Experience of multi agency meetings, anyone?

[Peachy]

Had a letter today saying that the Paed is hosting a multi agency meeting next month to discuss a dx for ds3. She's invited SALT, OT, PT, BAT, and HV. We've seen SALT once (and again next week- hallelujah), HV twice ever and the BAT has retired LOL

We did agree to this at the last assessment appointment, but really have no idea what will happen. Do we take DS3? (he should be in Cm's that day), etc etc?

Any info gladly received

Ta

In the past we have had "Team around the child" meetings. Where ALL the professionals involved are invited (and a handful turn up!)

From what I remember one I went alone, the other I had to take DD as I had no childcare. I would say for me it was best with DD not present as you could concentrate solely on the meeting.

We've also had TAC meetings. DD1 tends to come because what else do we do with her. It can be handy - Paed diagnosed pneumonia from the other side of the room and sent us to hospital last time! The huge advantage is that you don't get that thing where each service is diagnosing something subtly different that offloads responsibility onto someone else - because that "someone else" is in the room and will pipe up "hang on, that's a load of rubbish".

When my 2 had their multi-agency dx (MAD? ) meetings dh stayed at home with them as we knew they wouldn't have been able to cope with it. As Dingle says, it also means that you can concentrate on what's going on.

They always seem to invite HVs but IME they never turn up anyway. I think it's more of a formality to just invite IYSWIM.

Our meetings were semi-informal. We all sat around in a circle. Everyone gave a quick introduction of who they were and then everyone took turns in talking about their findings and opinions. There was a bit of general discussion and then the Paed gave his/her verdict.

Is it a MAYEMS or a TAC? 2 diff things in my area.

I went and took DD cos of nowhere else to put her. Was interesting to find there really was no cohesive plan between them. The paed doodled on his writing pad and the OT/SALT/PT all said there wasn't enough money from the PCT to provide DD with the level of therapy the paed thought a severe CP child should have. The HV didn't come (we haven't seen her in 3 years) and the feeding team consultant couldn't make it.
Seemed pointless to be honest (although you're looking for a dx and we weren't)