(See page 178)
ANNEX 1
ANNEX 2
ROLE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER
Each Trust will designate an officer to act
as a point of reference in dealing with parents, offices of Education
and Library Boards and other professionals who might be involved.
(Ref 2.30 Draft Code of Practice.)
In practice this designated officer will be
the consultant paediatrician or senior clinical medical officer.
There are currently three designated officers
in Homefirst Community Trust/United Hospital Trust Area, one for
each geographical area as follows: Larne, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey,
Magherafelt and Cookstown, and Antrim and Ballymena. There is
one designated officer for the Causeway Trust.
The designated officer will be available to
discuss professional concerns of Health and Social Services Trust
staff where they feel a child may have special educational needs
which requires notification to the Education and Library Board's
Special Education Branch.
Once a decision has been reached to proceed
with a formal assessment, the Board will formally request the
medical advice from the designated officer.
Where the child has been previously known to
the service, there is an obligation to return the completed advice
within six weeks of receipt of the request. (Ref 3.38)
Where the child has not previously been known
(—unusual in that Health should have been contacted during
Stages 1-3), the same obligation does not apply. The Trust should,
however, make every effort to reply promptly. (Ref 3.39 and 3.40.)
There are a few exceptions to the six week time
limit as follows:
— exceptional personal circumstances
affecting the child or parent during the six week period;
— the child or parent is away for at
least four weeks during the six week period;
— an appointment for an examination/test
is not kept;
— the Trust has no relevant information
or records (Ref 3.39).
On receipt of the request for medical advice,
the designated officer, via the clerical staff, will:
(1) Acknowledge receipt of request to the
parent and attach an information sheet together with information
about holders of parental responsibility.
(2) Request medical advice from the relevant
doctor (letter 2).
(3) Request nursing advice from the relevant
nurse manager (letter 3).
(4) Request welfare advice from the relevant
social services team (letter 3).
(5) Request speech and language therapy advice
via the relevant manager (letter 3).
(6) Request occupational therapy advice via
the relevant manager (letter 3).
(7) Request physiotherapy advice via
the relevant manager (letter 3); and
(8) Request any other health advice deemed
relevant (e.g., orthoptics/dietetics/podiatry/hospital consultants)
(letter 3).
The designated officer will not be responsible
for seeking any additional information unless specifically requested
by NEELB/SELB, or parents. The need for additional information
may become apparent on receipt of all the separate advices.
The designated officer will not be responsible
for making any onward referrals, this is the sole responsibility
of the examining doctor, nurse, social worker or therapist.
All completed advice must be returned to the
designated officer within six weeks.
The designated officer will forward all completed
advice at six weeks, with an outstanding advice being forwarded
later. A reminder will be sent to all those via their line
manager indicating that advice is outstanding (letter six). A
covering letter (letter seven) will be sent to Education and Library
Board with the completed advice indicating which advice is attached.
The designated officer is not responsible for
checking the content of individual advice.
After receipt of all advice, usually within
six weeks, the Education and Library Board has a further six weeks
in which to send parents the documented evidence of the outcome
of that assessment. The decision as to whether or not to make
a statement must be made within four weeks. Parents have a right
to state a preference for the grant-aided school their child should
attend.
The draft statement is sent to the designated
officer. The designated officer, via the clerical staff, will
copy the draft, excluding the attached advice to all relevant
parties for comment re provision (letter eight).
The designated officer will update the Special
Educational Needs code on the Child Health system.
22 February 1999
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