There is a wide range of professional support services for people with additional support needs. An important one is social workers; they help people with their problems and look after their welfare. This proves essential for people with additional support needs particularly children and young adults who need extra support. Whilst working with the individuals and families they also "serve as liaisons between different institutions to assist patients and collaborate with other health professionals" (MSW). Meaning access to other professional support services is easier for the families, as a social worker will provide them with information and communication between professionals. This ensures that all help and support that is needed, is given
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An occupational therapist “provides support to people whose health prevents them doing the activities that matter to them” (NHS). This is significant to people with additional support needs, as they require extra help in specific areas in everyday life. They work with many people to help them get their independence back or gain new skills in which they struggled to have before. For access for occupational therapists you can go directly to them or more often a GP or nurse refers you for the support you need. A referral can be made to an occupational therapist once it has been discussed by them and the child’s family, although occupational therapists are extremely busy and are in high demand. This means that sometimes a child will need to be re-referred only if the child has “new and/or functional difficulty” (ASL SCOTLAND). When dealing with many cases the confidentiality of that case must be protected at all cost, unless the service user gives consent or a court order is given to retrieve any information about the case. Keeping any information about the service user needs to be kept confidential when dealing with people out-with the family or other professional directly involved in the service users life. Many interpersonal skills are essential when working with children and individuals with additional support needs and one definite skill is patience. This is important as when you are dealing with the child you need to take time to help and support them as it will take more time for them to get the end goals completed. Also with other professionals as their schedule may not coincide with yours. When dealing with specific additional support needs e.g. autism, consistency is needed as change may be difficult to comprehend. Therefore keeping regular visits and communicating well with families’ means consistency in treatment is kept to great
An occupational therapist “provides support to people whose health prevents them doing the activities that matter to them” (NHS). This is significant to people with additional support needs, as they require extra help in specific areas in everyday life. They work with many people to help them get their independence back or gain new skills in which they struggled to have before. For access for occupational therapists you can go directly to them or more often a GP or nurse refers you for the support you need. A referral can be made to an occupational therapist once it has been discussed by them and the child’s family, although occupational therapists are extremely busy and are in high demand. This means that sometimes a child will need to be re-referred only if the child has “new and/or functional difficulty” (ASL SCOTLAND). When dealing with many cases the confidentiality of that case must be protected at all cost, unless the service user gives consent or a court order is given to retrieve any information about the case. Keeping any information about the service user needs to be kept confidential when dealing with people out-with the family or other professional directly involved in the service users life. Many interpersonal skills are essential when working with children and individuals with additional support needs and one definite skill is patience. This is important as when you are dealing with the child you need to take time to help and support them as it will take more time for them to get the end goals completed. Also with other professionals as their schedule may not coincide with yours. When dealing with specific additional support needs e.g. autism, consistency is needed as change may be difficult to comprehend. Therefore keeping regular visits and communicating well with families’ means consistency in treatment is kept to great