Local Offer - Specialist health services

Paediatric Physiotherapists treat children and young people who have physical conditions which affect normal childhood development. They use techniques which contribute towards the overall development of children in order that they can become as independent as possible in childhood and onwards to adulthood.

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) provide assessment advice and treatment to people who have communication impairment and/or a feeding and swallowing difficulty. This includes difficulties with speech and language, voice, fluency and social communication.

SLTs adopt a patient centred approach respecting the individual individual’s needs and opinions. Their aim is to work with the
child, family and other professionals in order for the child to develop independent, functional communication.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) are interested in how young people manage the everyday activities that keep them busy (‘occupy’ them) at home, at school and during their leisure time. Their aim is to identify the activities your child wants or needs to do and to find ways to make these activities easier for the young person, their family, teachers and others involved with the child.

Information on assessments for children with sensory needs in Solihull can be found here.

The audiology service team assess and manage the hearing needs of children and young people aged 0-18 years. They provide clinics at Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Solihull Hospital and some community locations in Solihull.

Community Paediatricians are Doctors who specialise in developmental, behavioural and social difficulties of children relating to specific conditions.

Referrals can be made to the Community Paediatrics service by GP’s, Health Visitors, School Nurses and in some circumstances school staff or social workers: Community Paediatrics Referral Form.

Due to an increase in demand for our Community Paediatric Service we have changed the way in which you can reach our service: Contacting the Community Paediatric Service.

ADHD Referrals

All ADHD referrals are to be completed by the child or young person’s school / education provider. If a child / young person is not in an education setting this may be completed by the GP.

Referrals that are incomplete will not be accepted for assessment and more information will be requested.

All referrals for ADHD should be completed on the primary / secondary referral document that is appropriate for the child or young person’s age and sent to soladhd.nursingteam@uhb.nhs.uk:

• Primary referral form
• Secondary referral form

The SAS works with children who have either complex medical and developmental needs or with children and young people where their difficulties may indicate an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For children with complex medical needs they may also provide coordinated therapeutic work to meet a child’s needs.

• ASD support information

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA):

The Specialist Assessment Service developed an assessment model to consider the possibility that a child/young person may have PDA. This has been published and is freely accessible.

You can find further information at the University Hospitals Birmingham website.

The link below provides information on the nurse led ADHD referral pathway and supplementary information.

• ADHD referral pathway - October 2024
• ADHD support information

All ADHD referrals are to be completed by the child or young person’s school / education provider. If a child / young person is not in an education setting this may be completed by the GP.

Referrals that are incomplete will not be accepted for assessment and more information will be requested.

ADHD Referrals

All ADHD referrals are to be completed by the child or young person’s school / education provider. If a child / young person is not in an education setting this may be completed by the GP.

Referrals that are incomplete will not be accepted for assessment and more information will be requested.

All referrals for ADHD should be completed on the primary / secondary referral document that is appropriate for the child or young person’s age and sent to soladhd.nursingteam@uhb.nhs.uk:

• Primary referral form
• Secondary referral form

The Children's Community Nursing team support children and families with complex and palliative health care needs. The team consists of Registered Children Children’s Nurses who have a range of nursing experience from different specialities. They support and empower parents/carers to look after their child at home, support access to different environments e.g. nurseries and schools, promote early discharge from hospital and reduce hospital admissions.

All children who are educated in one of Solihull Solihull’s special schools should have the contact details of the special school nurse for their school and the Community Children Children’s Nursing office contact details for out of term time support. If a family are unsure they can also contact the nurses via each school reception.

The special school nurse is available to provide advice and support in relation to health and public health for children, support with medical needs within the school setting including care plans for teachers/ staff, training for staff and ‘hands on on’ care for medication, feed or complex care delivery. They will also support with continence and safeguarding advice. The special school nurse should be the first point of contact for all parents with a query in relation to their child child’s health and well being.

The Learning Disability Nursing team provide advice and support to families of children with moderate to severe learning disability on the implementation of strategies to enable your child to reach their full potential in the following areas:

• toilet training
• sleep programmes
• behaviour management
• fussy eating
• puberty
• personal relationships.

Each child that enters care of the local authority has their first health assessment completed by a paediatrician with specialist knowledge of children and young people.

A nurse is then allocated to each child or young person who will follow up on their health needs and offer holistic health assessments, in accordance with statutory guidance, as home visits within 50 miles of Solihull. If a child is placed over 50 miles the team will ask a team local to the child, to complete the health assessment on their behalf.

The nursing team, based in Shirley, Solihull operate a Monday to Friday 8.00am until 6.30pm service .During these hours we offer open access for CYPLA, carers or professionals to speak with the allocated nurse for a child/young person.

You can email the team or call 0121 295 3010

Motability have launched a scheme to provide specialist vehicles to children in the UK under the age of three who must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment and/or need to be near a motor vehicle in case they require treatment for their condition.

All families of children who meet these criteria are eligible, the route for them to apply is through the Family Fund grant scheme. The application process is open now.

Physical Needs Team – Solihull Children's Community Therapies

Some children with physical difficulties require specialist equipment in order to support them to access their everyday activities. Many of the children we see for this have been referred to us by the Specialist Assessment Service. 

We work closely with colleagues in the Specialist Inclusion Support Service physical impairment team to support young people with physical disabilities in mainstream schools, recommending adaptations and adjustments to ensure young people are able to safely access their school environments.

As part of our role, we might also recommend specialist seating for school and/or home to make it easier for the young person to participate in their everyday activities, such as to write and draw, play, interact with friends and eat or drink. Note that we do not have funding to provide specialist seating, but will provide a letter to schools/social services explaining the cost and benefits of the chair for the individual. Once equipment has been provided, the occupational therapist will ensure this is set up for the young person and will provide training/support to ensure it is used safely

School nurses within mainstream schools in Solihull no longer provide assessment and referral of children for continence supplies.

School nurses are commissioned by Solihull Council to deliver the Healthy Child Programme and are able to offer basic advice and support on nocturnal enuresis (Bedwetting), constipation and toilet training problems. Other health professionals to whom a child may be known, eg community children’s nursing team, do still assess and refer for continence supplies where appropriate.

The Continence service at Grove Road Clinic (Telephone: 0121 704 2381) is unable to assess a child for continence supplies but they are able to provide supplies to eligible children on receipt of a referral from a GP or any other health professional who is qualified to see a child. Any child with a special needs diagnosis will qualify to receive continence supplies.

Further information and advice can be found at:

• ERIC the Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity
• NHS Information on bedwetting