Choosing independent professionals

[brainfrogg]

Hello fellow mums, how do you choose an independent professional for assessing your child and/or for therapy support? I am in the process of selecting an independent EP for my child's cognitive assessment. And an OT for both assessment and therapy sessions.

Besides the professional registration, what else to look for? I am in talks with an OT who works in a school part-time and also does her private work. They don't have much online reviews from parents, but they are registered with HCPC/RCOT. They are renting a space and running sessions on their own (no other therapist or team). Their fee is as high as the reputable OT clinics. But those clinics do have good reviews and more experienced, they have a waiting list though. How to decide who to choose? What other things I should be considering before I proceed?

Similar situation with the educational psychologist. Most reputable ones have availability end of August/September. But then what exactly decides reputation? Good online reviews by parents? I say online as I don't have a big network of parents I can ask, so I check Google/social media. What if an EP is experienced, registered, available sooner and has a reasonable fee? Is the amount of fee they charge defines the quality? I got a quote of £2,750 for an assessment (EHCP approved) and another for £1050 for the same report. How do I decide?

Just fyi - DS is 9 yo, not in school atm but was attending a maintained special school with an EHCP. Now looking into a new school for him and heading towards a tribunal.

Both those amounts are within the normal range for an EP. The fee does not necessarily determine quality. Some who are more expensive are not as good as some who are cheaper.

Word of mouth from parents who have used EPs and OTs is helpful. Ask around locally and nationally.

Make sure whoever you use has experience of writing Tribunal standard reports. Not all have experience of writing medico-legal standard reports. If you think you will have to appeal and will want them to attend as a witness, check that they attend hearings. Unless you are lucky with a cancellation, which do crop up, anyone good will have a waiting list.

For the EP, ask what cognitive testing they will do. Not all do it as standard. IMO it is needed/helpful. When they do include it, not all do the full range of testing. Similarly, ask the OT what, if any, standardised testing they will use.

Ask both if they will do school visits if necessary. Some do, some don’t. Whether it is necessary depends on your circumstances and what you want/need. Even if DS isn’t in school now, this may be important. In many cases it isn’t necessary, but for example, in some cases, it can be useful for the EP to visit the named school and parental preference school.

For the OT, check what qualifications and experience they have for dealing with the sensory integration side of things. Check what equipment they have. Also check they are willing to do both the assessment and ongoing provision. Some only do one or the other.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream thank you so much for always being very helpful and providing such useful information.

I need help deciding which EP to go ahead with. Got quotes (some very expensive and some not so much) from below EPs so far.

Wendy Anthony
Nikki Bouvier
Jemma Levy
Catriona Hassall
Olenka Dean
Leanne Cowan
Ellie Jeffery
Ruth Rogers
Karin Valentiner

All seem to be very experienced. But I have a limited budget with which I need to do an OT report and therapy sessions. I am not sure if I this is the right time to spend huge amount of money. DS is in primary and then he will move to secondary which is an important phase. And he could be needing another assessment? Plus our DC needs can change quickly and that requires another assessment?

Does anyone has their DC assessed with any of the above EPs? How has been your personal experience?

Out of your list, JL is by far the best IMO. After that, from your list, I would use EJ then CH. Personal opinion but reports from the others on your list aren’t the best IMO. Personally, I wouldn’t use them if heading towards Tribunal.

If money is tight but assessments are needed, have you looked at charity funding?

You say you are heading towards Tribunal, have you submitted an appealed yet?

I appreciate you may want to fund some session in the meantime, but OT sessions can be part of your appeal.

Sometimes further assessments are required in the future. Depending on the EP, time lapsed, and changes, some EPs will right an addendum rather than needing a whole new assessment.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream thank you.

Re appeal submission, I am awaiting mediation certificate.

By charity funding, do you mean special needs specific grants? I think there are a few that need a professional's reference. Can you recommend any please?

I would start with Parents in Need. If they can’t help, there are other charities you could look at. It can take perseverance. For example, Boparan Trust provides grants for some therapies and I have successfully used the evidence from these therapies in appeals. Similar for Hospital Saturday Fund. Jessie’s Fund grant music therapy and a report and I have successfully used the reports in appeals. Then charities related to certain groups of people, e.g. Camp Simcha's counselling sessions for Jewish families and Textile Children’s Trust grants for therapies for families in that industry. Also, lots smaller local charities/CICs, e.g. Dorset Children’s Foundation, Therapy Stars Foundation and Inspirative Arts. Not an exhaustive list and they all have eligibility criteria, so you may not be eligible for all or any of them, but it is worth looking and asking what is available. Not all offer Tribunal standard reports, but the information gathered can still be helpful for appeals.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream thank you very much. Is it okay if I ask you another question?

My DS is not in school at the moment and the EP assessment would take place at home, if I decide to go with someone travelling to us. But I feel this type of assessment is better done at school or a dedicated space/clinic. Does the environment matter? I don't have a variety of resources or material at home. And I find DS is more relaxed at home and the enviornment is less structured sometimes. Should I opt for someone with a clinic space?

Feel free to ask any questions.

The EP should bring everything they need with them. Don’t worry about resources and materials.

A good assessment can take place at home, at school (where the child is in school), in a clinic or other space. In part, it depends on the case. Some DC absolutely do not cope with other people in their space at home. Others can’t leave the house. In some cases, it can help if the EP will do a school visit - not necessarily to the current school but the parental preference &/or the LA’s proposed school. So it depends really. They should all take into account how a CYP presents in other settings and their needs in settings other than where they have assessed.