Camden. Guide to therapy services for children with social communication difficulties. Camden MOSAIC Child Development Team (CDT)

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Franklin Terry
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1 Camden integrated service for disabled children Camden MOSAIC Child Development Team (CDT) Guide to therapy services for children with social communication difficulties The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

2 What happens next? The assessment of your child is now complete and the results of the assessment shared at the assessment feedback meeting and in the report. It is now time to focus on the intervention plan to support your child s development. Who will be working with your family? You may be working with some or all of the following professionals in the Child Development Team (CDT): Occupational therapist Speech and language therapist Psychologist and psychotherapist Dietician Paediatrician Physiotherapist Key worker Specialist health visitor Other services and professionals in MOSAIC, for example the Sleep Service, EarlyBird, the Feeding Clinic and Social Care for Short Breaks. This leaflet will focus on the role of the occupational therapist and speech and language therapist.

3 1 Occupational therapy has expertise in developing your child s: Motor skills Play Self-care Sensory processing skills Foundational skills needed for functioning in the classroom Access to alternative technology. The level of intervention is determined based on your child s needs and difficulties and his/her response to therapy. The therapy is reviewed at regular intervals. The occupational therapy level of intervention, sometimes known as package of care recommended for your child at this point, is: 2 Speech and language therapy has expertise in developing your child s: Functional communication skills using words, signs, pictures and communication technology Social interaction, play and joint attention. The level of intervention is determined based on your child s needs and difficulties and his/her response to therapy. The therapy is reviewed at regular intervals. The speech and language therapist level of intervention, sometimes known as package of care recommended for your child at this point, is:

Other information In order to provide a full service to your child our work also includes non-face-to-face interventions such as: Notifying the Local Authority about your child s special needs.

4 Other information In order to provide a full service to your child our work also includes non-face-to-face interventions such as: Notifying the Local Authority about your child s special needs. We will help with a request for assessment of special needs by the Local Authority, if appropriate. Attending meetings and contributing to target setting in the nursery in individual education plans (IEPs) and education, health and care plans. Liaising with other agencies (e.g. KIDS, Early Years Intervention Team (EYIT), Social Care, Camden Special Educational Needs Department (SEN), Parent Partnership, children centre services and educational psychologists). Writing reports, goals and programmes. Making resources such as visual timetables, communication books. Assessment for communication/ technology equipment.

5 How will intervention work? We offer a range of therapy approaches which are based on the learning style of children with social communication difficulties. This includes use of pictures, photographs and symbols to support their understanding of verbal language. If your child is in nursery, your OT and SLT will work closely together with the staff to maximise development of your child s social communication and play skills. In order for your child to get the optimum results, therapy is best placed within a social setting such as a nursery. Therapy will also include training parents and teaching staff about sensory processing and ways to play and communicate effectively with your child. We will provide you and the nursery with written goals and strategies to carry out with your child. Evidence shows that your child will make the most progress if you integrate this into everyday activities both at home and in nursery. A therapy assistant will frequently assist in carrying out programmes. Therapy programmes are also carried out by other agencies such as EYIT and KIDS on advice from MOSAIC. The frequency of appointments will be based on your child s needs. If your child requires ongoing therapy when he/she starts in Reception, these services will be transferred to the school health therapy teams. Camden offers an education programme for parents of children with a diagnosis of autism NAS EarlyBird Programme. This is a 12 week programme run jointly by CDT and Education. This consists of group sessions and home visits to work on individual goals around communication, play and behaviour. Camden has a specialist school, resource based units and mainstream schools with support for children with social communication difficulties. The CDT together with the Special Educational Needs Service, can support the family with information about the various options in the borough.

6 Where and when do we see your child/family? We can offer sessions in the clinic *, in your home or in nursery. When your child enters an educational setting, sessions tend to be based in the nursery. We work between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and we try to offer joint appointments with other professionals, where possible, to reduce the number of appointments for your family. We are unable to offer appointments outside of the borough of Camden. Research shows that a child makes the most progress when therapy strategies are incorporated into everyday activities at home and in nursery. We believe that you are the expert on your child and we are here to help him/her reach their full potential. * Free car parking is available when attending Kentish Town Health Centre with your child please contact to book a space. Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust March 2014 Camden Kentish Town Health Centre 2 Bartholomew Road London NW5 2BX Tel:

Children's Therapy Services - Occupational Therapy

Children's Therapy Services - Occupational Therapy Our Occupational Therapists support babies, children and young people who have conditions which affect their physical and functional development. What