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Vancouver Paediatric Team at Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre

The Vancouver Paediatric Team (VPT) is a citywide, interdisciplinary team that helps children and youth lead active and healthy lives at school and in the community.

How to access

  • Check eligibility

    For Nursing support services
    The nursing team services children aged 0 to 19 years, requiring delegated procedures and care.

    For Paediatric Community Nursing
    The nursing team provides services to children aged 0 to 19 years old with nursing needs.

    For OT and PT services
    School-aged children/youth aged 5 to 19 years old with neurodevelopmental delays who attend Vancouver Public Schools.

  • Get a referral

    Referrals are screened and prioritized. 

    For nursing support services
    A referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required. To make a referral, email/fax the NSS referral form to the contact information listed on the form

    For paediatric community nursing 
    Please complete the VPT paediatric nursing referral form and email it to vptintake@vch.ca.

    For physical and occupational therapy
    A referral is accepted from health-care providers and/or schools.      

    For school-age therapy program

    Please review the VPT OT/PT online referral instructions prior to opening the VPT OT/PT referral package.

    For In-Home and Community Support
    Hospitals and physicians, please review and complete the VPT hospital to community referral.

    Consent to release and exchange information

Hours of operation

Currently open
  • Monday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday:   Closed
  • Sunday:   Closed

How to get here

Paid street parking is available. There is also free street parking available close to the building. Accessible by transit on the #16 bus line.

Our services

The Vancouver Paediatric Team (VPT) supports children in the community with a variety of health-care needs. Our multidisciplinary team consists of Registered Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, a Registered Social Worker, and Rehabilitation Assistants. We work collaboratively with our community partners and families to provide consultation and intervention guided by best practices.

Find out more about each of our services below.​

Nursing team

The nursing team provides the following services to children (0-19 yrs) with various health care needs:

Nursing support services

  • train and monitor school staff to care for children requiring nursing procedures, such as diabetes management including insulin administration, intermittent catheterization, oral suctioning, and tube feeding
  • assess children with complex medical needs for respite nursing care at home and school
  • request supplies and equipment through At Home Medical Benefits for children on our caseload
  • complete eligibility assessments for the At Home Program supported through the Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD),

For more information, visit bcchildrens.ca

Paediatric community health nursing

  • advocate for and support families to care for their children with complex care needs
  • provide education and support for nursing procedures such as wound care, respiratory/cardiac assessments, injections, and feeding tube support for children at home
  • help families to navigate the health care system to best support their child’s health care needs

VPT Paediatric Nursing Referral Form

School-aged Therapy Program 

Who is eligible?

  • School-aged children/youth with neurodevelopmental delays, who attend Vancouver Public Schools from Kindergarten to the end of high school.

 What we do:

  • provide consultative services to schools for children requiring the scope of an Occupational Therapist and/or Physiotherapist to support inclusion and participation at school
  • teach and support school staff to assist children with neurodevelopmental delays i.e. wheelchair transfers and mobility, toileting transfers, modified feeding supports, modified PE curriculum, and alternative positioning supports
  • provide education and in-services to school staff to support inclusive strategies for those children experiencing significant barriers to participation

Occupational therapy

Provides consultation for: 

  • activities of Daily Living/Self-Care (feeding, toileting, dressing, leisure activities) 
  • musculoskeletal needs (postural alignment, joint function/protection, splinting)
  • support with fatigue and/or pain management
  • significant challenges with sensory regulation impacting participation in school
  • participation in learning activities through the use of assistive technology, modifications, and environmental controls 
  • short-term support after discharge from hospital

OT Services Information

Physiotherapy

Support children needing:

  • wheelchairs and other necessary equipment (standing frames, walkers, special needs tricycles, orthoses)
  • assistance or support with walking/mobility (transferring, stairs, use of gait aids)
  • exercises with modifications to address specific musculoskeletal needs (postural alignment, joint function, joint protection, gross motor, leisure activities)
  • modifications to the standard physical education program, as requested by the teacher or school support staff
  • specialized support with Activities of Daily Living (toileting, dressing, leisure activities) 
  • cardiorespiratory support (breath control & secretion clearance) 
  • support with fatigue and/or pain management 
  • a safe, accessible environment at school for children who use mobility aids (crutches, walkers, wheelchairs)
  • short-term support after discharge from the hospital

PT Services Information

Social worker

Supports children and families who are already on the caseload of a member of the Vancouver Paediatric Team and can help families with a range of services such as:

  • applying for subsidized housing and eligible benefits (Disability Tax Credit, At Home Program, Child Care Subsidy)
  • advocacy - linking to supports 
  • providing information about local community programs and services

Social work services are accessed by the VPT internally.

Resources

Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre

Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre provides services for people of all ages. The centre works with community organizations and health-care providers, such as your family doctor, to keep people and communities healthy.

Paediatric Teams

Our community-based paediatric teams help infants, children and youth participate in active, healthy lives in their homes, schools, and communities by providing services in Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. Populations served, and services available vary by location.