Child Development Centre

There is a speech and language therapy service based in the children’s centre at Dewsbury and District Hospital.

The speech and language therapists work with other therapists to provide multidisciplinary care for children with complex developmental/physical needs. We also aim to support the families of these children.

The address of the Child Development Centre is:

Child Development Centre
Dewsbury District Hospital
Halifax Road
Dewsbury
West Yorkshire
WF13 4HS

Telephone 01924 816157

Which services are available at the children’s centre?

• Dietetics
• Occupational therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Play
• Speech and language therapy

Who do the speech and language therapists see?
Any preschool child who may be presenting with a speech, language, communication or feeding problem.

Who can refer to the speech and language therapy service within the children’s centre?
We have an open referral policy; i.e. we accept referrals from any agency, including families, GPs, health visitors, providing there is parental consent.

Where will the service be provided?
Often children are seen at the children’s centre, but they can also be seen at home. As our involvement does not always involve direct treatment, we make visits into the home or other locations e.g. day nurseries, to offer support to the family and other relevant agencies.

Speech and language therapy assessment (only)
Your child’s referral will be acknowledged by letter, and their name will be added to a waiting list. When your child’s name reaches the top of this list, an appointment will be sent for you and your child to attend the child development centre.

If your child presents with more widespread difficulties, we might need to request your GP to refer to a consultant paediatrician.

Full team assessment involving speech and language therapy

Format of the day

WEDNESDAY MORNING

9:30am : Pre-assessment meeting – all assessment team

9:45am : Assessment of child – all assessment team + child + parent(s)/carer(s). This will take place in our playroom with lots of toys and play situations.

11:00 – 11:30am : Preparation of feedback – all assessment team meet to gather their findings.

11:30am : Verbal feedback to parents – paediatrician and named therapist present

A written report will be produced and taken to the family at home by the named therapist, within three weeks.

Feeding and swallowing assessment
Your child’s referral will be acknowledged by letter, and we will aim to arrange an assessment as soon as possible. This will usually take place at your home. If your child is presenting with complex feeding problems, a referral to the pre 5 feeding team may be made.

Consultant paediatrician
Head of the team. Has already assessed the child medically, will pass the information onto the other team members.  Will be present at the pre-feedback discussion and then at the feedback.

Play therapist
Will look at the child’s play skills, observing attention and listening skills, constructive play, eg shape sorting, building etc,imaginative (pretend) and social play.

Occupational therapist
Will look at sitting posture and seating needs. Will also look at dressing, toileting and feeding. Will pay particular attention to hand and eye co-ordination, use of hands and perception.

Physiotherapist
Will look at your child with regard to his/her physical development, eg the way he/she rolls, crawls etc.  This may involve undressing your child down to his/her underwear. If your child is already moving around, it would help if you had an idea of when he/she achieved each stage, eg. started rolling etc.

Speech and language therapist
Will look at all areas of communication, including your child’s:

• pre-language skills
• understanding of language
• use of language
• clarity of speech
• interactive skills

The speech and language therapist will also observe your child’s mouth and tongue movements, skills which are important for feeding and speech. If your child has feeding problems, it would be useful to bring a drink and food so that we can observe your child feeding.

Who is in the team?

• Speech and language therapist
• Dietitian
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational therapist
• Family coordinator for neonates
• Community learning disability nurse
• Community paediatric matron

Who do we see?
Children with a disability, under the age of five who have difficulties with eating and drinking.

Who can refer?

• Consultant paediatricians
• Nursing staff from neonatal and children’s ward
• Child development centre team members
• Feeding team members
• Health visitors

What does the team do?
Initially the team will need to assess your child’s feeding ability and needs. Members of the team will arrange to meet you and your child, to discuss your child’s feeding needs and to observe your child feeding. This will allow the team to identify any specific difficulties, so that appropriate advice and support can be given.

What does the feeding assessment look at?
The team will look at different aspects of feeding; these are outlined below.

• What food and drink your child eats/drinks
• The amount of food/drink your child accepts
• How your child manages to suck/drink/bite/chew/swallow
• How your child sits or is positioned to have their meal
• What utensils are used i.e. bottle/cup/spoon.
• How your child responds to food, the mealtime routine and other people i.e. the feeder.

Where will my child be seen?
Children and their families are often seen at home, so that we can observe feeding in a familiar and natural environment.

We also offer sessions at the Child development centre, where families can meet the team as a whole or attend groups where they can meet other children and families who have similar difficulties.

If your child is in hospital, then we would see you on the ward.

What happens following assessment?
Appropriate advice and support will be given to help your child develop their feeding skills. This can be in one or more of the following areas;

• Nutrition; types and quantities of food.
• Textures and consistencies of food and drink.
• Positioning and seating of your child at mealtimes.
• Timing and duration of mealtimes.
• What teats/cups/spoons to use.
• Alternative feeding.

It is important that the advice is followed at home at every meal time, so that your child has opportunity to develop their feeding skills. The team will offer support to help you follow the advice, either through visits to your home or by inviting you to a group.

Following SLT assessment (only)
If your child presents with more widespread difficulties, we might need to refer to other therapists within the child development centre team. This might result in your child undergoing a full team assessment, and accessing a group at the children’s centre. For this to happen, your child will need to be under the care of a consultant paediatrician.

Other possible outcomes : 

• Advice and review - this might involve home activities.
• Advice to other outside agencies e.g. day nursery.
• Referral to community paediatric service which is community clinic based.

This will happen if your child is :

• school-age
• presents with speech and language/communication difficulties only

Following full team assessment.
Following the assessment, regular treatment can be offered by group or individual therapy. This can involve bringing your child to the children’s centre. Sometimes it is necessary to visit at home to see the child in a more relaxed environment and offer advice when appropriate. Some children might only need advice and no regular treatment.

Every child will have an individual therapy/care plan which will outline their specific needs and goals. This will be reviewed as often as necessary for your particular child.

Most children will need to be re-assessed to monitor their progress, usually every 6-12 months. You will be advised of the date nearer the time.