How are families involved?

As our model of service delivery is Family Centred Practice, families are involved in service planning for their individual child, and also have the opportunity to participate in wider service as part of a community.

Individual Involvement

The Individual Family Support Plan

The Individual Family Support Plan meeting is an important first step in working with the Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT). It provides an opportunity for collaborative discussions that shape the support provided to the child or young person and their family.

During this meeting, key aspects are explored including:

  • The child’s or young person’s strengths and challenges
  • The child’s or young person’s concerns and priorities
  • The family’s concerns and priorities, strengths and challenges
  • The expertise and insights of the CDNT

From these discussions, goals are identified to guide the intervention process. These goals outline what the child and those in their daily life—such as parents, teachers, and coaches—can do to support their progress. Additionally, the CDNT identifies what actions they will do to support the goal.

Following the meeting, families receive a document summarizing the plan, including the agreed-upon goals and strategies. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated, with reviews conducted either formally or informally, depending on the child's unique needs.

The six 'F Words' were developed by a research hub in Canada, Can Child.  This provides a way of thinking about what is important to children and their families and is a helpful tool to consider before and during the making of an Individual Support Plan.

F Words

Keyworker Role in the Children's Disability Network Team

Each Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) strives to assign a keyworker to every child's family, ensuring a point of contact.

The keyworker's role includes:

  • Acting as a liaison between the family and the team
  • Providing relevant information and resources to support the child and family
  • Initiating, maintaining, and reviewing the Individual Family Support Plan in collaboration with the family and CDNT colleagues

The level of support a keyworker provides naturally evolves and changes over time.

General Family Involvement in the Children's Disability Network Team

Family Forums

All families are invited to attend and participate in Family Forums, which provide a platform for collaboration and engagement in shaping children's disability services. These forums allow families to:

  • Identify issues and propose ideas for service improvements.
  • Share information and resources.
  • Connect with other parents and families to exchange experiences and opinions.

During these meetings:

  • The Family Representative introduces themselves and explains their role in supporting the forum
  • The Children's Disability Network Manager provides updates and information about the CDNT
  • An Independent Chairperson facilitates discussions.
  • External speakers may be invited based on family feedback about relevant topics

Parents provide really helpful feedback during these sessions and in their evaluations to help us plan future Family Forums. 

If you have any ideas please contact your local team.

Family Representative Role

Each CDNT elects one or two Family Representatives to serve as the voice of families. Their responsibilities include:

  • Representing families by sharing concerns, ideas, and suggestions for improvement
  • Ensuring all issues raised are communicated and providing feedback to families on actions taken.
  • Engaging in broader discussions with Family Representatives from St. Michael’s House, Avista, CRC, and HSE CDNTs across Dublin North and Northwest. This takes place at the Family Representative Group.  This group is facilitated by an independent facilitator.

At a higher level, two members of the  Family Representative Group are elected by their peers to attend the Governance Group for Children's Disability Network Teams in the local area.  The family representative group agrees the issues raised for discussion and resolution with the Governance Group.  The Governance Group is attended by senior leadership in St. Michaels House, the HSE, CRC and Avista.