Services are delivered through an Interdisciplinary Team. This is a group of different health professionals that work together and in partnership with the child and their family. The child and family are key members of this team. Depending on a child’s need, members of the child’s team may include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology and social work. There are other disciplines on the team that can be accessed if a need is identified.

The team will provide supports for the child across a variety of settings including the home, education settings such as pre-school or school, community settings or within the CDNT centre.  

The CDNT’s operate through a Family-Centred Practice model.  This is an approach that focuses on the whole family and not just the child requiring support. It ensures that the family's priorities are considered when settling goals with the family. 

All families that have a child attending the CDNT will have a keyworker. The keyworker will be named contact and act as a link between the family and the team. They will support families with any queries they may have about their service. 

All families attending the CDNT will have an Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP). This is an agreed plan that identifies the child and family’s goals and priorities. The IFSP will also describe supports needed to achieve these goals. The IFSP looks at and documents the child’s strengths and achievements since the last plan was completed. As children grow and develop the goals on their IFSP will change with them.
 

Children aged from birth to 18 years may be referred for services. 

If you have a concern about a child’s development, a ‘Children’s Services Referral Form’ can be completed by parents/legal guardians, health and social care professionals, GPs, education professionals, assessment of need officers or case managers. The completed forms can be sent to their local Children’s Disability Network Team.  It is essential that signed parental consent is recorded on the referral form.

There is a link to a video to help with completing these forms here. You can also watch a video explaining how the central referral process for children with complex disabilities in CH-East works here. 

If you are a parent and would like further help with the referral forms, please phone your local team and we will assist you.

Children’s Services Referral Form (Download PDF Form)

Each referral must be accompanied by an “Additional Information Form” specific to the child’s age category (Birth to 11 months; 12 months to 2 years 11 months; 3 years to 5 years 11 months; 6 years to 11 years 11 months; 12 years to 18 years). This additional information form can only be completed by the child’s parent/carer.

Additional Information Form Birth to 11 months 
Additional Information Form 12 months to 2 years 11 months 
Additional Information Form 3 years to 5 years 11 months 
Additional Information Form 6 years to 11 years 11 months 
Additional Information Form 12 years to 18 years 

Referral forms should be sent to:

Email address  CHEast.NAP@hse.ie or  
Postal address:  Central Referral Allocation Team, HSE, Block B, Civic Centre, Main Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 X329.

These forms allow all PDS teams and disciplines/services to accept and prioritise referrals on a consistent and equitable basis.

Children aged from birth to 18 years with complex needs who live in the areas of Arklow, Carnew, South Wicklow, Tinahely