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You are here Our ServicesChild And Adolescent Specialist Needs
"Originally hailing from Canada Roxanne Whetmore came to the United Kingdom in 2003 and has worked at Huntercombe Hospital Stafford since opening. Ms. Whetmore has extensive experience in mental health and possesses specialities in child and adolescent clinical and school psychology. Previous experience has included inpatient, outpatient and educational settings, as well as, private practice. Ms. Whetmore's ethos is to treat each young person with due care and respect while being mindful of his or her developmental level. Providing the best and latest evidence based treatment is of Ms. Whetmore's highest priority."
Roxanne Whetmore
Ms., The Huntercombe Hospital - Stafford
We have two centres that specialise in the treatment and care of children and adolescent with specialist needs. Our centre, Granville Lodge, in Hartlepool provides specialised care for children with physical disabilities and delayed learning associated with their disabilities whilst our centre in Stockton, cares for children with a moderate or severe learning disability with or without associated challenging behaviours and can cater for those with more than one diagnosed learning disability.
Our team of highly trained staff have considerable experience in caring for children with complex learning and physical disabilities and all are committed to providing a high standard of care which focuses on each child’s particular requirements.
Our team of professional and experienced staff is drawn from different care-related disciplines and includes:
The senior staff are responsible for planning a child’s care in consultation with the child, their families, social workers and the appropriate medical staff. The support worker team works closely with the senior staff in delivering a high standard of care. This staff team regularly engage in a rolling programme of training, both general and specifically related to the individual children, to enable them to meet all the activity and daily care needs of the children and to liaise with and offer support to their families.
All members of our team are trained to ensure that the privacy, dignity and choice of each child are respected.
Our children's service is situated within a carefully converted Victorian house, we offer the children in our care a safe, supportive and caring home-from-home environment in which they can achieve their potential and enjoy their life to the fullest possible extent. All children are individuals and they are encouraged at all times to live as independently as is possible and to participate in everyday childhood activities such as swimming and school attendance. We provide care for children aged nine to 17 years with diagnosed physical disabilities and/ or associated diagnoses of cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and similar. We offer:
Our centre in Stockton is a modern building specifically designed to care for children and young people with a learning disability, which might include Autism and / or Asperger’s Syndrome. Many of the young people we treat display severe challenging behaviours and have challenged other services and environments. We provide a safe and caring environment which ensures that all the young people in our care receive the professional clinical support and guidance they need.
Our service offers a holistic approach that incorporates the physical, mental, social, personal and further educational needs of our young people. Because we recognise that learning difficulties affect each person differently, we work with each individual to develop a positive person-centred care plan that tracks their individual progress. For children, this care plan fits into their overall multi-agency plan.
We provide assessment and therapy with a focus on small-group therapy and our treatment also includes preparation for the young person’s return to living at home full-time. Our young people benefit from appropriate activities and facilities, including classrooms, gardens, play, leisure and recreational areas. We also liaise closely with local special needs schools.
Longer-term care, short-term care and short-term assessment are all available. We are also happy to provide respite care which offers a break for the main carer.
Below are some of the various organisations and charities which offer advice, guidance and support to children with specialist needs.
The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) is a national charity that provides support, advice and information to parents and carers on a wide range of school based issues including exclusion, admissions, special education needs, bullying and attendance.
Tel 0808 800 5793
www.ace-ed.org.uk
The Autism Awareness website is a meeting place for all people who care about autism, who want to raise awareness, share information and ideas. The site was developed by The Disabilities Trust.
Tel 01444 239123,
www.autism-awareness.org.uk
Autism Unravelled is a UK charity providing easy to understand information about the biology and physiology of autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). This charity also funds scientific research and offers help and support to families, carers and individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
Tel 0845 22 66 510,
www.autism-unravelled.org
The British Institute for Brain Injured Children (BIBIC) is a national charity offering practical help to families caring for children with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, developmental delay, traumatic and acquired brain injury and specific learning difficulties such as attention deficits hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Tel 01278 684060,
www.bibic.org.uk
The British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) is a national charity committed to improving the quality of life for people in the UK with a learning disability. They achieve this by influencing policy-makers and other decision-makers, encouraging good practice among practitioners and helping people with a learning disability take charge of their own lives and become part of an inclusive society.
Tel 01562 723010,
www.bild.org.uk
Brainwave is a national children's charity working with children, from six months to 12 years, who have a brain injury, chromosome or genetic condition resulting in disability, and developmental delay. They also support families with children who have Autism.
Tel 01823 433591,
www.brainwave.org.uk
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation exists to demonstrate that individuals with severe learning disabilities who are described as having challenging behaviour can enjoy normal life opportunities when their behaviour is properly understood and they receive appropriate individualised support. The foundation supports families, professionals and other stakeholders through education, information, research and partnership working.
Tel 0845 602 7885
, www.thecbf.org.uk
Childline is a free and confidential helpline for children and young adults offering help and advice on a wide range of issues.
Tel 0800 1111,
www.childline.org.uk
direct.gov
Information for disabled people,
www.direct.gov.uk/disability
Information for carers,
www.direct.gov.uk/carers
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Tel 0845 604 6610,
www.equalityhumanrights.com
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities is part of the Mental Health Foundation, a national charity which works to promote the rights, quality of life and opportunities for people with learning disabilities and their families. They provide information; carry out research and work to improve services.
Tel 020 7803 1100,
www.learningdisabilities.org.uk
Mencap is an individual membership organisation for people with learning disabilities. They provide support for people with a learning disability and their families and carers. Their work includes providing services that allow people to live as independently as possible, providing advice and campaigning for changes that their members want.
Tel 020 7454 0454,
www.mencap.org.uk
The National Autistic Society is a UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger’s Sydrome) and their families. They provide information, support and services and campaign for a better world for people with autism.
Tel 020 7833 2299,
www.autism.org.uk
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.
Tel 0845 003 7780,
www.nice.org.uk
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) is a UK charity providing children’s rights and socio-legal services. They offer information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people up the age of 25 years. NYAS is also a community legal service.
Tel 0800 616101
www.nyas.net
Patient UK is a website which provides good quality information about health and disease.
www.patient.co.uk
The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) is a national network of disability organisations and disabled people who represent their members by fast-tracking opinions and concerns to policy-makers and by launching their own campaigns to promote equality for all disabled people.
Tel 020 7566 0116,
www.radar.org.uk
Scope is the UK disability charity for children and adults with disabilities such as cerebral palsy. They work with disabled people to raise awareness, change attitudes and influence government policy. They provide help and information and offer a range of services, such as education and training, short breaks and employment and training.
Tel 0808 800 3333,
www.scope.org.uk
Speaking up
Advocacy Partners Speaking Up provide advocacy services, self advocacy based projects and resources for people with learning difficulties, mental health issues and physical disabilities.
Tel 01223 555800,
www.speakingup.org
Wellchild is a UK charity that helps sick children and their families to manage the consequences of serious illness and complex health conditions through a programme of care, support and research
Tel 0845 458 8171, www.wellchild.org.uk