CAMHS.

The goal is to ensure your child accesses the most suitable service for their needs.

Parents will receive invitations to three family forums per year where there is usually a speaker on topics of interest to families. 

Parents will also receive a newsletter with information about the team and local supports available 3-4 times per year.

Some children/families will be able to access therapeutic supports from a team whilst waiting also  (eg. attending a parent support group, or parent educational workshops such as Earlybird).

No, a child does not need a diagnosis to be referred to a childrens disability network team.

FCP, IFSP and Interventions

Our team offers a range of supports tailored to the individual needs of each child and family.  

The teams plan for support at both the individual level of the child and the broader needs of the overall caseload. 

The most common type of support is a combination of both individual and group based supports.

 

Individual Supports

Examples include:

  • Assessment and intervention for posture and movement
  • Support with feeding, eating, drinking, and swallowing skills
  • Preschool or school-based coaching and consultation
  • Transition planning for starting primary school

Group Supports

We also provide group based support for common areas of support

  • Children and young
  • Parents/Guardians

Examples includes supporting parents with a new diagnosis, or supporting a child/teen with an understanding of their individual needs. 

 

How Support Is Decided

All supports are based on the priorities and goals identified in your Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP).

The type and amount of support offered will depend on the goals agreed.

The professionals that will provide support will also depend on the goals agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

We want you and your child to be comfortable meeting us.  If you or your child have any specific requirements, please let us know.  This might include:

  • Bringing a comfort item or a preferred activity/special interest item.
  • Letting the team know about any sensory needs or accommodations.
  • Sharing any communication preferences for you or your child.
  • Advising us of any other supports that may help your child feel more comfortable during their visit.

 

Before you meet us, think about your child’s daily life – the different activities they do and the places they go. 

Things to consider are: 

  • What is important to you and your child right now?
  • What is your child good at?
  • What is your child finding difficult?
  • Who are the important people in your childs life
  • Where are the important places

You can bring notes or photographs that help you tell us about your child, your family and what is most important right now. 

The first meeting with the team will help set goals which will outline support from the team. 

This will include information on what you and others in your childs life can do to support the goal, as well as what the team can offer to support the goal.

 

 

 

 

Our model of service delivery is child and family centred practice.  Please read more about that here:  https://www.smh.ie/cdnt/teams/how-do-we-do-it/

We will work with you to determine the priorities and goals for your child.

This will be documented in your Individual Family Support Plan. 

The support the team offers will directly link to the goals and priorities outlined in the plan.

The plan will change as your child grows and develops

The Individual Family Support Plan outlines the goals for your child and will details what people in the child’s everyday life can do to support the goals, as well as the team.

There are many different types of interventions delivered by the CDNT to support goal areas. These different intervention methods are often blended. Types of supports include workshops for parents and educators, groupwork for children and young people and individual supports.

Interventions are provided across home, clinic and education settings.

Transfer and Discharges

A child may be discharged if:

  1. They’ve moved out of the area

  2. A different service is more suited to their needs.

  3. They no longer require clinical support.

  4. The family has been unable to attend appointments, despite our efforts to stay connected.

  5. The referral has been withdrawn by the parents, or by the young person if over the age of 16.

  6. The young person has turned 18 and completed full-time education, or reached 19—whichever comes first.

Sometimes, a child’s support needs change—or they’re better suited to a different type of team. Here’s how that works:

This might happen if the child's needs are more or less complex and require a team with a different expertise or ways of working.

Primary Care may suggest CDNT, and CDNT may suggest Primary Care. This is always an individual consideration to reflect your child’s needs right now and what service may suit them best.

Sometimes we may also need to consider other services to work with a child, such as CAMHS or TUSLA.