About Progressing Disability Services
In this region of the HSE (CH East) five partner agencies have come together to form Children’s Disability Network Teams. These partner agencies are: Enable Ireland, The HSE, St. Catherine’s Association, St. John of God and St. Michael's House. There will be three Children’s Disability Network Teams for Co. Wicklow. These teams are: North Wicklow based in Bray, Mid Wicklow based in Wicklow town, South Wicklow based in Arklow.
The ‘Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People’ Programme aims to provide one clear path to services for each child and family with complex needs within their local area.
These three CDNT’s will provide supports and services for children/young people and their families from birth to 18 years with complex disabilities and their families.
How services are delivered in Children’s Disability Network Teams
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 Service 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’s Disability Network Teams & Catchment area
| Children’s Disability Network Team Name and Catchment Area | Location and team contact details | Children’s Disability Network Team Manager |
| North Wicklow Bray, Delgany, Greystones, Kilcoole, Kilquade, Newcastle, NewtownmountKennedy |
Enable Ireland |
Rebecca Candon
|
| Mid Wicklow Ashford, Aughrim Rathdrum, Rathnew, Roundwood, Wicklow town |
Enable Ireland |
Tara Blanchfield
|
| South Wicklow Arklow, Carnew, South Wicklow, Tinahely |
Enable Ireland |
Claudine Ivers
|
Each of the CDNT’s within Wicklow have dedicated spaces for meetings and intervention sessions with families and children.
How do I make a referral to one of these teams?
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.
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 Word version)
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 (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 12 months to 2 years 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 3 years to 5 years 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 6 years to 11 years 11 months (download Word version)
Additional Information Form 12 years to 18 years (download Word version)
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.
Further Information for families
We have recorded a presentation with information on Progressing Disability Services and the services provided by the Wicklow Children’s Disability Network Team. This presentation is for families where it is has been agreed that their local Wicklow CDNT is the team that best meet their needs.
You can watch this presentation here.