From 4 May 2011, ACT operates a telephone referral and helpline system.
An experienced clinician will be available to take calls on this number from 10am till 4pm, Monday to Friday as far as possible.
The ACT referral and enquiry line was developed in collaboration with local therapy teams and LEAN principles to improve on our previous referral process, and combine it with the existing helpline service offered by ACT.
The ACT referral and enquiry line will provide a first point of contact to access:
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specialist assessment held in an appropriate setting
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specialist consultation held in an appropriate setting
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core and bespoke training
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detailed advice and signposting to other services.
ACT Clinicians will work with callers to identify the best way to support clients based on identified skills and needs. When appropriate the ACT clinician will offer an appointment date at the time the referral is made. (Please note that you will need to confirm this date with the client and team and notify ACT within three working days.)
You can call to refer someone; or for more general help, advice and signposting. This telephone service is will be the initial point of contact for new clients for all areas of the service including: environmental controls, augmentative and alternative communication and computer access.
For activity around clients with whom are we are currently working with please call our standard office number 0121 466 3050.
In order to accept a referral ACT will need information on:
Client: GP, date of birth, diagnosis, address and contact details, physical/cognitive abilities and impairments
Goals: as identified by the team and the patient (where appropriate), and what has been tried locally.
Environments: details of schools, day centres etc, information on the team supporting the client
Where AAC is part of the reason for the referral it is usually appropriate that the AAC Care pathway is used at a local level to build intervention over time. A copy can then be sent to the ACT Duty NHS.net account. Please send referral information only from another NHS.net account.
Where appropriate a face to face appointment will be offered, this may be a consultation or assessment appointment. Please note: the referral to our service will not be complete until the appointment date offered has been confirmed by you.
Consultation appointment
This is a single meeting to give the client, local team, family or carers support and advice on how the client’s needs could be best met locally. Consultation appointments are normally carried out at ACT’s base in the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre. Consultation appointments are offered where there is an expectation that specialist equipment and ongoing support from ACT is not required at this time, but may be needed in the future.
Assessment appointment
This is the initial meeting in a series of appointments where ACT offers extended face to face support. Assessment appointments are carried out in the most appropriate setting; this is likely to be the client’s home, school or day centre. It is likely that provision of equipment will be considered and trialled.
