Therapy & Specialist Provision

THE ISLINGTON SPECIALIST CHILDREN'S SERVICE

 

The IANDS (Islington Additional Needs and Disability Service) works in collaboration with Richard Cloudesley schools. IANDS is a team of health and therapy services that consist of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Therapy Assistants and Paediatricians. IANDS work closely with the Islington Children’s Social Care services.

The IANDS team work closely with families, children and young people, teachers and school staff and other professionals to support each child and their specific needs.

The IANDS team provide training and advice, contributions to supporting skills and management at home, guidelines and programmes (e.g. stretching, communication profiles), as well as contributions to Educational Health Care Plans and or Annual Reviews. Within schools, IANDS provides training and support to educational staff, contributing to schemes of work and curriculum.

 

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY

Speech and Language Therapists (SALTs) work with children to enable them to communicate to the best of their ability. This sometimes involves using special equipment including communication books (e.g. PODD) or voice output communication aids.

Speech and Language Therapists also work with children who have eating or swallowing difficulties to help them to be safe whilst eating and drinking.
The SLT department works as part of a team that involves training, joint assessment, target setting, joint planning, and assessment for the provision of equipment. Speech and Language Therapists write and review communication and feeding guidelines at school at home.

Speech and Language Therapists may work directly with young people or within a group setting.  They support young people at home, in school and at respite. 

Speech and Language Therapists maintain close liaison with other community therapists who work with children who do not live in Islington, as well as specialist providers.

 

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Physiotherapists who work with children and young people are specialists in movement and work to help children achieve physical development and functional independence. The aim is not just to help children and young people move, but also to help them to make the best of their ability as, through movement, they learn about themselves and their environment.

Students' physiotherapy needs are reviewed regularly. Physiotherapy may be provided individually or as a group. Treatment may include exercise programmes, postural management, hydrotherapy, review and provision of certain equipment as well as more intensive input before and following orthopaedic surgery. Treatment sessions may take place at school, home or respite facilities. Sessions at school may be run by the class team following guidance from a physiotherapist.

Physiotherapists work as part of a team that involves training, joint assessment, target setting, joint planning and assessment for the provision of postural management equipment. They also write and review postural management and exercise guidelines for use at school and at home.

Physiotherapists maintain close liaison with other community therapists who work with children who do not live in Islington, as well as specialist clinics like orthotics. Your child’s nominated therapist may attend hospital appointments with you, if given adequate notice.

 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY


Occupational Therapists (OTs) help children participate in meaningful everyday activities. A child’s ‘occupation’ includes activities like playing with toys, performing self care tasks (eating, drinking, dressing, using the toilet), writing or working on a computer. OTs assess a child’s underlying skills (e.g. like co-ordination, how they use their senses like touch, vision and hand skills), how they participate in everyday activities, and what support they may need from others to accomplish these tasks.

Occupational Therapists work as part of a team that involves training, joint assessment, target setting, joint planning and assessment for the provision of specialist equipment. They also write and review programmes for use at school and at home.

At times treatment may be offered to achieve specific functional goals. This may be in the form of a programme for a class, group or a short block of individual sessions. Treatment may include providing special equipment (switches, hand splints, special seating, adapted cutlery).

Occupational Therapists will support home assessments and reviews to optimise safe and effective daily living activities e.g. eating and drinking, toileting, and bathing.

Occupational Therapists work closely with local wheelchair services when buggies or wheelchairs are required. Occupational Therapists will provide home visits to students who reside in Islington to work with families more closely and will work closely with local community therapists for students who do not reside in Islington.

 

MEDICAL TEAM

The school medical team is comprised of registered children's School Nurses and Health Care Assistants. The school health team provide health promotion and immunisations, monitors and responds to every students' health needs and annual health reviews. 
Health Care Assistants provide the daily nursing care required at school. We are supported by a school doctor who visits regularly.

 

DIETICIAN

Dieticians promote the wellbeing of individuals and communities to prevent nutrition related problems. They help children and families to make informed and practical choices about nutrition. 

At school our dietician works closely with the medical team and the SALT to help children with faltering growth, food allergies, restrictive eating and those who require enteral feeding.

 

NORDOFF ROBBINS MUSIC THERAPY

Both our primary and secondary pupils benefit from music therapy provided by Nordoff Robbins. We are lucky to have one of their therapists visit us for one day each week, and some of our younger pupils visit the Nordoff Robbins centre.
www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/

 

COMMUNITY DENTIST

The dentist visits the school 2-3 times a year to look briefly at your child's teeth to see if they need dental treatment. No actual treatment is carried out at these visits. However, if your child needs dental treatment the Dentist will organise this with you, either through your family Dentist or the nearest community clinic.

 

SOCIAL CARE

Social workers form relationships with children, young people and their families who are facing challenges. By supporting them and working with them, the social worker finds and develops long lasting solutions. Not only do they work with children and young people, but also with their families and friends, together with other professionals like teachers, doctors, nurses, police and lawyers to make sure the very best options are available to help the child or young person.

The Social Workers based at school work only with children with complex disabilities who live in Islington. However, they will liaise with colleagues in other boroughs where appropriate. There continues to be a duty social worker from the Disabled Children's Team at 222 Upper Street who can provide immediate assistance with any safeguarding concerns.

The Social Workers have been co-located with the rest of the South Locality Islington Specialist Children Service team at Richard Cloudesley School since April 2010. The team is comprised of two full time social workers.

 

 

Letter for New parents regarding Therapy and Health

Letter for new parents re Therapy and Health.pdf