Child Development Centre - Derriford Hospital

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

The team at the Child Development Centre is made up of different specialists. They include:

• Doctors
• Psychologists
• Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Audiologists
• Specialist Nursing Teams - Continence and Community Nurses
• Specialist Nurses in Neurodevelopment
• A Specialist Pre School Nursery Team
• Educational Psychologists
• A friendly team of secretaries and admin staff

What can a family expect from the Child Development Centre

Your GP may refer your child to the CDC for a number of reasons. A few examples are atypical development, behavioural concerns including possible autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, delayed toileting or a looked after child requiring a statutory medical.

Audiology (Hearing Services)

Diagnostic audiological procedures and rehabilitative care for children of all ages are provided. This includes age appropriate testing techniques, advice regarding hearing loss, referral to other agencies and when necessary comprehensive digital hearing aid fitting. We work closely with our medical colleagues in the ear, nose and throat department, and the advisory teachers of the hearing impaired.

Children's Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy

Within the therapy department, children's physiotherapists and occupational therapists undertake assessment and treatment sessions for children. Work focuses on children's mobility skills including sitting, walking, running and hand skills and may involve visiting children at nursery or in their own home

Community Nursing Team (CCN)

The CCN team provide care for any child with short or long term health needs such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, complex disability and home ventilation to name just a few requiring nursing support in the home.

The children that we support cover the whole age range from 0 - 19 years. The team work closely with many outside agencies to ensure the provision of care is appropriate for each child and family for example undertaking assessments for continuing health care packages, respite provision and providing training and liaison with schools. Many of the children will stay within the team for many years before transitioning into the adult services. Others will be supported through palliative care and ultimately end of life. 

Continence

The continence team provides advice and support for children and young people aged 2-16 years. We assess children from 2 years onwards with bowel problems and from 4 years with urinary problems.

A treatment plan is developed and progress is monitored via telephone and/or further clinic appointments. There is close liaison with both NHS Plymouth and hospital services when needed

Doctors

We have a team of doctors based at the CDC and visiting consultants hold specialist clinics. There are general outpatient clinics for atypical development as well as specialised clinics in, genetics, neurology, ophthalmology, ear nose & throat, dietetics, podiatry and orthotics.

There is a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency service for children with conditions such as autism, ADHD and Downs Syndrome. Our doctors also visit all the special schools in Plymouth.

Looked after children may attend the CDC for a statutory medical or an adoption medical if requested by social care.

Psychology

A wide range of psychological difficulties may be dealt with, including anxiety, depression, relationship problems, learning disabilities, behaviour problems, and child and family problems.

To assess a child, a clinical psychologist may undertake a clinical assessment using a variety of methods including psychometric tests, interviews and direct observation of behaviour. Assessment may lead to therapy, counselling or advice.

Specialist Services for children with a learning disability, autism or ADHD

We provide assessment pathways for children and young people who may have autism. This includes a pathway for pre-school children in Plymouth & South Devon (Tavistock and South Hams), plus a school-age pathway for children in Devon. The team involved in these assessments include our Specialist Speech & Language Therapists, Clinical & Educational Psychologists and Specialist Nursery Nurse.

Resources

You may find the following resources, created by the team at the Child Development Centre, helpful:

Promoting dietary variety in children and young people (PDF) [525KB] (opens new window)

Returning to school after Covid-19 (PDF) [539KB] (opens new window)