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Connecting you to local care, support and information for every stage of life

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Connect to Support Hampshire is an online information and advice guide and directory of services for adults with care and support needs who live in Hampshire.

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What should I do if I have concerns about my child's development?

If you're worried about your child's progress, talk to your childminder/nursery/pre-school team, health visitor, local children's centre or Family Hub.

If your child has developmental delays or SEND (suspected or confirmed), speak to their nursery, childminder, or health visitor/nursery/pre-school team well before they start Reception and discuss their needs when you are selecting schools.

You can work with your child's early years setting to help your child with self-care, managing emotions, social skills and communication in a way that suits their stage of development.

​You might want to share details about: their development, needs, what motivates them, what might trigger difficulties, how they learn best, and what strategies work well.

Make sure you share important information with everyone supporting your child, including their new Reception teacher.

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Your child's journey to school starts at home. We understand that all children develop at their own pace, and that we're all learning from birth. When it's time to start school, some children will need more help than others.

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Information for Parents and Carers about Dyslexia Screening

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Information for Parents and Carers about Dyslexia Screening

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Courses run by Hampshire Parent Carer Network

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Courses run by Hampshire Parent Carer Network

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Buy tickets for HPCN & Future in Mind

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The Hampshire Parent Carer Network aims to work in a solution focused way to make sure that services in Hampshire meet the needs of parent carers of young people with disabilities - no diagnosis needed. We do this by using in-person get-togethers and online support to gather views to help shape the support services in your area. Together we are enabling voices to be heard.

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Following the success of a similar series of events in 2019, Trethowans are hosting free workshops in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset for parents facing divorce or separation. The workshops focus on giving you the tools you need to help yourself and your children post-separation.

Facing a breakdown in your relationship is a daunting prospect and is likely to impact all areas of life including your home, finances, children and the wider family. You will have to deal with the emotional and practical aspects. At times it can be overwhelming and helping hands to steer you can be invaluable as you face decisions impacting you and your family.

Trethowans are advocates for adopting a holistic approach for parents who are facing relationship difficulties. We recognise that for many, the varying expertise of other professionals is hugely important in helping parents to reach lasting and workable arrangements whether dealing with their financial concerns, arrangements for children or the processes surrounding divorce and separation.

The workshop will consist of two sessions during the course of a morning followed by a complimentary lunch. Session one will be taken by Child Psychotherapist Ashley Palmer, who will provide you with practical tools for developing an effective co-parenting relationship. Session two will include talks from Petra Brunzell (Divorce Coach), Nikki Emerton (Lifestyle Coach) and a House of Colour specialist who will concentrate on your personal wellbeing and will give you the tools you need to make immediate, effective and positive steps forward into you and your family's new life.

The workshops will take place from 9.15am to 2.15pm on the following dates:

14 June 2023 - Hotel Du Vin, Winchester

4 October 2023 - Hotel Du Vin, Poole

17 January 2024 - Mercure White Hart Hotel, Salisbury

13 March 2024 - Macdonald Botley Park Hotel, Southampton

The New Beginnings workshops will:

Give you workable strategies to enable your child to express their emotions and most importantly, show you how to respond

Enable you to promote the emotional and psychological wellbeing of your children

Provide practical tools for developing an effective co-parenting relationship

Tap into your innate self-confidence and strength

Improve self-esteem and self-belief

Give you coping strategies to take away

Help you choose the right legal process for you and your family. We offer a range of bespoke options for you to consider as an alternative of going to Court including collaborative law and mediation which we can explore to ensure that the right approach is taken for you.

For more information on this free workshop or to book your free place, please call 01962 673 866 or email [email protected] .

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Free workshops for parents facing divorce and separation - Trethowans

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Following the success of a similar series of events in 2019, Trethowans are hosting free workshops in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset for parents facing

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The Safe4me website provides educators, service providers and parents with information and resources to help educate, guide and support children and young people to keeping safe.

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Development

Concept and content has been developed in partnership with teachers and education experts, with guidance from The National PSHE Association, to create a hub to support schools and mentors to deliver education specific to safety, law and consequences by providing credible information and resources that align with common topics explored within current PSHE, PDL, RSE, Citizenship curriculum and other education/intervention methods.

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Development Concept and content has been developed in partnership with teachers and education experts, with guidance from The National PSHE Association, to create a hub to support schools and mentors to deliver education specific to safety, law and consequences by providing credible information and resources that align with common topics explored within current PSHE, PDL, RSE, Citizenship curriculum and other education/intervention methods.

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Find information about what is going on in your area, details on how to access services, organisations and activities in Hampshire, and the advice and support that is available.

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Family Information and Services Hub (FISH) | Hampshire CTSH

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Find information about what is going on in your area, details on how to access services, organisations and activities in Hampshire, and the advice and support that is available.

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Sign up for free and use the access code FAMILY to access online parenting courses.

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Find your course to start learning about emotional health, wellbeing and development.

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10 things to boost your mental wellbeing

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10 things to boost your mental wellbeing

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Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
1. Connect with other people

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:

help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth

give you an opportunity to share positive experiences

provide emotional support and allow you to support others

There are lots of things you could try to help build stronger and closer relationships:

2. Be physically active

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

raising your self-esteem

helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them

causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood

Read about exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing

3. Learn new skills

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem

helping you to build a sense of purpose

helping you to connect with others

Even if you feel like you do not have enough time, or you may not need to learn new things, there are lots of different ways to bring learning into your life.

Some of the things you could try include:

4. Give to others

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:

creating positive feelings and a sense of reward

giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth

helping you connect with other people

It could be small acts of kindness towards other people, or larger ones like volunteering in your local community.

Some examples of the things you could try include:

saying thank you to someone for something they have done for you

asking friends, family or colleagues how they are and really listening to their answer

spending time with friends or relatives who need support or company

offering to help someone you know with DIY or a work project

volunteering in your community, such as helping at a school, hospital or care home

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you.

Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

Read more about mindfulness, including steps you can take to be more mindful in your everyday life.

Further information

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Read about 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

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Supporting your child with reading
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.

There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:

A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.

A sharing book. Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.
Reading practice book
This book has been carefully matched to your child's current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don't worry that it's too easy - your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise - celebrate their success! If they can't read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
Sharing book
In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.

Please remember that you shouldn't expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!

Back to top

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The resources on this page will help you support your child with saying their sounds and writing their letters. There are also some useful videos so you can see how they are taught at school and feel...

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This website places cookies on your computer to improve your experience. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more details, see our privacy policy. I agree

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The British Dyslexia Association is the voice for the 10% of the population that are dyslexic

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Emotionally Based School Avoidance Guide

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Emotionally Based School Avoidance Guide

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The tremendous, relentless stress that used to be our "dinnertime" fell off like a weight of world off my shoulders. My husband says he got his wife back, and I started seeing my precious child smile and laugh and be goofy more often than ever. And for that alone - I am eternally thankful to you, dear Alisha. Thank you for your website and all the advice - they were the most helpful resources I've ever come across.

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The tremendous, relentless stress that used to be our "dinnertime" fell off like a weight of world off my shoulders. My husband says he got his wife back, and I started seeing my precious child smile and laugh and be goofy more often than ever.

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Child friendly tips for managing worries

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Child friendly tips for managing worries

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Parent tips for talking about mental health

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Parent tips for talking about mental health

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What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects behaviour and concentration.

Children and young people with ADHD often seem unusually restless, impulsive or distracted. They may speak or act without thinking, struggle with organisation, find it hard to focus or appear to be always on the go. Some people with ADHD do not experience hyperactivity; this used to be called attention deficit disorder (ADD), though the term in no longer used officially.

ADHD is not a mental illness or a learning disability, though children and young people with ADHD may also have other conditions or experience mental health problems.

Living with ADHD can be very challenging, for children and young people as well as for their parents and carers. But the right diagnosis, treatment and support can make a big difference to a child's learning, life skills and relationships, as well as making family life easier. There is also lots you can do as a parent/carer to help your child manage the things they find difficult.

What are the most common symptoms of ADHD?

A child with ADHD may be:

easily distracted, finding it difficult to start or finish tasks

often unable to concentrate

often restless or fidgety

very talkative, often interrupting or blurting things out

impulsive, acting before considering consequences, prone to taking risks

easily angry or frustrated, struggling to deal with emotions

finding making or maintaining friendships difficult

disorganised, for instance often losing things or being late

lacking awareness of time

Every child or young person with ADHD is individual and they may not display all of these behaviours. And many of these traits and behaviours are typical in younger children, or can follow a traumatic experience - they don't necessarily mean your child has ADHD.

Age and gender can also affect how someone with ADHD behaves. This can make it harder to spot signs of ADHD, particularly in girls, who are more likely to be undiagnosed or wrongly diagnosed with other conditions.

Typically the symptoms of ADHD develop in early childhood and they may become particularly noticeable at times of significant change, such as starting or changing school.

What to do if you think your child might have ADHD

If your child frequently experiences some of these symptoms and it's affecting their day-to-day life, discuss your concerns with your child's GP. Before doing this, talk to your child's teacher and the school special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) about what they have noticed.

The GP may want to refer your child for assessment, as ADHD can only be diagnosed by a specialist such as a child and adolescent psychiatrist or paediatrician.

Sometimes parents are reluctant to pursue assessment. They may be worried about 'labelling' their child or about stigma, or they may prefer to watch and wait. These feelings are normal. But parents and young people who do seek diagnosis can find it helps them access the right support; understand and manage challenges; and identify individual strengths.

We have more information about getting support from the GP, CAMHS or school in our guide.

ADHD diagnosis, support and treatment

ADHD assessment is usually done through the specialist Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, commonly referred to as CAMHS.

Diagnosis is most commonly made in childhood, and in the majority of cases, symptoms affecting daily life continue into adulthood.

There is no single, definitive test for ADHD. Specialists will base clinical diagnosis on a combination of observations of your child; discussions and questionnaires (with you and your child); and information from your child's school.

They will consider how long the symptoms have been present; their impact on your child's daily life; and whether they might be due to another condition. The NHS states that approximately 60-80% of children with ADHD have at least one other condition (such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety or behaviour problems), and your child may be given more than one diagnosis.

Support and treatment options

You and your child should be offered support and advice to help manage ADHD in their day-to-day life.

ADHD can also be treated with medication and/or therapies. These should be discussed with you when your child is diagnosed, and are set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on ADHD.

ADHD can be treated with therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). For more information about therapy, see our parent guide to counselling and therapy.

There are a number of types of medication. These are not a cure for ADHD, and many children do not take them, but they can help manage some of the symptoms. Medication must be prescribed and overseen by a specialist.

You may also be offered ADHD -focussed parent training. This does not mean your parenting is somehow wrong. It is designed to provide support and specific strategies and skills to help you and your child thrive.

Jack is still perennially late, disorganised and impulsive; but he's also energetic, original and creative. The medication is helping him make the most of all of that.

What you can do to support your child with ADHD

Be explicit and consistent about unacceptable behaviour, such as violence. Set appropriate consequences and follow them through, but try to stay calm in the moment to avoid escalation. Dealing with challenging behaviour can be very hard, and our parent guide has helpful advice.

Plan the day so your child knows what to expect. Maintaining regular sleep patterns, physical activity and mealtimes can help your child. Some people find dietary change and/or certain supplements helpful. But the NHS states that there is no clinical evidence for this, and medical advice should be sought first. Our young person's guide has helpful advice on sleep problems.

The impact of ADHD on your child's mental health

Any child or young person can struggle with their mental health and wellbeing, whether or not they have ADHD. This might be caused by things like family change, bullying, exam stress or a traumatic event.

But having ADHD may also mean your child has extra challenges - such as social difficulties, struggling to manage their emotions or getting into trouble at school - that leave them more vulnerable to low self-esteem, anxiety or depression.

Children and young people with ADHD frequently have other developmental or mental health conditions and it is important to ensure they have the appropriate support for these.

As a parent there is a lot you can do to support your child with their wellbeing and mental health:

encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling with you. Our starting a conversation guide has ideas for keeping communication open

if you feel your child may have a mental health problem or another condition alongside ADHD, discuss your concerns with their GP or ADHD specialist.

Working with school if your child has ADHD

ADHD is a special education need (SEN), and it may be referred to as a specific learning difference (SpLD). Your child is entitled to appropriate support to help them thrive socially and educationally. This could include potential adjustments in certain situations, such as extra time or rest breaks for exams, movement breaks in lessons, written instructions for tasks and a seating plan that minimises distractions.

Discuss the diagnosis and needs with the school's SENCO, taking a list of your concerns and background information to the meeting.

Your child may be entitled to an education, health and care plan (EHC plan) which details the support they need and how it will be provided. (The National Autistic Society has helpful information about EHC plans.)

Good communication between you and school can be really helpful in ensuring your child thrives in education and meets their potential. Our parent guide to support has more advice on talking to school or college.

ADHD in teenagers and beyond

If your child is a teenager or young person, their needs and the support you give may well be different from when they were younger. They may like to read our young person's guide to ADHD and mental health. But there are still many ways you can help.

Looking after your own wellbeing

Parenting a child with ADHD can sometimes be isolating, upsetting or exhausting. Sometimes parents feel judged or blamed by others (unjustifiably as parenting does not cause ADHD). It is entirely understandable if you are finding things difficult.

It's important to recognise the impact the situation is having on you, and think about ways you can take care of yourself - including getting support from other people so that you can take some time off. It's okay to ask for help when you need it, and to share your worries with someone you trust. We have advice on looking after yourself as well as your child.

Our son's challenging behaviour with ADHD had an enormous impact on the whole family, as we and his brothers bore the brunt of his anger.

Where to get further support

If you would to speak to a professional adviser or find out more about how you can support your child, these organisations can help.
While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

This page was reviewed in March 2022. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with ADHD. We will next review the page in 2025. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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ADHD Support For Your Child | Parents Advice Guide

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If your child is struggling to manage their ADHD, read our tips on what you can do to support them, how to get a diagnosis and where to find help.

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Break Down Barriers and Increase Outcomes:

Vocabulary Ninja was created to offer exciting, time saving and evidence-based learning resources that have impact, particularly focusing on developing, deepening and widening a pupil's vocabulary. Your student's vocabulary is quite simply their key to unlocking the doors to a world of understanding. Without an ever widening and deepening vocabulary, we can never hope for our children to be excellent communicators, problems solvers or empathetic and understanding human beings. Vocabulary, or quite simply put...words can be a significant barrier to understanding, learning and communication. And so, it is Vocabulary Ninja's mission to provide an ever-developing range or learning resources for schools, parents, teachers and pupils to engage with and use.

Free For Everyone:

Vocabulary Ninja's Mini Games are totally free to use, are ad free and are 100% safe for your child to use on a range of different mobile and computer-based devices. Each game has been designed to be simple to use and extremely playable, whilst covering a range of vocabulary, grammar and sentence level priorities that align with the National Curriculum. 'What's the catch?' I heard you ask. There's not catch, no-one is excluded, and everyone has the opportunity to grow and develop their working vocabularies! All we ask is that you spread the word and share the Vocabulary Ninja Mini Games with everyone you know! Especially in the modern home learning climate, Vocabulary Ninja's Mini Games are a fantastic resource to be able to share with parents and pupils to support the development of their learning at home.

A Whole World of Vocabulary Ninja:

If you haven't heard of Vocabulary Ninja previously, we have an outstanding resource website with thousands of high-quality resources to support learning in school and at home. We offer low-cost, annual teacher subscriptions as well as subscriptions for the whole school allowing for multiple users. Vocabulary also has a series of highly-recommended academic texts covering vocabulary development, reading comprehension and writing, all of which can be found at www.bloomsbury.co.uk or vendors such as Amazon.

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Vocabulary Ninja was created to offer exciting, time saving and evidence-based learning resources that have impact, particularly focusing on developing, deepening and widening a pupil's vocabulary. Your student's vocabulary is quite simply their key to unlocking the doors to a world of understanding.

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Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

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Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

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Resources for Children's Speech and Language

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Children's Speech and Language resources to download

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Talking to your child is the most important thing you can do to support them and get them ready for nursery, school and life. Learning a language should be easy, fun and interactive and it should come naturally. It's also very complex and sadly many, many children find it hard.

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Talking to your child is the most important thing you can do to support them and get them ready for nursery, school and life. Learning a language should be easy, fun and interactive and it should come naturally. It's also very complex and sadly many, many children find it hard.

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Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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Skip to content

We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. If you're concerned about your child's speech and language development, we can help.

We know that it can be hard to know where to start if you are worried about your child's development. If you think your child is having challenges with talking and understanding words, we are here to help you.

Our free resources and services can help with understanding what to look out for, how to get support and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

Our progress checker will provide short questions you can answer to see how your baby or child is getting on with their talking and understanding of words.

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Help for families - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

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We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. Access our free resources and learn more about ways to encourage children's speech and language development.

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Parent-led information, resources and opinions

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Special Needs Jungle provides parent-centred information, news, resources and informed opinion about SEN, disability, children’s health and SEN politics

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Make a change today! Discover healthy recipes, food swaps, nutritional advice, and top tips and activities to help the whole family stay healthy.

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The ADHD Foundation is the largest provider of training in ADHD and neurodevelopmental conditions for professionals in the UK.

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NSPCC - Advice on Talk PANTS, tacking difficult topics, mental health, relationships and online safety

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NSPCC - Advice on Talk PANTS, tacking difficult topics, mental health, relationships and online safety

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Hampshire Healthy Families provides information on a range of topics including sleep, and also signposts to the anonymous text messaging support service ChatHealth for parents/carers and young people.

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Hampshire Healthy Families provides information on a range of topics including sleep, and also signposts to the anonymous text messaging support service ChatHealth for parents/carers and young people.

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Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and Barnardos are working together to deliver the Healthy Child Programme throughout Hampshire. This website provides details for access to health visiting and school nursing services, workshops for healthy eating and support with post-natal depression.

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Wessex Healthier Together, a local family health NHS website, lists top tips and resources on sleep from birth to age 11.

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Wessex Healthier Together, a local family health NHS website, lists top tips and resources on sleep from birth to age 11.

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It’s
recommended that infants from 4 months - 1 year get 12-15 hours of sleep per
day (24 hour period). This includes daytime naps.

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Sleep - A guide for parents of autistic children

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Sleep - A guide for parents of autistic children

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In this guide we look at the reasons why autistic children can have difficulty sleeping and suggest what you as a parent can do to help.

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A decent night's sleep will help children to learn more effectively and make them less susceptible to minor ailments,

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Hampshire Parent Carer Network (HPCN) offers parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with any additional needs, or disability including mental Health (diagnosed or undiagnosed) the opportunity to tell the Local Authority, Health and other services, what life is really like. email participation@hpcn.org.uk or visit our page.

We Are Hiring!

We are looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to fill two exciting roles for projects we are running:

Bridging the Gap(BTG) Coordinator - BTG Job des.docx

Future in Mind (FIM) Coordinator - FIM Job Des.docx

If you are passionate about making a difference and believe you have the qualifications and experience we are looking for, we encourage you to apply.

Deadline to submit Applications : 28th June 2024

Join us in making a positive impact at HPCN. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Hampshire Parent Carer Network (HPCN) offers parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with any additional needs, or disability including mental Health (diagnosed or undiagnosed) the opportunity to tell the Local Authority, Health and other services, what life is really like. email participation@hpcn.org.uk or visit our page.

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4 times as many boys are diagnosed autistic as girls. This is not an accurate picture.

Frequently, for many reasons, girls are diagnosed later (on average up to 6 years later), missed or misdiagnosed, causing long term mental health problems with too many girls feeling too anxious to attend school as a result.

Currently the assessment tools used to screen for autism are male-centric. We want to see tools in place that reflect multiple presentations and needs so that no child's need goes unrecognised or unsupported. We are currently pilot-validating the Internal Presentation of Autism Checklist that sits within our white paper Autism, Girls and Keeping it All Inside , so expect that to change soon. Our survey had 1123 responses in a week, so there are many people who feel strongly about having screening tools which feel representative. Our vision is for a system that enables autistic girls to thrive, to feel understood and to achieve the best educational outcomes.

Our aim is to raise awareness of autism in girls and others who present in an internal way with health, social care and educational professionals and to bring change. Not only to the way that autistic girls are assessed and subsequently supported but to the narrative, with updated and positive terminology used to describe autistic traits.

Our private Facebook group supports both autistic girls and women and their extended families, but there are many more who need our help. We are now a registered charity, fundraising to enable us to both fund projects which offer face to face support and campaign for real change.

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We are a small registered charity working to support, educate, and bring change. Here you will find lots of resources.

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We are the UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Since 1962, we have been providing support, guidance and advice, as well as campaigning for improved rights, services and opportunities to help create a society that works for autistic people.

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The parent/carer/autistic persons’ group of the Hampshire Autism Partnership Board

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Donate

Please give today and help Autism Hampshire to be there for people on the autism spectrum, and their loved ones, when they most need us

Join us

Working for Autism Hampshire can be both rewarding and challenging. Do you have what it takes? If think that you do, it would be great to hear from you

Contact

Our friendly staff team are ready to help you. Get in touch and we will do our best to answer your questions and help you find the information that you need

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Please give today and help Autism Hampshire to be there for people on the autism spectrum, and their loved ones, when they most need us Working for Autism Hampshire can be both rewarding and challenging. Do you have what it takes?

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Hampshire Libraries - When a book might help

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Hampshire Libraries - When a book might help

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Sharing stories about various situations can put a child’s mind at ease and make transitions and new experiences easier to cope with and more understandable. When a book might help is a list of story books suitable for this purpose.

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The Cygnet Parenting programme really helped me deal with Q's behaviour and gave me coping strategies. I am now able to take Q out in public without being in fear of a major tantrum and having people judge me in how I deal with his behaviour

- (Parent attending Cygnet in Kent)

I know at the beginning of the course I wasn't very positive and thought its wasn't going to make a difference but it has, massively. I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel and feel so much more confident in dealing with 'my son'. You have helped our family so much!

- (Parent attending Cygnet in Hampshire)

Cygnet didn't change our autistic child, but it changed the way we understand and support our autistic child

- (Parents attending Cygnet in Grimsby)

As a trainer and parent of a child with Autism myself, I have really enjoyed seeing the progression the parents have made from the start of the course to the final session. Lots of emotions from parents including acceptance, relief, understanding and empathy.

- (Parent facilitator in Lancaster)

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https://pbs.hants.gov.uk/wellbeing-support-service

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Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service is an NHS specialist service, provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for young people aged 5-18 years and their families who are experiencing difficulties with their mental and emotional health. Many young people experience difficulties with their mental health such as anxiety, low mood, trauma, eating difficulties plus many others which can impact on all aspects of life such as education, home life, hobbies and interests, socialising and having fun.

It is important to know that everyone has mental health and that we can all experience tough times and this can cause our mental health to suffer. CAMHS work with young people, their families and other important organisations (such as schools) to achieve the following:

* Assess and diagnose mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties
* Identify realistic goals or changes
* Identify and build on strengths
* Improve self-esteem and confidence to cope with difficulties
* Learn emotional coping techniques to help manage difficult or upsetting thoughts, feelings, urges or experiences
* Empower the young person to identify, express and communicate their needs, take responsibility for their health and wellbeing and feel confident in knowing where and how to get additional support if necessary
Hampshire CAMHS Thresholds
We cannot "cure" mental health difficulties or prevent difficulties ever coming back. Lots of things can impact on our mental health, some of which are beyond anyone's control. Instead we work with you to help you learn how to manage your difficulties and in many cases overcoming them is absolutely possible. There may also be some difficulties or experiences which CAMHS are not able to provide support for. In these cases we will help you access appropriate help from other organisations and services such as drug and alcohol services and bereavement services plus many others.

You will need to be willing and committed to attending sessions that are offered as well as trying and practising techniques until you find what works well for you. You will need to be prepared to work with us in this way so that you have the best chance of achieving your goals/recovery.

Overcoming difficulties also depends on how much an individual would like to change. Often change can be scary and many young people feel they don't have the energy or the motivation to change or try different things. If you have made the step of asking for help and attending an assessment and are committed to making changes, we will work with you to help you achieve your goals/recovery.

Anyone can help you get an appointment at Hampshire Specialist CAMHS; you, your parents or carers, your teachers, a health professional (such as a school nurse or GP) or a social worker, using our online referral form which you can complete and submit online. You can also call Hampshire CAMHS on 0300 304 0050 (Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm).

If you are experiencing difficulties, it is really important to talk to those around you so that they can support you with these and with getting the right help and support.

We would recommend talking to CAMHS before making a referral so that we can offer advice and guidance and to decide whether CAMHS is the right service to meet your needs. CAMHS may also be able to offer recommendations about other services, organisations and things that may be helpful.

If after receiving a referral it is agreed that it would be helpful for CAMHS to offer an appointment, you will be given a date as soon as possible. Please be aware that there may be a wait for an appointment. If you feel that things are becoming more difficult or more urgent whilst you are waiting for appointment, please contact the Single Point of Access for CAMHS on 0300 304 0050 to let us know.

* At your first appointment we'll start with introductions and outline what will happen during the appointment. Your first appointment may be by telephone or face to face
* We'll ask you to fill in some questionnaires. These help us to understand your strengths and any difficulties you might be experiencing
* Your clinician will also talk to you about confidentiality and consent to share information
* The aim of your first appointment is to find out what your goals are and what you would like to be different
* By the end of the appointment we will decide together the best way forward in order to help you reach your goals/recovery
* If you have any questions, worries or concerns please speak to your clinician - we're all here to listen and to help, your initial appointment is a chance to discuss what is currently going on for you.

We have a leaflet entitled 'About your CAMHS appointment' which you can download here.

This leaflet clearly explains what to do if you have difficulties getting to appointments, it may address other questions you may have and also explains our appointment policy.

We understand that there are lots of reasons why you might not want information shared with your young person's school. We will want to understand those reasons so that we can make sure you still receive the help and support you might need.

There are some situations when we will need to share information with others. If your young person or someone they know are being harmed or are at risk of harm, we have a duty to protect anyone from harm so we will find a way together to share information in an appropriate way. We will include you in all discussions as much as possible when sharing information is involved.

If you are worried about information being shared please speak to your clinician about this so you can agree a way forward together.

* Following your first appointment, if it is agreed that CAMHS can help you a number of things may happen
* You may be offered a group to attend. We know that for some that groups with other people experiencing similar difficulties are the best support. These will be run by our experienced clinicians
* You may be offered a further period of assessment and intervention by one of our clinicians. They will contact you to arrange this.

This will depend on many factors including the type of difficulties you are experiencing and your goals. There will be regular reviews of how things are progressing and discussions with you and your family about the care we provide. At CAMHS we aim to empower young people to learn and develop skills to help themselves cope and work towards their goals.

Sessions usually last between 50 minutes and one hour. Some sessions are longer depending on the therapy approach being used. You can use as much or as little of your session time as you want.

No, not everyone that comes to CAMHS is prescribed medication. Medication can be helpful for some young people depending on what difficulties they are experiencing. If you have any questions or worries about medication, you can ask your clinician.

You might also find useful information and guidance about psychiatric medication on this website: www.headmeds.org.uk

If there is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, call 999 immediately and tell anyone else who may be near you so they can help.

If your young person is in crisis and you do not know what to do, click here.

If it is not an emergency, encourage your young person to find someone to talk to; a parent/ carer or family member, friend or partner, or call the helpline. If you already see someone at CAMHS, you can call after the weekend or the next day to speak with them or someone else in the team.

We know that when people finish their work with us and are discharged (closed) from our service, people can worry that they might not cope. It is important that if you are working with CAMHS that you complete a relapse prevention plan before you finish. It is important to keep this and follow the plan if you are struggling.

You can use the self-help pages of this website to remind yourself of the top tips to help you cope and access extra self-help information and advice. The most important thing to do is to let a parent/carer, teacher or trusted adult know that you are struggling so that they can support you.

Young people can sometimes be re-referred to CAMHS if this is agreed this would be the most helpful thing to do.

Yes!
* Specialist Eating Disorder Team
This team covers the whole of Hampshire and works with young people who have eating disorders and difficulties and their families. Our aim is to see young people as quickly as possible and provide specialist treatment. The team also provides information and guidance for anyone who might be concerned about an eating difficulty. The Specialist Eating Disorder Team can be contacted Monday-Friday 9-5pm on 0300 304 0062.
* i2i (Urgent Assessment and Home Treatment Team)
Our i2i team provide specialist intensive assessment and treatment to young people who are experiencing crisis or who require extra care to try to prevent crises from happening. This service can only be accessed by young people already coming to CAMHS and who have been referred by their CAMHS worker. The team provide urgent assessments and help develop care plans with you, your family, the CAMHS team, school and other agencies (where needed) that aim to keep young people as safe as possible.
* Learning Disability Care
Hampshire CAMHS also offer their services to children and young people with a learning disability, making sure that young people with a learning disability who also have a mental health difficulty can get the help and support they need. Every team in Hampshire CAMHS has a specialist learning disability CAMHS worker who can offer a range of approaches depending on each person's needs. One of the main approaches used is Positive Behaviour Support. This is an approach to support children and young people when they have behaviours that can be challenging.

We work together to find out why a behaviour may occur, including triggers and outcomes. This helps us to think of strategies to help a young person manage their feelings and helps parents or carers to respond in helpful ways.

Further information can be found at: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk
* Youth Offending Team and Forensic CAMHS
The Youth Offending Team (YOT) is a service provided by Children's Services for young people who are involved in the Criminal Justice System. CAMHS provides specialist assessments and ways to help young people who have been involved in crime and are working with YOT. These CAMHS clinicians work within the YOT teams and alongside the YOT workers.

Forensic CAMHS is a specialist service for young people who experience a mental health difficulty and who may pose a risk to themselves or others. CAMHS workers in this team provide training, and advice and consultation to other professionals as well as specialist assessments and work with the young person and their family. The Clinicians in this team work closely with children's services, schools, the Police and other relevant organisations to ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of the young person and those around them

What do certain words mean? Read our Glossary.

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School Therapies Service - How to make a referral

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School Therapies Service - How to make a referral

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If you need to contact the Solent NHS Trust Children's Therapies Telephone Advice Line: 0300 300 2019. They are available Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm. Due to the very high demand on the NHS at the moment they are making appointments available for children with the highest therapy need first.

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See the latest information and guidance on Coronavirus, read of important visitor guidance and access a range of health and wellbeing resources here
How has the Coronavirus outbreak affected my appointment?
Therapy staff are still working during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Most appointments with therapists have been changed to a telephone or video appointment rather than in-person. For a few children a therapist might need to see you in person for particular needs. This might be something such as to listen to a swallow or adjust a piece of equipment. We will speak with you to agree what kind of appointment is best right now.

A therapist can only see you in person if it is safe. We will check with you that you, your child or anyone who lives in your house has no symptoms of the Coronavirus.

When therapists need to be close to you or your child they will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This could be a face mask, gloves, an apron and maybe a visor.

Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists Physiotherapists and Podiatrists will continue to work to advice and guidance from the Government, NHS England , their professional bodies and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Can I still contact the service?

Yes you can contact our service on the Solent NHS Trust Children's Therapies Telephone Advice Line: 0300 300 2019. We are available Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm. Please call this number for all advice and questions.

You may have contact details for therapy staff who usually work with you and your child, however some of our team are working in different places so it will be better to call the main number 0300 300 2019 for all staff.
I am on your waiting list. How do I find out how long I have to wait?
Please contact the Solent NHS Trust Children's Therapies Telephone Advice Line: 0300 300 2019. We are available Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm.
Other Information
Due to the very high demand on the NHS at the moment we are making appointments available for children with the highest therapy need first.

We are working out which children are at the highest risk if therapy interventions are not provided. This might be because of swallowing difficulties, or if your child needs specialist equipment to help them be comfortable and safe. We have been assessing the risks to all the children we know and how we can best meet the clinical needs of as many children as possible. We have plans in place to slowly increase the number of appointments available, to start opening some of our clinics and start seeing some children in school where that is possible.

We are reviewing our plans regularly to make sure it is safe for you, your child and our staff. If you are concerned please contact us on 0300 300 2019.

About us

Our services include:

Physiotherapy

Speech and Language Therapy

Occupational Therapy

All children are different and develop at different speeds. Some children find learning certain skills more difficult than others and they may need specialist assessment and advice from one of our therapists.

Our Children's Therapy Service team works closely together to support children and young people who need specialist help from one or more of our therapy services. These include Physiotherapy, Occupational TherapyandSpeech and Language Therapy.

Our vision is that all children and young people are provided with the skills they need to take part, as effectively as possible, in everyday situations and are supported to reach their full potential.

How do we work?

We undertake a specialist assessment to understand what your child's strengths and difficulties are, and if further support is needed. This helps us to provide the best quality care and most appropriate support for you and your child.

We always work in partnership with you to ensure you and your child are at the heart of everything we do. We also work very closely with other professionals, such as nursery key workers, learning support assistants, teachers and our own therapy technicians and assistants.

The support we provide to your child is based on their needs; it is individual to them. We aim to offer support in the most appropriate setting for your child. This may be in a health centre or a children's centre. Depending on their needs, we may also visit your child at their pre-school, school or at home.

What areas do we cover?

We support children and young people who:

are registered with a GP in Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth.

attend a school in Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth

Referrals

Who can refer?

Our Children's Therapy Service has an open referral system, which means we accept referrals from anyone including:

Parents / Carers

paediatricians

GPs

health visitors or other health care professionals, including audiologists

pre-school or school staff.

Self referral

As a parent, you can refer your child directly to the Children's Therapy Service. If you would like to refer your child, please fill out our referral form which you can find below or contact us. A member of our team will ask you a few questions to get some background information before advising you on what will happen next and what to expect at your first appointment.

Please contact us if you have any other queries about how to refer your child. You can call to discuss any concerns with our team of professionals. A speech and language therapist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist will be on hand to help out.

Who should be referred?

We accept referrals for children and young people, who are registered with a GP or attend a school in Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth, with one or more of the following difficulties:

speech, language or communication

stammering

voice problems, e.g. hoarse / husky voice (referral to Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) is suggested prior to assessment by our team)

movement and coordination

balance

walking, sitting or standing

self-help skills, eg dressing and eating

school activities, eg handwriting

eating, drinking and swallowing (this means the physical process and mechanics of feeding, rather than children who choose what they eat i.e. don't like to eat certain foods). Please note that children with feeding or swallowing difficulties may require additional medical information which should be included on the referral form.

How do I refer?
You can download our integrated referral form here
We have an integrated referral form offering the choice of service you require. You can refer to more than one service if needed, in which case a fully integrated assessment will take place.

Referral forms must be completed in full with a parent / guardian signature.

Please return the completed form via post or email.

What do we do?

The speech and language therapy team supports children with speech, language and communication needs and those with feeding and swallowing difficulties. Speaking and eating uses the same muscles and speech and language therapists are specially trained to help with specific difficulties with feeding and swallowing. Some children we see may have a medical condition or diagnosis or learning difficulty, but many do not. We provide support to children across the whole of Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Who do we help?

Speech and language therapists provide support and advice for children from birth to 19 years old. No types of difficulty or disability are excluded as we provide support based on need, not diagnosis.

We support children with one or more of the following difficulties:

unclear speech (speech sounds)

not understanding what is being said (understanding of spoken language)

vocabulary and putting words together into sentences (spoken language)

mixing with other children and adults (social communication skills)

only speaking in certain situations (selectively mute)

stammering or stuttering

hoarse or husky sounding voice

hearing impairment / deafness.

How do we help?

Speech and language therapists assess children to build up a picture of their skills and find out their exact abilities, difficulties and needs. This may include one or more of the following:

After your first appointment, if further support is needed, we may suggest one or more of the following.

advice and coaching to parents, carers and other professionals to help them apply practical ideas to support your child

training and advice for parents and other professionals involved in your child's care

direct therapy, either individually or in groups

activities and programmes for home and pre-school or school

discussion and liaison with other agencies to allow us to work together to meet your child's needs

onward referral to other agencies or professionals who may be able to help

advice from another member of the Children's Therapy team.

You will be involved in the decision-making process about your child's care at all stages. We will always review your child's progress with you.

Links

What do we do?

The occupational therapy team supports children with specific difficulties which affect their ability to plan and carry out the movements required for everyday tasks. These difficulties may affect their awareness of their surroundings and self-care skills, which may impact on the child performing independently. We provide support to children across the whole of Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Who do we help?

Occupational therapists provide support and advice for children to from birth to 19 years. No types of difficulty or disability are excluded as we give support based on need, not diagnosis.

We support children with one or more of the following difficulties:

How can we help?

Occupational therapists assess children to build up a picture of their skills and find out their exact abilities, difficulties and needs. This may include one or more of the following:

After your first appointment, if further support is needed, we may suggest one or more of the following.

advice and coaching to parents, carers and other professionals to help them apply practical ideas to support your child

training and advice for parents and other professionals involved in your child's care

direct therapy, either individually or in groups

activities and programmes for home and pre-school or school

advice on specialist equipment that may be needed to help with seating

advice on specialist activities to help handwriting

discussion and liaison with other agencies to allow us to work together to meet your child's needs

onward referral to other agencies or professionals who may be able to help

advice from another member of the Children's Therapy team.

You will be involved in the decision-making process about your child's care at all stages. We will always review your child's progress with you.

Links

What do we do?

The physiotherapy team supports children with specific developmental difficulties and/or conditions which affect their physical development. These difficulties may affect their ability to move or reach their physical potential. We help develop their physical skills through play, specific exercises and activities. We also advise on how best to position and move your child to help support their progress. We provide support to children across the whole of Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Who do we help?

Our physiotherapists provide support and advice for children from birth to 19 years. No types of difficulty or disability are excluded as we give support based on need, not diagnosis.

We support children with one or more of the following difficulties:

How do we help?

A physiotherapist will assess your child to build up a picture of their skills and find out their exact abilities, difficulties and needs. The assessment may include one or more of the following:

After your first appointment, if further support is needed, we may suggest one or more of the following:

advice and coaching to parents, carers and other professionals to help them apply practical ideas to support your child

training and advice for parents and other professionals involved in your child's care

direct therapy, either individually or in groups

activities and programmes for home and pre-school or school

advice on specialist equipment that may be needed

discussion and liaison with other people involved in your child's care to allow us to work together to meet your child's needs

onward referral to other agencies or professionals who may be able to help

advice from another member of the Children's Therapy Service team.

You will be involved in the decision-making process about your child's care at all stages. We will always review your child's progress with you.

Links
Scope: About disability Charity Bliss - for babies born premature or sick The Dyspraxia Foundation HemiHelp - for Children and Young People with Hemiplegia Change 4 Life - Fun ideas to help your kids stay healthy British Heart Foundation (BHF) The Association of Chartered Paediatric Physiotherapists - Information for Parents

Your first appointment

Where will it be?

Your child's first appointment may take place at one of the following places, but will be decided with you:

your local health centre

your local Children's Centre or Family Hub

your child's pre-school or school

your home

What will happen?

Your first appointment will usually last between 30 and 60 minutes.

The therapist will discuss and write down your concerns and find out more about your child and the difficulties they are having.

The therapist will ask for some background information including birth details, health issues, and talk about your child's general progress and family history.

There will be opportunities for your child to play while you chat to the therapist. Older children may be involved in discussions.

After discussions, the therapist may need to assess your child in more detail to find out their specific needs and to see if further support is needed.

How will they assess my child?

The therapist may use one or more of the following ways to assess your child:

watching your child playing and looking / listening to what they can do

playing with your child to informally check their skills

undertake formal assessments or tests which will give more information about their skills.

The therapist may also need talk to your child's nursery/playgroup or school teacher to get more information about their strengths and difficulties.

What happens after the assessment?

The therapist will talk to you about their findings and decide if further support is needed.

All recommendations and findings will be clearly explained to you.

You will have the opportunity to ask any other questions you may have.

The therapist may need to talk to other professionals, for example pre-school or school staff, and explain the assessments and what they need to do to support your child. This might include what targets or activities are needed and who will carry them out.

At the end of the appointment your therapist will talk to you about what happens next and what the arrangements for this will be.

A report will be written, and with your consent, shared with other professionals eg GP and school staff so everyone is aware of what the plan is. The report will include advice and recommendations for supporting your child's development.

You will be actively involved in managing your child's care alongside your child's therapist and other professionals.

Questions

How long do I have to wait for an appointment?

Once your referral has been received, a member of our clinical team will look at your referral and may contact you to gather further information and offer advice, for some referrals you would then be placed on the waiting list based on the needs identified. If you live in Portsmouth or Southampton, we will aim to see you within 18 weeks. If you live in the rest of Hampshire, we will aim to see you within 12 weeks. If an appointment date and time is not suitable, please contact the team who will help to re-arrange this for you.

Is there a waiting list for therapy?

Some clinics and settings can be busier than others at times, so waiting times may vary, your child's therapy should begin within 18 weeks. You may have to wait a little longer for some types of group therapy or more specialist support. We will discuss the number of appointments your child will need and how often they will be seen when we first see you.

Where can therapy take place?

Therapy may take place in a clinic setting or children's centre / family hub, within the pre school or school setting. This will be decided with you.

Can I be re-referred?

Children may be discharged for a number of reasons. If your child has been seen and discharged from our team before, but you have on-going concerns about them and would like them to be seen again, please contact us. A member of the admin team will take some details and a therapist will contact you to speak with you about the concerns you have. Further advice may be given and another appointment can be easily arranged if required.

What do I do if I'm not happy with the service?

We really value your feedback and views. These help us to maintain our high standards and improve our services. We strive to provide a quality service which provides you and your child with the best experience. However, at times you may not be happy with the service you receive. If you don't feel comfortable discussing your concerns with your therapists, please contact us. Alternatively, you can contact the Trust's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) who will support you in raising your concerns.

Will I have to pay for any treatment?

All assessments and treatment are free. You may be asked to pay a small fee for some parent training courses and specialist equipment required to help your child. This will always be discussed with you when required. We will also explain the options available to you.

What do I do if I want to speak to my child's therapist?

If you would like to contact your child's therapist, make or cancel/rearrange an appointment, please call us. You can also use this number if you have any other questions about our service. Our admin team are in the office between 8am and 6pm to take your calls. Your therapist will get back to you as soon as possible.

You can call us 0300 300 2019 to:

Alternatively, you can contact us via email at SNHS.Solentchildrenstherapyservice@nhs.net or write to us using the address below:

Better Care Centre, Adelaide Health Centre, William McLeod Way, Millbrook, Southampton. SO16 4XE.

Telephone advice line

Our telephone advice line is for parents and professionals who would like advice directly from a therapist. In order to use this service, the child or young person you wish to discuss must be under the age of 19 years, live in or go to school in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth or be registered with a Hampshire, Southampton or Portsmouth GP. This includes children who have not currently been referred to the therapy team.

Our advice line can:

offer reassurance

give you tips on ways to help

give you activities to improve your child's skills

decide if your child needs to be referred to us for a more detailed assessment

suggest others who can offer you more advice, e.g. health visitor or children's centre.

If you would like to use this service, please call 0300 300 2019.

Our therapists will be available Monday to Friday to offer advice. They will get back to you within 1 working day of your call.

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See the latest information and guidance on Coronavirus, read of important visitor guidance and access a range of health and wellbeing resources here How has the Coronavirus outbreak affected my appointment? Therapy staff are still working during the Coronavirus outbreak. Most appointments with therapists have been changed to a telephone or video appointment rather than in-person.

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This team can talk through any concerns you may have about your child. For example: eating, sleeping, toileting or behaviour. There is also a text service.

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Health for Kids | School Nurses | Hampshire

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Local School Nursing information for parents of children across Hampshire.

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Worried for children, colleagues and families?

Should you wish to contact us directly, we look forward to you getting in touch by using our telephone support line, which operates every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am to 11.00am. This is available for parents/carers, education setting staff, and other children's services professionals working in Hampshire.
Some resources you might find helpful at this time

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Should you wish to contact us directly, we look forward to you getting in touch by using our telephone support line, which operates every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am to 11.00am. This is available for parents/carers, education setting staff, and other children's services professionals working in Hampshire.

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Support Groups & Finances

Links to the local offer and other useful websites and documents.

Parenting Tools

Resources and guides for parents on a range of topics.

Support Groups & Finances

​Support for My Child ​ ​
at School

Help with concerns about your child at school.

My Child's Mental Health

Resources and support for your child's mental health.

Other Topics for Parents & Carers

Get in Touch

If you can't find what you need, feel free to get in touch with us, our opening hours are Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm, and on Fridays 9am-4pm . Outside of these hours please use the Contact Us Form. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 2 working days.

0808 164 5504

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Information about local support groups plus parenting tools to help with specific occasions, such as haircuts, holidays and toileting.

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Welcome to Hampshire's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Offer

You can find information about the help and services available for children and young people (aged 0 to 25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Hampshire. Explore the information topics below.

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You can find information about the help and services available for children and young people (aged 0 to 25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Hampshire. Explore the information topics below.