Progressing Disability
Services (PDS)
Aisling Becton
Clinical Services Manager
What is PDS?
The programme… aims to achieve a national
unified approach to delivering disability
health services, so that there is clear
pathway to the services they need for all
children regardless of where they live, what
school they go to or the nature of their
disability or delay”
“
Why PDS?
Background:
National Reference Group Report (2009) on Multidisciplinary Disability
Services for Children aged 5-18 : group convened to examine how to
provide disability services in the context of Disability Act and EPSEN
Findings:
 Gaps in services


Inequity of access

Alignment of services with primary care model
Aims of the programme

Consistent structure across the country

Equity in access to services

Consistency and clarity in service pathways

Use experience of areas where new structure already in place
Organisation of the programme

National Co-ordinating Group to monitor and guide

Regional Co-ordinating Group X 4

Local Implementation Groups with all stakeholders - detailed local plans
Implementation in each local area

Mapping of existing staff

Plan integrated pathway with Primary Care, Network and Specialist levels

Develop Children’s Network Disability Teams and Specialist Services

Reconfiguration of resources into geographically based services
What does this mean for Wicklow/ SCA?

SCA Representation on Wicklow LIG – 3 staff 2 parents

SCA Representation on all subcommittees

DES representation at LIG and subcommittee level

3 network areas identified - Bray Wicklow & Arklow

Centres agreed*

Mapping exercise completed x 2

Staff Training Needs identified

Reconfigured service due to commence 1st January 2016.
Service Pathway for Children with
Disabilities or Developmental Delay
Referrers
L
E
V
E
L
Criteria: Children with
non-complex needs.
Primary
Care Level
1
L
E
V
E
L
Criteria: Children with
complex. needs
2
L
E
V
E
L
3
Criteria: Consultation
and short term
intervention for children
who require specialist
expertise
Children’s
Network
Disability Teams
Criteria:
Diagnosis of
condition
associated with
complex needs
or complex
needs identified
by screening
reports
Children’s
Specialist
Disability
Services
Network Team- Needs of Child

The Children’s Network Disability Teams will be the main provider of support
for children and young people and their families who require a complexity of
services and support which should be available through the skill mix within
the interdisciplinary network team.

Children with complex needs will receive the majority of supports at Network
level but have short term access to Primary Care and Specialist Disability
level care pathways where this is appropriate to their needs.
What is a Network Team?

Interdisciplinary team

Reconfigured from those working in disability services

Bring range of skills and experience

Team development needed

Training needs analysis

Sharing of skills and knowledge amongst team and between teams
Children’s Specialist Disability Services

To provide highly specialised expertise that some children require

To support Network teams and Primary Care, who will remain main service
provider

Should be clearly demonstrable that these needs cannot be met solely by
Primary Care or Network team

Options to consider as to how this specialist team will operate – to be agreed
at local level.
How to find out more…

Regular bulletins with news of developments around the country e mailed to
SCA staff, circulated to parents.

The HSE Learning and Development website www.hseland.ie You can log in /
enrol (you don’t have to be a member of HSE staff) and then click on Practice
Development Hubs, the Change Hub (down the page) and select Progressing
Children’s Disability Services from the Projects and initiatives section (on the
top line)

All supporting documentation and bulletins available there.

You can also contact Caroline Cantan, National Project Lead with queries or
comments by e-mail :
[email protected]