Mr. Adam Harris:

In regard to the NICE guidelines, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, there is a variation of them in Scotland based on the same principle. The NICE guidelines are actually widely used by many clinicians in Ireland because they are seen to be best practice but their use is by no means required. The HSE does not produce them. Our own Psychological Society of Ireland produced good best practice guidelines for children’s assessment last year but they are a voluntary code. They do not form the basis of what is needed in a report. They contribute to some of the confusion within the private sector in that a person might get a private assessment by an appropriately qualified clinician and get an extensive report, or that person might get a letter with a signature at the end of it. At the moment there is nothing in national policy that says which we should favour, and that is very worrying. It is leading to many of the challenges families are seeing on the ground and something of a cottage industry developing in places.

In regard to the CDNT, it could be argued that there is no model. There is a model on paper but it is simply not working on the ground in any meaningful way for families. It is a source of immense frustration for people. Our view is that the more that supports can be provided in context, the better. That is where we would like to see the further roll out of a school-based model. It is important to say that this is where there should be significant joined-up thinking. We know that, ultimately, it is Department of Education policy that we want to see these therapy teams regionally. They are going to be competing with the HSE for recruitment. We need to look at a much more integrated approach in that regard.