The Children's Learning Disability/Neurodiversity Nursing service supports children and young people up to the age of 18, who have a diagnosis of learning disability and/or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), and their families. These Children must live within the Salford area or have a Salford GP to access the service.
We work within the community and can offer appointments within patient’s homes, in clinics and virtually using the telephone or video technology. We work Monday to Friday in core hours, however, we try to work flexibly with families to ensure the service is accessible.
Promoting collaborative problem solving and enhancing mental health and wellbeing for fathers of autistic children
The needs of fathers are different to those of the mother.
- Fathers may adopt a protective stance and shelter their emotions.
- Fathers tend to problem solve rather than accepting advice
Fathers perceive themselves as a misfit within a group dominated by mothers and may not want to sit within a group setting. A less formal approach via a ‘walk and talk’ session commenced in March 2024. Walks are on the 3rd Saturday of every month.
Fathers walk and talk?
Place: Clifton Country Park (Meeting at the Café)
Dates: 15/03/2025, 19/04/2025, 17/05/2025, 21/06/2025
Time: 10am - 11am Contact: fathersautism@nca.nhs.uk
Resources
We provide support to families in the following areas:
- Behaviour management advice, which includes behaviour assessments to identify behaviour plans. Typically behavioural support is provided for
- aggression,
- self-injury,
- uncooperative behaviours,
- risk management,
- anxiety management and
- pica.
- Sleep Hygiene advice
- Feeding/ restricted diets
- Desensitisation
- Sensory assessments and play
- Puberty/growing up work
- Understanding Health conditions
- Supporting access to healthcare
- Attend Early Help/ social care meetings
- Refer to appropriate services and sign-posting
Initial contact from the team will likely be over the phone, an overview of current situations and what support you would like from the service will be asked at this appointment. Then you will be allocated to the appropriate member of the team.
Sometimes we ask families to fill in forms such as ABC charts (behaviour charts) or sleep diaries. This is to gather more information so that we can offer the best possible advice. These are an important part of engaging with the service and need to be returned to move be able forward with appropriate assessment and interventions. However, should you have difficulties filling in forms, or are unable to read or write, please let us know, we will make alternative arrangements to gather this information.
Anyone can refer to the Learning Disability/Neurodiversity Nursing service, this includes self-referrals.
Completed referrals should be send to childrenslearning.disabilitynursing@nca.nhs.uk
Children’s Community Teams:
- SALT
- OT/PT
- CAMHS
- SIASS
- Children with disabilities social care team
- Autistic society
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