Specialist Service For

Children with Learning Disabilities

Part of the CAMHS Service.

A Leaflet for Parents/Carers.

Welcome to the Specialist service for Children with Learning Disabilities.

We are part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

(CAMHS)

We are a child/young person focused service.

We see each child as an individual and each family as having their own needs.

We are approachable and friendly, we are here to listen, support and help.

Who is the Specialist Service for Children with Learning Disabilities?

We are a specialist service for Children and Young People aged 0-18 years that have a moderate to severe learning disability with additional complex needs, including emotional well being and mental health issues.

Our experienced, friendly team is made up of:

  • Specialist Community Learning Disability Nurses.
  • Clinical Psychologist.
  • Drama Therapist.
  • Consultant Psychiatrist.

Why Has My Child/Young Person Been Referred?

Someone who has met you or your child/young person has sent us a letter asking to see you.

This letter could have been from your G.P, Paediatrician, Social Worker, Head teacher of your child’s School.

  • We will send you a letter offering an Initial Assessment Appointment.
  • We will aim to see you and your child/young person within 2- 6 weeks or as soon as possible.

What Happens At This Appointment.

  • We will aim to get as much information as possible to get a good understanding of the needs of your child/young person.
  • You can ask us questions and tell us about your concerns.
  • Together we will decide the most suitable way to help.
  • Your child/young person may be put on a waiting list or you may find that this one session is enough to help you get back on track.
  • If we feel our service is not the most suitable, we will try and find one that best suits the needs of you and your child/young person.

How Can Our Team Help You And Your Family.

  • We might offer to support to your child/young person, you as a parent/carer, offer family work or specialist groups.
  • Our ongoing work with you might include home visits, observations or appointments at our clinics.
  • We will share any information and resources that you might find useful.
  • The various interventions we offer are;

Family work

Individual talking therapies

Drama therapy

Groups for young people

Parenting groups

Support for those working with your child e.g. teachers

Consultation with other professionals e.g. Portage, Social Services, Education

  • We aim to carry out four to six sessions with you/and/or your child/young person, and then together we will review our input and decide what happens next.
  • We work closely with other Health, Education, voluntary and Children and Young People’s Services.

Consent and Confidentiality.

All the information that you give to us is confidential.

We will ask your permission before we share any information with other services.

However if there are child protection concerns, we are required to share information.

We will write to parents/carers a report about what we have discussed at our appointment and usually send a copy to your G.P and to the person who referred you to our service.

Equal Opportunities.

We welcome everyone and treat everyone with respect.

Feedback.

Your views and opinions are valuable to us. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

To find out more about your experience and to help us improve our service we may send you a questionnaire.

Complaints.

If you are unhappy with the service you receive, please talk to us if you feel able to. If not you may prefer to contact;

Patient Advice and Liaison Service Manager

WestonGeneralHospital

Grange Road

Uphill

Weston- Super- Mare

BS23 4TQ

Telephone 01934 647216

How To Contact Us

If you need support reading this leaflet please ask a member

of staff for advice.

Please ask if you need this information in large print, Braille or

an audio version.