The Specialist Services team at Scope provide Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS). The team consists of a range of skilled and experienced staff including physiotherapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists and others.
Individualised and flexible services support and empower children and their families, promote the development of young children and facilitate the inclusion and participation of children with disabilities in their local communities.
The team also works in partnership with families and other people important in the child's life. Services may be provided at home, in the community, or at a Scope facility and include:
Identification of Needs - Needs are identified in consultation with families and carers.
Family Service Co-ordination - Families are offered a 'Family and Services Support Plan' to ensure that the services best meet the needs of the child and their family and are linked into other community supports.
Idividual Sessions - Consultation, therapy and advice from our Specialist Services team about how to promote the development of the child.
Group Programs - Children with similar needs can join together on a regular basis for group programs. These may include but are not limited to:- communication, sensory-motor, swimming/hydrotherapy and gym groups. The availability of group programs will vary between regions. Group programs also provide an opportunity for parents and cares to meet and provide support to each other.
Equipment Advice and Assistance - Equipment related assessment, advice and loans, plus assistance with funding applications for a range of equipment such as communication devices, mobility equipment and home modifications.
Promoting Community Inclusion - Specialist Services staff are available to work with staff in local playgroups, childcare centres and kindergartens to facilitate the inclusion of children into community programs.
Referral - Our staff can make referrals on behalf of families (with their permission) within or across agencies to meet any new and identified needs.
Transition - Assistance is available to plan for successful transition into other programs; for example, moving across early intervention program to childcare or kindergarten or moving on to school.
For more information about ECIS please contact your region.