Paediatrics (community)

We are a team of specialist children's doctors who are trained to assess and manage a wide range of developmental, physical and social issues that can affect a child’s well-being, safety, learning and long-term potential.  

We work with other professionals and agencies, including:

• therapists (speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists)
• community nurses (health visitors, school nurses)
• child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)
• hospital based doctors
• social workers
• schools.

Our services

Helping children with developmental and complex health needs

We assess, listen to, and decide the best way to help children with a developmental impairment, physical and/or learning disability, complex health needs (autism, cerebral palsy or Down’s syndrome), or those with complex continence problems.

We also carry out specialist assessments of school-age children, where there is a concern regarding a neuro-developmental disorder, for example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs).

We also provide advice on education health and care plans to the local authority.

Safeguarding children

We work with social services for the assessment of children who may have been abused or considered to be at risk of abuse. We also carry out statutory assessments of children in the care of the local authority.

Alongside adoption and fostering services, we assess the suitability of both children and adults for adoption or fostering.

Other work

Our team carries out detailed neurological and developmental follow ups of children who were born prematurely or with significant perinatal (period immediately before and after birth) problems.

We assess children with significant hearing loss and we also give clinical advice regarding immunisation and vaccination.