Community paediatrics is a specialist service that provides assessments and care for children and young people aged 0-16 years old (up to 19 years old if receiving community paediatric input and still in secondary education). The service accepts referrals from doctors, schools and health/social care professionals for children and young people living in the borough who have a Brent GP.
The team provides assessments and specialist paediatric care for children with:
- Complex disabilities
- Developmental delay in children under five-years-old
- Cerebral palsy
- Autism assessment for the under-fives (children over five should be referred to Brent CAMHS)
- Learning difficulties associated with developmental disabilities for children aged five and over who have physical disabilities and genetic disorders requiring medical surveillance
- Neurodevelopmental and metabolic problems associated with developmental delay
The team works closely with parents, health visitors, nurses, therapists, mental health services and social care/education professionals to ensure that children can achieve the best possible health outcomes.
The service also has statutory responsibilities for children in the following areas:
- Child protection
- The health needs of looked after children
- Adoption and fostering
- Providing written medical advice for children with special educational needs and disabilities when an education, health and care (EHC) plan has been requested.
The service is primarily based at the Wembley Centre for Health and Care.