ABSTRACT
The team As eating and drinking are complex activities, requiring many skills, a range of people may need to be involved in assessment. Some areas hold special multidisciplinary clinics.
Central to the team are the child and his parents. Other family members, such as grandparents, may be actively involved in the child’s care. Given the requisite cognitive ability the older child or young adult should be involved in the assessment process. Respite and residential staff should participate in the management of their residents. Collaboration is likely to result in the most successful outcome so every person’s opinion should be treated with respect. People may vary in their perception of the child’s skills and difficulties. For each individual, particularly the child and his parents, this view will represent ‘their truth’.
