Child Development Centre

Child Development Centre is a child centred, family focussed, disability service for children and young people 0-15 years. Services are provided for the child and youth population of Waikato District Health Board and include services in outpatient clinics, home and community settings. Services are for children and young people with any condition in which developmental problems, or risk of, developmental problems are central, including: developmental delay/intellectual disability neurological conditions e.g. cerebral palsy, developmental coordination disorders, dyspraxia autism spectrum disorder syndromes associated with developmental delay behavioural disorders associated with developmental delay neurodegenerative disorders children weighing <1250gms at birth. A service is also provided for children with faecal incontinence (soiling). Referrals are received from any health, education, welfare or social agency and services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals. Child Development Centre is a training centre for a range of health professionals. Permission is always sought prior to consultation for student involvement in a child or young person’s care. Exclusions Child Development Centre does not provide assessment for children with specific learning difficulties. Our role is to work with children with developmental disabilities as identified above. Services are not provided to children or young people eligible for Accident Compensation unless specifically contracted by Accident Compensation Commission (ACC).

Charter of clinical care Children’s rights Guidelines for referral of pre-school age children Guideline for referrals of school age children Referral form School questionaire

Services provided

Visiting Neurodevelopmental Therapy

Visiting neurodevelopmental therapists (VNTs) provide assessment, treatment, equipment and home modification for children with complex needs (0 - school age), in the home environment. The VNT’s support children and their family/whanau with everyday activities such as mobility, play, self care, early communication and social participation.

Psychology

Psychologists provide assessment, diagnosis and intervention to children and young people who have significant learning and/or behavioural difficulties that are associated with a developmental disability.  Psychologists focus on the psychological issues (social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural) that impact on children and their family/whanau.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists provide assessment, treatment, and education to children and young people, who have a wide range of neurological, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions affecting their development and/or level of functional independence. 

Speech Language Therapy

Speech language therapists provide assessment, treatment and education for children and young people with speech, language, social communication and swallowing difficulties.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists provide assessment, treatment, equipment and home modification for children and young people where there are difficulties with self care (eating, grooming, bathing and dressing), play, leisure, chores and daily routines/organisation. 

Social Work

Social workers provide services to children, young people and their family/whanau who require support and information to access child disability services and at significant points of change.  Social Workers focus on the psychosocial issues (social, family, emotional, and behavioural) that impact on children and their families.

Paediatrician

Developmental paediatricians provide assessment and diagnosis, including medical investigations; and ongoing care for children and young people with developmental disabilities.

Clinics

Clinic name	Description
Splinting Clinic	Provides upper limb assessment and splinting management for children and young people.  The aim of Splinting Clinic is to maintain or improve range of movement and function in the upper limb. This weekly clinic is provided by a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist. Referrals are accepted from the child’s primary therapist or paediatrician.
Paediatric Neurology Clinic	Provides regular and ongoing physical assessments for children and young people with neuromuscular conditions. This clinic is provided by a visiting paediatric neurologist and a physiotherapist, three times per year. Referrals are accepted from paediatricians.
CDC Orthopaedic Clinic	Provides regular and ongoing orthopaedic assessment and management for children and young people with complex orthopaedic conditions related to their developmental disability. This clinic is provided by a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon and a physiotherapist once a month. Referrals for this clinic are accepted from paediatricians and therapy staff.
Interdisciplinary assessments (IDAs)	An IDA is a multidisciplinary assessment. Assessments are carried out by a team consisting of a psychologist, speech language therapist and an occupational therapist who together assess the child or young person’s level of ability across multiple areas of development. Interview with parents and others will also take place. In some cases an observation of the child at preschool or school is necessary.  The assessments for younger children (1-6 years) typically take a morning (9am to noon). Older children may take two mornings or more. Our goal is to assess children as early as possible in order to facilitate understanding of diagnostic issues and referral to intervention, needs assessment and advocacy services. Referrals for these assessments come via health or education specialists (eg paediatrician, Early Intervention providers, CDC staff).
Feeding Clinic	Provided for children and young people with feeding and swallowing disorders that have a significant functional impact on the child’s development e.g. poor growth, failure to thrive, lethargy, social impact and extreme family stress. This clinic is provided by a psychologist, speech language therapist and paediatrician, once a month. Feeding clinic referrals are accepted when paediatricians or therapists (including early intervention teams) are already working with the family.
Soiling Clinic	For children and young people aged four years and over, who present with constipation and/or faecal soiling that has not responded to primary health management (e.g. GP intervention). Soiling clinics take place three times a month and involve a paediatrician and a psychologist, taking both a behavioural and medical approach to the problem. Referrals to Soiling clinic come via general referral to CDC. Children should have seen their family GP first and medication trialled as appropriate.
Baby Clinic	Waikato Hospital newborn unit follow-up programme. All children born at Waikato Hospital, weighing less than 1250grams, are eligible for follow-up at one and two years of age (age corrected for prematurity) and again at their fourth birthday. Baby Clinic occurs every week and involves a speech language therapist (SLT), physiotherapist, psychologist and paediatrician. The SLT, physiotherapist and psychologist assess the child’s developmental progress. The paediatrician monitors growth and any medical concerns. Referrals to Baby Clinic come from the Waikato Hospital New born Unit.
Intellectual Disability Clinic	Provides diagnosis of Intellectual Disability, using formal tests of intelligence and adaptive functioning. The Intellectual Disability Clinic takes place once a week over a full morning (9am to noon). Referrals for Intellectual Disability assessment are requested by paediatricians or clinicians already involved with the child or young person.
Incredible Years Parenting Programme	A programme that teaches parents and caregivers how to manage children with challenging behaviours. It is a positive parenting model which strengthens the relationship between parents/caregivers and the child. The programme will focus on children who have developmental difficulties with a developmental range up to six years. The programme is 14 weeks long and each session lasts two and a half hours and is facilitated by CDC psychologists. Referrals into the Incredible Years programme will be for children already known to CDC.
Preschoolers with Autism: An Education and Skills Training Group for Parents	Provided for parents and caregivers who have preschoolers with a recent diagnosis of autism. The aim of the group is to learn what an Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is, how it affects the child’s development, behaviour, social skills, communication skills and play.  The group is facilitated by a psychologist with the support of another clinician. The group is run every school term over 13 weeks for a two hour session. Individual sessions with the psychologist are also part of the package offered. Referrals into the Autism Group are for children and families with a new diagnosis of ASD and will be made by a CDC paediatrician or therapist.
Social Communication Assessment Clinic (SCA Clinic)	A weekly clinic that provides an assessment for children and young people 6 -15 years of age, who have been referred with suspected autism spectrum disorder. The SCA Clinic is run by senior staff, who interview caregivers and children, and gather information from schools if necessary. Depending on the findings, referral will be made on to further services within CDC and/or to other community services. A SCA Clinic appointment takes about 1 ½ hours.
Pathway Clinic	This is a weekly clinic that provides a brief developmental assessment for children aged 0-6 who have been referred to the Child Development Centre with known or suspected developmental delays. The Pathway Clinic is run by senior staff, who interview caregivers, undertake a developmental screen and, depending on their findings, refer on to further services within CDC and/or to early intervention and other community services. A Pathway Clinic appointment takes about 45 minutes.