The following is a list of some of the many professionals and services that are available to support children and young people and their families.

Art Therapist*: are registered health professionals. Art therapy uses art as the primary mode of expression, alongside talking / psychotherapy techniques. It aims to reduce distress and improve social, emotional and mental health by promoting insight, self-compassion and a sense of agency and self-worth.

Audiologist: An audiologist carries out hearing tests, assesses and identifies hearing and balance functions. Children’s hearing is usually screened during Autumn Term of Y1. Children who are identified as having potential hearing difficulties are offered a further hearing test. This may be at school or at a healthcare setting.

Autism in Schools Team: This Local Authority team works with children and young people aged 4 to 16 with a diagnosis of autism who are on roll at a school in Cornwall. Autism Advisors and Autism Workers support individual pupils, provide training for staff and guidance for parents.

CAMHS Primary Mental Health Team provide assessment, consultation and treatment for children and young people with moderate or mild mental health difficulties. They work with children aged between 5 and 18 years old, providing psychological interventions. They also operate a diagnostic ADHD Service.

Clinical Psychologist*: often works as part of the CAMHS team. They assess mental health and help young people explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Dietician*: might be involved where a child or young person has difficulties with nutrition, is under or overweight or has an eating disorder. They can offer advice around required dietary and lifestyle changes, food supplements and intolerances / allergies.

Early Help Hub: receives requests for help for Cornwall Council and Cornwall Foundation NHS Trust children’s services, with the aim of identifying the ‘right help, at the right time, by the right service’.

Early Years Inclusion and SEND Service: This Local Authority service in Cornwall is a multi-disciplinary team that works with children aged 0 to 5 with SEND. It delivers advice, guidance and support to Early Years providers and families, including Portage, visits from

Area SENDCos: advice around the Graduated Approach of Assess – Plan – Do – Review and around funding.

Educational Psychologist*: An educational psychologist can provide assessment and advice for children or young people who are experiencing difficulties within an educational setting, with the aim of identifying and supporting their learning needs. Educational Psychology time is purchased through the Local Authority and through independent practitioners.

Family Support Worker: Works to support children and families in the home for a finite period of time. They liaise with other agencies and seek to find solutions to the most pressing needs at that time.

Health Visitor: Health visitors are involved with pre-school aged children. They carry out pre-school screening or developmental tests. Health Visitors carry out developmental checks (e.g. 2 year check offered to all children). They offer advice to parents and may make referrals to other professionals where there are developmental concerns.

Learning Disability Team (CAMHS): In Cornwall this NHS service works with children and young people with moderate, severe or profound learning disability and with their families. They support children and young people with their mental health needs.

Mental Health Support Team: Work with primary aged children and their carers in the school setting. Referrals into the team are led through the individual schools they are working with.

Music Therapist*: is a qualified health professional. They help people to deal with feelings they cannot put into words, through the power of music.

Neurodevelopmental Team: is a multidisciplinary team including Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist, Speech & Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Paediatrician, Nurse and Neurodevelopmental Practitioners. They are involved in the triaging referrals and assessing children as part of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders diagnostic pathway.

Occupational Therapist*: An occupational therapist (OT) can assess children’s physical and motor skills, coordination and sensory needs. They can provide specialist equipment where needed. NHS and Local Authority OTs have very tight referral criteria to work with individual children. They provide workshops and training for schools and parents.

Orthoptist*: diagnose and treat defects in eye movement and problems with how the eyes work together, called binocular vision. These can be caused by issues with the muscles around the eyes or defects in the nerves enabling the brain to communicate with the eyes.

Orthoptists can offer a range of treatments, including eye patches, eye exercises, prisms or glasses.

Orthotist*: An orthotist is a healthcare professional who makes and fits braces and splints (orthoses). These are made for people who need added support for certain body parts. These body parts have been weakened by injury, disease, or disorders of the nerves, muscles, or bones. They take referrals from Doctors, Physiotherapists, and Occupational Therapists.

Paediatrician: A Paediatrician is a doctor who specialises in working with babies and children. They can offer advice, information and support about medical conditions. Community Paediatricians investigate overall development and potential neurodevelopmental conditions. Specialist Paediatric Doctors work with specific medical concerns. A Paediatrician can refer children to other specialists they need to see.

Physiotherapist*: A physiotherapist is a health professional specialising in physical and motor skills. Some children may have a physio plan of exercises or stretches if there are concerns such as low tone, hypermobility, often related to a condition such as Cerebral Palsy. Some children may need physiotherapy after an operation or injury. Physiotherapists supervise the work of Physio Technicians or Support Workers Visit https://www.csp.org.uk/ for more information.

Play Therapist: Play therapy is a form of counselling for children that builds on developmentally appropriate communication through play and helps children to make sense of difficult life experiences, or complex psychological issues through play. Play Therapists generally work as independent practitioners.

SENDiass: Cornwall Special Educational Needs Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDiass) provides information, advice, support and training for young people and parents and carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (age 0-25). They provide independent advice and support for parents and carers to help them understand special educational needs and the SEN Code of Practice including the EHCP (Education, Health & Care Plan) process and, sometimes by coming with you to meetings. The service is confidential, independent, impartial and free. See website: https://www.cornwallsendiass.org.uk/

SEN Support Services (Cornwall): Cornwall Council’s SEND Support Services includes support for Cognition & Learning, Communication (including alternative & augmentative communication), Hearing, Vision, Physical & Medical Needs. Each team has it’s own specific referral criteria details of which can be found here: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/schools-and-education/special-educational-needs/send-support-services/

Social Worker: A social worker is a professional who supports families where there are difficulties meeting children’s needs. They are normally employed by the local authority and can provide practical advice about counselling, transport, home helps and other services. They may also be able to help you with claiming benefits or obtaining equipment you need at home.

Speech and Language Therapists*: A Speech and Language Therapist (SALT or SLT) specialises primarily in language, communication and speech problems and in some circumstances, may also offer support with swallowing and feeding problems. They work within the NHS and local authority to assess, diagnose and develop programmes to help children develop communication skills. This may include verbal (i.e. using speech) or non-verbal, using signs, symbols or communication aids. Speech and Language Therapy Assistants often delivery therapy rpogrammes, under the supervision of the SALT. For more information visit https://www.rcslt.org/ and www.asltip.com

Together For Families: is the name for children's services run by Cornwall Council. This includes children's community health, education and social care. They aim to work together to establish a centred whole family approach to promote, protect and improve the health, education and wellbeing of children.

Wellbeing Practitioner: may work as part of CAMHS, a charity or a commissioned provider such Action for Children. They are trained in cognitive and behavioural informed evidence-based interventions, which aim to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Youth Worker: aim to build trusted relationships with young people, away from other pressures they may be facing in their lives. They usually work with young people over the age of 10, through charities and commissioned services.

 

*Professionals such as Art Therapists, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Orthotists, Physiotherapists, Practitioner Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists must all be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).