Children's disability services are for children and young people up to age 18.
Your child may access disability services through:
- primary care
- a children's disability network team (CDNT)
- child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
- child and adolescent mental health services in intellectual disability (CAMHS-ID)
These services sometimes work together. Your child may transfer from one service to the other.
Your child does not need an assessment of need (AON) to access disability services. But they do need a referral.
Services based on your child's needs
Your child's referral will be reviewed and discussed by a CDNT and other services.
They will decide which service is most likely to best meet your child's needs.
Children with less complex needs usually attend a primary care service.
Children with complex needs usually attend a CDNT.
Non-complex needs
Primary care services are the main source of support for children with non-complex needs.
Your child is usually referred to these services first, if there is a concern about their development.
For example, if your child has a speech delay, a speech and language therapist in primary care can help.
Primary care services include:
- community health doctors
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy
- psychology
- public health nursing
- social work
- speech and language therapy
Complex needs
A CDNT provides specialised disability support and services.
These services are for children who have complex health needs related to their disability.
Mental health needs
CAMHS is a specialist mental health service for children. It supports children whose mental health difficulties affect their ability to take part in day-to-day activities. Children who access disability services through primary care or CDNT can access CAMHS.
CAMHS-ID is a specialist mental health service. It's for children who have a moderate to severe intellectual disability and mental health difficulties.
CAMHS-ID teams work alongside primary care services, CDNTs and community CAMHS.
Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
Assessment of need
An assessment of need (AON) is a report that:
- identifies your child's health needs
- lists the health services your child needs
The HSE does the assessment when there are concerns a child may have a disability.
You do not need an AON to access services
Remember:
- you do not need an AON to access our services
- you can make a referral to any children's service without an AON
- an AON will not move your referral up the waiting list
How to get an assessment of need
An application can be made by a:
- parent
- legal guardian
- personal advocate
If you are age 16 or older over 16, you can apply for your own assessment of need.