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CAV Young Neuro Development - Children, Young People And Families

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The Neurodevelopmental service is not a crisis service. Information on our Local Services including NHS 111Wales.

What is Neurodevelopment?

Neurodevelopment means brain development. There are many factors that can impact on our brain's development. Genetics can play a key role in this, but sometimes environmental factors can have an impact.

As people, we are all diverse and our brains develop differently. Many of us will share common traits associated with certain neurodevelopmental conditions, but that does not always mean we will need an assessment and/or support. An assessment may be needed when it is clear there is a significant impact on our learning, relationships, emotional and physical health and/or life opportunities.

It is important to say that there are lots of reasons to celebrate those of us who can see the world differently, offer a different perspective, have a different set of skills and use different methods of communication. Being neurodiverse is not a negative thing. The most important part is gaining the understanding, support and acceptance of those around you and to embrace yourself knowing just what you can do!

Contact Us

Please contact your local service to find out more about what is available in your area.

Central Area: Conwy & Denbighshire Tel: 03000 850 031

East area Wrexham and Flintshire Tel: Wrexham- 03000 848 152 & Flintshire - 03000 859 112

West Area: Anglesey and Gwynedd Tel: 03000 851 641

If you have been given a virtual appointment please visit our Neurodevelopmental Virtual Clinic pages.

Our Waiting Times

It is important you know that are waiting times are unfortunately very long. It can take up to 3 years for your child to receive their first appointment. This is something we are working hard to reduce, however at present this is the situation for our Health Board.

Your Experience

If you would like to speak to our Patient Experience Team about the service you have received whether positive or negative, we are really keen to hear from you, as your views, opinions and experiences will support us to make our services better.
Please contact: BCU.CAMHSNeuroPEQueries@wales.nhs.uk
Pease note this email address is for our Patient Experience Leads and does not link directly to Neurodevelopmental Teams. Please do not send referral or case information to this address, as it will not be redirected to other services. If you wish to contact your Neurodevelopmental Service, please ring the service via the contact details in the contact section of the webpage.

Your Feedback

Following Assessment please could you take a couple of minutes to provide your feedback on your experience.

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The Neurodevelopmental service is not a crisis service. Information on our Local Services including NHS 111Wales. Neurodevelopment means brain development. There are many factors that can impact on our brain's development. Genetics can play a key role in this, but sometimes environmental factors can have an impact.

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Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

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We see children and young people age 2-17 years.

We provide diagnostic assessments for two of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We know that these conditions often come with other difficulties, such as sleep problems, unusual eating patterns, co-ordination problems, tics, behavioural challenges and mental health concerns. Where these other difficulties are present but have not yet been addressed, we will signpost you, or make referrals to, other services in the Health Board, the Local Authority or the third sector for their management and support.
We also provide follow up medication reviews for young people with ADHD or autism who we start on ADHD medication or sleep medication.
Please note, we are not an emergency service. So for mental health emergencies where you are worried about your child's immediate safety (eg self-harm or suicidality), please contact your GP (or out-of-hours GP) or take your child to A&E, and the clinician who you see can refer to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) crisis team if appropriate. For physical health emergencies, please contact your GP or attend A&E as you would usually. For extreme aggressive behaviour that does not settle and that you are unable to manage, please contact Children's Services and/or the police.

If you are concerned more generally about your child's mental health (eg low mood, anxiety) or their physical health, again you should not wait for your child's appointment with us to raise this. You should contact your GP in a timely manner, who can arrange referrals to the relevant services.

Diagnosis and Neurodiversity

Many of the young people we see have complex difficulties that aren't easily or accurately described by a single neurodevelopmental diagnosis. We know that families want to understand their child's difficulties, promote their wellbeing and help them reach their potential in school - but a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental condition isn't always the best or the only way to achieve this! Your child does not need a neurodevelopmental diagnosis to access help relevant to their needs in school.

Features of neurodevelopmental conditions are increasingly being viewed through the lens of 'neurodiversity', which is a term that describes variation in the way people's brains work as differences rather than deficits. For a helpful article on neurodiversity, please see: https://childmind.org/article/what-is-neurodiversity/.

For information on ADHD, ASD and other associated conditions, please visit our information about signposting section.

We have specialist nurses, health care support workers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, clinical pharmacists, paediatricians and psychiatrists in our team.

Where do we see families?

Your appointment may be at:

The Children's Centre at Keir Hardie University Health Park . Please turn left as soon as you come in through the main entrance, and go to the Children's Centre reception desk.

The Children's Centre at the . Please go through the main entrance, across the concourse and then turn right and go along the corridor. The Children's Centre will then be on your right.

The Children's Centre at . Please go through the main entrance and then turn right just after the stairs. The Children's Centre is then immediately on your left.

The Outpatients department at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda . On arrival, go through the main entrance and keep going straight ahead to the end of the corridor (past the café). Go through the double doors and turn right into Outpatients department.

Cwm Gwyrdd Medical Centre. Please wait in the waiting area on the left when you come through the main entrance.

The Children's Centre at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend. When arriving at the entrance to the hospital, the Children's Centre is on the left at the back of the hospital in a separate building.

If you need to get in touch about appointments at any of these locations, please still call the Neurodevelopmental Service administrative teams on the telephone numbers above, rather than calling the individual hospital sites.

What can I expect at my appointments?

Your child's first appointment will last up to 1.5 hours. If you have any of your child's old school reports, it would be very helpful if you could bring these with you for your clinician to look at. You are also welcome to make a note of anything you specifically want to tell us or ask us, if this helps you. If you feel it would be appropriate, it would be helpful if you could talk to your child before their first appointment about why they have been referred to our service. This helps us talk openly with you and your child where possible. There are no medical tests that can diagnose or rule out ADHD or ASD. The assessments just involve asking you and child questions and observing your child's behaviour.

Assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions often take more than one appointment, sometimes over several months. They may involve school observations or other clinic-based assessments as well as the initial clinic appointment. You may see more than one clinician during the assessment process.

We are a teaching health board and so medical students may be present in clinic.

Please ring to reschedule your appointment if you or your child are ill.

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We see children and young people age 2-17 years. We provide diagnostic assessments for two of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We know that these conditions often come with other difficulties, such as sleep problems, unusual eating patterns, co-ordination problems, tics, behavioural challenges and mental health concerns.

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We will provide diagnostic assessment for autistic adults (sometimes jointly with other services), support and advice for autistic adults and parent carers. To access a diagnosis, adults must not have a learning disability and must not be experiencing moderate or severe mental health difficulties.

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We will provide diagnostic assessment for autistic adults (sometimes jointly with other services), support and advice for autistic adults and parent carers. To access a diagnosis, adults must not have a learning disability and must not be experiencing moderate or severe mental health difficulties.

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Learning Disabilities & Neurodiversity Services

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Adult and Older People's Community Services Mental Health Services Carers Services and Support Children's Community Services Keeping Well While You Wait Learning Disabilities & Neurodiversity Services Hospital Services in Powys Pharmacy and Medicines Management Other Services Powys Living Well Service Primary Care Services Research and Development Social Services Transport Services Urgent Care Services Voluntary Services Virtual and Online Services Women's Services & Maternity Services

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The Integrated Autism Service has been set up jointly between Health and Social Care to provide diagnostic assessment for autistic adults (sometimes jointly with other services), support and advice for children, adults and those who support them. Please contact us to learn what pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic support we provide.

Contact details

01633 644143

asdservice.abb@wales.nhs.uk

Gwent Integrated Autism Service, Torfaen Business Centre, Unit 10/11, Panteg Way, New Inn, Pontypool, NP4 0LS

There are a huge amount of useful resources on the National ASD team's website. Please go to Autism Wales website:

Additional resources that may be able to help are:

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The Integrated Autism Service has been set up jointly between Health and Social Care to provide diagnostic assessment for autistic adults (sometimes jointly with other services), support and advice for children, adults and those who support them. Please contact us to learn what pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic support we provide.

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Autism and Asperger syndrome are both part of a range of related developmental disorders known as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). They begin in childhood and last through adulthood. ASD can cause a wide range of symptoms, which are grouped into three categories:

Problems and difficulties with social interaction - including lack of understanding and awareness of other people's emotions and feelings

Impaired language and communication skills - including delayed language development and an inability to start conversations or take part in them properly

Unusual patterns of thought and physical behaviour - including making repetitive physical movements, such as hand tapping or twisting (the child develops set routines of behaviour and can get upset if the routines are broken)

For more information on Autism see the NHS Choices website .

How an Occupational Therapist may help?

Working closely with families and schools, Occupational Therapy (OT) aims to help a child/young person with an ASD to participate in activities within their daily lives that they need to do and/or want to do. OT may recommend any of the following interventions depending on the individual's and family's needs and goals:

Sensory Assessment- Advice and equipment to help develop attention and concentration, address sensitivities and improve their ability to process sensory information for improved participation in activities;

Motor Skills Assessments - Many children with ASD experience difficulties with their balance, postural skills and coordination. Fine motor difficulties may also be present;

Advice and Strategies - To support their development and/or participation in self-care tasks. This may include advice regarding sensory processing and ways of teaching skills and activities to help develop underlying skills e.g. fine motor skills or provision of equipment.

For long term change to be achieved, it is essential that advice and strategies are implemented consistently by the people closest to the child, be that at home or in nursery/school.
Useful Contacts:
http://www.autism.org.uk/ - National Autistic Society site including social stories about toileting as well as other resources such as Early Bird, a programme for parents whose child has received a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is of pre-school age (not yet of statutory school age).

http://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/ - The Challenging Behaviour Foundation provides advice for children and adults with severe learning difficulties;

http://www.rompa.com , http://www.sensorydirect.com and http://www.sensetoys.com for a variety of sensory toys and equipment.

Relevant Occupational Therapy Home Programmes available for members on this website:

Changing the Sensory Environment to Help Improve Attention and Concentration

Developing Shared Attention

Dressing Advice for Children with ASD

Fun with Food

Managing Oral Hygiene in Children with Oral Sensitivity

Overcoming Tactile Defensiveness

Shopping Advice for Children with ASD

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Autism and Asperger syndrome are both part of a range of related developmental disorders known as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). They begin in childhood and last through adulthood.