In order for a child/family to gain access to an Enable Ireland service they must follow a number of steps. Firstly a child, parent/guardian must consider if the child meets the access to service criteria. Each children’s service has a published statement of the access to service criteria for that area which is available on request. The access to service criteria in each service area will include such information as: the geographic area the service extends to, the age range of children who can avail of the services and the types of disabilities or developmental concerns identified in the children who would benefit from the services.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ACCESS & REFERRAL TO YOUR LOCAL CHILDREN'S SERVICE CENTRE.

The referral is the first step in the possible provision of services for a child and family. The purpose of a referral is to bring the child to our attention and to allow for an assessment (including an independent assessment of need ) of the child to be arranged. The referral could be for the sole purpose of an independent assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005.

When a child is referred to us for services, they will receive a screening assessment or an independent assessment of need. The type of assessment that a child may receive will depend on the nature of the referral.

Enable Ireland may be contacted by the HSE, under the Disability Act 2005, to carry out an independent assessment of need for your child.

An Assessment of Need (AON)is a separate legal process that is set out in the Disability Act 2005.

An Assessment of Need is not necessary to access health services.

An Assessment of Need as outlined in the Disability Act 2005 will identify your child's health needs and what services are required to meet your child's needs.

A person must be born after 1st June 2002 to be assessed. An application for an Assessment of Need can be made by a parent, legal guardian or personal advocate.

A young person aged 16 or 17 years can apply for their own Assessment of Need.

Usually a team will assess your child and identify their health needs. Some children will be assessed by one person. The Assessment Officer will decide if your child needs a team assessment or an individual assessment.

You will receive an assessment report. The assessment report will provide you with information on the health and education needs of your child. You will also receive a list of the services your child needs.

You can find all relevant and up-to-date information relating to the assessment of need process by visiting the HSE website. https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/disability/disability-assessment/

To apply for an assessment, you can fill in the Assessment of Need application form and send it to your local Assessment Officer.

After you send in your application form you will receive a letter confirming receipt within two weeks. Your Assessment Officer may contact you for more information about your child that will help to show the nature and level of difficulty experienced by your child. If the Assessment Officer is satisfied that your child needs an assessment they must arrange this referral within 3 months of receiving your completed application. Once this referral is made there will be a further 3 months to assess your child and complete the Assessment Report.  In some cases, there may be a delay for clinical reasons or due to exceptional circumstances such as illness or bereavement in your family. 

The Assessment Officer will contact you to discuss any delay in the process.

The Assessment of Need is undertaken in line with the same standards across the country. A copy of these standards can be obtained from your Assessment Officer.

You can find all relevant and up-to-date information relating to the assessment of need process by visiting the HSE website. https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/disability/disability-assessment/

This occurs when a child is referred directly to our children’s services and not through the assessment of need process. The purpose of a screening assessment is to establish if the child satisfies the criteria for accessing services and to determine if we can meet the child’s service needs. The screening assessment process may be carried out by reviewing the referral information or it may involve a full team assessment.

Following completion of the screening assessment we will communicate the decision of acceptance/non-acceptance to the referrer, child , parent/guardian and any other relevant person.

If a child is being accepted into the service, we will communicate the length of waiting time expected before the commencement of service to the referrer, parent/guardian and any other relevant person. They will be kept informed of the process and time frame in all of the above by the service team.

An assessment is an evaluation of the developmental status and service intervention needs of a child/family. The assessment is not only for the purposes of referral and assessments but will also take place at various stages throughout the child’s time in our services.

If you’re worried that your child may have a disability, talk to your GP or public health nurse (PHN) as soon as possible. They can talk to you about what will happen next.

Children who have mild or moderate difficulties may be referred to one or more health professionals in their local primary care services.

Children who have a range of significant difficulties may be referred to a children’s disability network team (CDNT). This is a team of professionals with expertise in disability who work closely together.

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

If you have a concern about a child’s development, ‘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.

A referral can be made by a healthcare professional. Or you can make the referral yourself.

To do this:

1. Complete the Children’s Services Referral Form (PDF, 106 KB, 11 pages)
2. Complete an Additional Information Form for your child

The Additional Information Form lets you describe your child and what your concerns are. It will help to refer them to the right service for them.

Complete the Additional Information Form for children aged:

• 0 to 12 months (PDF, 130 KB, 7 pages)
• 1 to 3 years old (PDF, 204 KB, 10 pages)
• 3 to 6 years old (PDF, 221 KB, 12 pages)
• 6 to 12 years old (PDF, 183 KB, 10 pages)
• 12 to 18 years old (PDF, 166 KB, 9 pages)

These forms allow all PDS teams and disciplines/services to accept and prioritise referrals on a consistent and equitable basis. Completed referral forms can be sent to your local Children's Disability Network Team. 

If you require further information or help to complete the referral forms, please contact your local Children's Disability Network Team.

Enable Ireland provides children’s disability services in partnership with the HSE through Children's Disability Network Teams. We do not have services in every area but if we are not the service provider where you live there will be another organisation or the HSE who provides services there. Your address determines which Children's Disability Network Team you should refer your child to.

Find contact details for all 91 Children's Disability Network Teams and the areas they cover.

Find details for Enable Ireland’s 20 Children's Disability Network Teams.

When a referral is received, health and social care professionals will look at all the information you’ve provided. They use this to decide on the most appropriate service for your child.

The service will then contact you and let you know what will happen next. They will provide you with support as soon as possible, but you may have to wait for some services.