Specialist and targeted services
Specialist services
Parents and carers may need support from specialist services if they cannot give their child all the care they need. This could be due to:
- complex healthcare needs
- life threatening conditions
- profound disabilities
- a child's need for safeguarding.
To get support from specialist services, a child or young person’s disability must be permanent and substantial and impact their ability to do daily activities and impact their family’s wellbeing.
- Learning Disabilities nursing provides support to children and families who have a developmental delay or a learning disability, specialising in behaviour, sleep and continence
- Child Health services offer therapy and health services for children and young people requiring complex intervention from 0 to 19 years.
Targeted services
Children and young people with a disability or complex needs may need help from targeted services.
These services are designed to support and treat people with certain conditions. You will normally need to be assessed and referred to the service by professionals such as your GP, child’s school, health visitor or social worker.
Targeted services include:
- occupational therapy
- speech and language therapy
- physiotherapy
- community paediatrics service
- child and young person mental health services
- Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service.
Children and young people with SEND may need to be supported by one or more of these services at some time in their life.