U02 LO3 3.3.5 Making Referrals in an Early Years Setting

• Health and social care
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

U02 LO3 3.3.5 Making Referrals in an Early Years Setting.

Today's lesson will help you:

• To identify reasons why referrals are made.
• To explain the role of multi-disciplinary teams in supporting children.
• To discuss the importance of informed consent

Why may a child need
help with something?

Referrals

A referral is asking for help from someone more knowledgeable who can provide expert support and guidance.

Why Referrals Are Made

Developmental delays: Difficulty in learning, speaking, or moving.

Behavioral challenges: Struggling with anger, aggression, or attention.

Medical conditions: Physical or mental health issues.

Child protection concerns: Safety concerns about the child's health and well-being.

Developmental delays

Behavioural challenges

Medical conditions

Child protection concerns:

The Role of Multi-disciplinary Teams

A multi-disciplinary team is a group of professionals who work together to support a child. For example:

Health visitors: Nurses who check on babies and young children.

Educational psychologists: Experts in child development and learning.

Speech and language therapists: Help with communication skills.

Occupational therapists: Help with daily living skills.

Social workers: Support families and children.

Health visitors:

1. Help with daily living skills
2. Nurses who check on babies and young children.
3. Are experts in child development and learning.
4. Help with communication skills

Educational Psychologists are experts in:

1. Child Nutrition
2. Safeguarding
3. Child development and learning.
4. Child diseases.

A Speech and language therapist:

1. Check on babies and young children.
2. Support families and children
3. Help with daily living skills
4. Help with communication skills.

An Occupational therapist:

1. Expert in child development and learning.
2. Help with communication skills.
3. Check on babies and young children
4. Help with daily living skills

Social workers:

1. Support families and children.
2. Help with communication skills.
3. Help with daily living skills.
4. Experts in child development and learning

Informed Consent

Informed consent means understanding and agreeing the sharing of information.

It is importance that parents give consent to personal information about their child and or family being shared with  other professionals. This includes personal details and images of their child.

Task 

 Ask your school or research the school site for a copy of the 'confidentiality' and 'safeguarding policy'. You will need to read it a few times to make sure you understand it.

• Describe the setting you are in – do not name the setting. Is it a school? A nursery? Daycare?

• Explain the process in your work setting for making a referral.

• Who makes a referral?  

Task 

3.5b Why would a referral be made? It could be a child protection issue or referral to an agency to get the child additional help.

 

3.5c Why are other agencies involved? Why involve a speech therapist or physiotherapist?

3.5d Securing informed consent. You will need to ask the principal about this – does he/she speak to the parent? Do they have a meeting?  

Why Referrals
Are Made?

Why is it important that you understand the protocols and regulations for supporting informed consent?