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Welcome to Plymouth Child Development Centre, home to the Community Paediatric service.  We are part of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

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If you require this information in a different language or format, please contact us:

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If you require this information in a different language or format, please contact us:

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plh-tr.CDCPlymouth@nhs.net

01752 439400

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More information about our service can be found on our website.

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The Child Development Centre (CDC) is an assessment centre which provides both initial outpatient assessment and continuing treatment and support for children.

The centre offers help to children with developmental disorders that may result in physical, sensory, communication, emotional or learning difficulties.

The CDC enables partnership working between Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Plymouth City Council.

The team at the Child Development Centre is made up of different specialists, they include:

· Doctors

· Psychologists

· Physiotherapists & Occupational Therapists

· Speech & Language Therapists

· Audiologists

· Specialist Nursing Teams - Continence & Community Nurses

· Specialist Nurses in Neurodevelopment

· A Specialist Pre School Nursery Team

· Educational Psychologists

· A friendly team of secretaries & admin staff

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The Child Development Centre (CDC) is an assessment centre which provides both initial outpatient assessment and continuing treatment and support for children. The centre offers help to children with developmental disorders that may result in physical, sensory, communication, emotional or learning difficulties. The CDC enables partnership working between Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Plymouth City Council.

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We have a WhatsApp Channel where you can find the latest updates from our service and from partner organisations across Plymouth & Devon.

Scan the QR code above or visit https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb4Xem5KwqSJGjsHGR3R

Please note - your name and phone number are not visible to others when you join a WhatsApp channel. Channels appear under the ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp. You are not able to send messages to us via Channels, but we can share updates & news about our team and other services.

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We aim to be open about our current waiting times:

For a new patient appointment with a Paediatrician or another senior clinician, the current wait is approximately 46 weeks.

There may be a further wait after this for specific assessments, particularly those which form part of our autism pathway.

Last updated on 30/06/2026

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If any of your details change, such as your address or phone number, please contact us directly to let us know -

01752 439400
plh-tr.CDCPlymouth@nhs.net

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To expedite a referral means we move a young person up our waiting list so they are seen sooner.  Unfortunately, in the vast majority of cases we are unable to expedite a referral.

However, it is helpful to keep us updated with any new information regarding your child.  If you think there has been a significant change to their clinical presentation, we would advise you liaise with your GP.

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We recognise that, supporting young people in Plymouth & Devon, we will see a large number of military families.

If you are a military family who has moved in to the area, and your child has previously been on a waiting list in another area, then please do let us know.  We will ask to see any written information you have from previous services.

In addition, please do let us know if you and your family will be moving out of the area.  We cannot guarantee we will be able to expedite your referral, but can ensure we transfer you to a local service in a timely way.

Other sources of support for military families:

SSAFA
www.ssafa.org.uk

NHS website
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/families-support-information

Armed Forces Covenant
www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/families

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I would like to pursue a private assessment

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I would like to pursue a private assessment

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We recognise that some families may wish to consider private, self-funded options for assessment. The document above may offer some helpful guidance to support this decision making.

You may also have options under the NHS Right to Choose, further information about which can be found at:

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/your-choices-in-the-nhs/

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Our advice if you are considering a private assessment

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The following services are provided by the Children, Young Person and Families' Neurodiversity Wellbeing Team

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The following services are provided by the Children, Young Person and Families' Neurodiversity Wellbeing Team

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www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/children-young-people-and-families-neurodiversity-wellbeing-team

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Further information regarding neurodiversity and local services can be found on the One Devon website:

https://myhealth-devon.nhs.uk/children-and-young-people/neurodiversity/

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As a Community Paediatric service, we are not able to offer acute or urgent mental health support.  However, the First Response service can offer advice, guidance and signposting 24/7.

This service is now accessed by calling 111 and selecting the mental health option.

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I have a question about the support my child receives at school...

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I have a question about the support my child receives at school...

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Both Plymouth and Devon have a SEND information advice and support service which is accessible to young people and their families.

Plymouth Information Advice and Support for SEND - www.plymouthias.org.uk

Devon Information Advice and Support for SEND - www.devonias.org.uk

(SEND stands for Special Education Needs & Disability)

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Where can I get support about behaviour?

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Where can I get support about behaviour?

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In Plymouth, support programmes for parents are now delivered by OnCourse South West, having previously been provided by Plymouth Information, Advice & Support for SEND. Their programmes include Webster Stratton Incredible Years and Strengthening Families:

www.oncoursesouthwest.co.uk/support-programmes-for-parents

Togetherness (formally The Solihull Approach) includes programmes for parents & carers to consider behavioural challenges in young people.  Their courses include Understanding Your Child with Additional Needs.  A range of their courses are available to access for free to families residing in Plymouth & Devon.  They can be accessed by visiting https://togetherness.co.uk/learn/ and using the code TAMAR.

There is a range of information regarding various behavioural challenges on the Action for Children website:

parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/behaviour

The charity Contact also offer a range of workshops and resources which include approaches to support young people whose behaviour may challenge:

www.contact.org.uk/help-for-families/workshops-and-events/workshops

www.contact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/understanding_your_childs_behaviour.pdf

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The Plymouth Children, Young People & Families Neurodiversity Wellbeing Team (see above) run a workshop on sleep. You can contact them directly to request a space.

In addition, there is a helpful sleep guide for parents on the Cerebra website:

www.cerebra.org.uk/download/sleep-a-guide-for-parents

Additional information about sleep, including details of the National Sleep Helpline, can be found on The Sleep Charity website:

www.thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/children

For teenagers, we would signpost to the Teen Sleep Hub website:

www.teensleephub.org.uk

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Is there any support for sensory-based needs?

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Is there any support for sensory-based needs?

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Our offer at the Child Development Centre is predominantly around building awareness and insight in to sensory needs, rather than offering individual assessment or intervention.  The following resources may be helpful as part of this:

Information about understanding and responding to sensory-based needs can be found in a factsheet produced by Falkirk Council Occupational Therapy team entitled Making Sense of Sensory Behaviour:

https://cdcgo.link/sensory

We would also signpost to a short course offered by Sensory Integration Education called Discover Sensory Processing and Integration:

www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/products/courses/discover-sensory-processing-integration

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Where can I find resources about anxiety?

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Where can I find resources about anxiety?

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This Padlet has been created by our Children & Young People's Wellbeing Practitioners, and contains a range of resources and strategies to support young people experiencing anxiety.

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If you have any questions or concerns regarding speech, language and communication needs then our colleagues in Livewell Southwest have a range of guidance on their website:

www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/childrens-services/speech-and-language

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As a community paediatric service, we have a limited offer when it comes to mental health particularly in acute or urgent situations.

If you feel your child requires urgent support in relation to their mental health then we would recommend discussion with their GP.  You can also find information about the Plymouth CAMHS service, including the First Response Service, on the Livewell Southwest website:

www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/childrens-services/camhs

If you have a GP in Devon, then information about CAMHS can be found on the Children & Family Health Devon website:

childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk/camhs/