In providing services for children with disabilities and their families, it is important for Social services to work closely with other agencies such as Health, education, and the Voluntary sector.  Some details are provided below of the services which are available from these agencies.

Health

Health Services are delivered by dedicated community and acute paediatric services, which include; specialist nursing staff, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Child Psychologists, Child Psychiatrists, and Consultant Paediatricians.  All parents are offered a comprehensive programme of Health Promotion for their children, and are actively encouraged through the use of Parent Held Records to monitor their child’s health and well-being.  Following consultation with the GP or Health Visitor, any developmental concerns are referred either to Local Assessment Clinics or direct to the Child Development Centre.  When children with special needs become of school age, the School Community paediatrician works with the parents and other professionals to ensure the child’s needs are identified and met appropriately.

Cyfle: Services for children with disabilities

This project is a partnership with Barnardos Cymru and Denbighshire and Conwy local authorities.  The project aims to make sure that children with disabilities have the same opportunities as others, to promote the rights of children with disabilities and to help them become involved in the community.  Examples of the service provided by the project are play and leisure activities for children with disabilities in Denbighshire, which are particularly useful to families during the school holidays.  For more information about the services provided by Barnardos, please contact them on 01745 817216.

Rhuddlan Children’s Centre, Vicarage Lane, Rhuddlan 01745 591405

This multi disciplinary facility provides pre-school assessment and therapy for children who have or may have special needs (Physical Handicap, Learning Disability, Sensory Impairment, emotional and behavioural difficulties, multi handicaps, or severe chronic illness that may lead to disability).  Home Advisory Service, intensive Support Service and Community Nurse Services are available specifically for children with learning disabilities.  A consultant-led Community Audiology Service provides hearing assessments for all children with disability, with close links to ENT and hospital based audiology services.  Denbighshire county Council Directorate of Education, Culture and Information.  The council believes that all children are entitled to a relevant and worthwhile education designed to enable individual pupils to participate fully in society and to contribute and benefit from it.  A child’s special educational needs and action t meet those needs are identified through a comprehensive assessment and planning process including formal assessment under the 1996 Education Act.