Cheyne Child Development Servicehttps://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/childrens-services/community-services/cheynehttps://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/++resource++plone-logo.svg
Cheyne Child Development Service
Above: Drawing of Cheyne Child development service by Sara, 5 years old
The Cheyne Child Development Service is a family-centred service based at Chelsea and Westminster, dedicated to supporting children with special educational and developmental needs. We maintain close links with local borough agencies, clinical commissioning groups and school nursing services to provide seamless support for children. We offer assessment and treatment services for children and young people up to the age of 19 with a wide range of developmental difficulties.
History of the Cheyne Child development Service
The Cheyne Child Development Service (CCDS) started in 1875 as The Hospital for Sick and Curable Children, with the original site on Cheyne Walk SW10 London. Hence the name “Cheyne.” In 1889, it was officially opened and also referred to as “The Little Hospital by the River.”
In 1922 it was renamed as the Cheyne Hospital for Children.
A nursery located at the original site on Cheyne Walk was added to the hospital in 1944, and in 1955 a centre for management and research into Cerebral Palsy was added to this.
Finally in 1993, the journey that started in 1875 ended with The Cheyne Centre being relocated to the current Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
The modern day Cheyne Child development service remains at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital site with an additional site at Parkview Centre for Health and Wellbeing in White city. Cheyne Child development Service is now under West London Children’s Healthcare (WLCH). West London Children’s Healthcare was formed in April 2022 bringing together paediatric services at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHT) and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. West London Children's Healthcare was founded to provide specialist paediatric and child healthcare in West and North West London, and to improve the health and wellbeing of the children we serve by moving beyond the boundaries of our individual organisations to deliver truly integrated care. The key focus will be on outcomes that that really matter to patients.
Cheyne Child Development Service remains at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and provides holistic neurodevelopmental and neurodisability services to children from 0 – 18 years, with focus on diagnostic services and family-centred management and support. The service works in close liaison and collaboration with various healthcare providers, schools and local agencies including social care.
Where you'll find us
Cheyne Child Development services
The Cheyne Child development service is based at 2 sites:
1) Chelsea and Westminster Site
Block C, Doughty House Netherton Grove London SW10 9TQ T: 020 3315 6488
Map of location of Cheyne child development service
🚍 Bus Routes
Fulham Road:
14 – from South Kensington or Fulham Broadway
211 – from Hammersmith, Fulham Broadway or King's Road
🚇 Underground Stations• Fulham Broadway – District Line • Earls Court – Piccadilly and District Lines • South Kensington – Piccadilly, District and Circle Lines • Gloucester Road – Piccadilly, District and Circle Lines
🚗 Car Parking
The hospital has an underground car park accessed via Nightingale Place. Please note that there are sometimes very long queues to access the hospital car park and we would therefore advise using public transport instead. Please check the hospital's website for parking charges.
We changed the access to Cheyne Child Development Service so that the service can be accessed via Netherton Grove and there is ramp access to the service.
Here is a video of how to access the Cheyne Child Development Service from Netherton Grove:
Reception and waiting room at Cheyne Child Development Service (Chelsea and Westminster Site)
We renovated the reception area to be an open, bright and welcoming space for the different age range of children we have serve and their needs.To enhance the space, we also carried out a consultation session with staff and parent groups to choose artwork for the walls, leading to attractive prints by Benjamin Craven being installed. As part of the refurbishment, we worked with artist Lottie Hall to create artwork to brighten up the large blank wall stretching the length of the reception area. In response, Lottie arranged a mark-making workshop with the local Queensmill School. The marks and patterns created by the local children in this workshop were used to inform the textures in Lottie’s design. We consulted with the parent forums around the design and layout of the reception area. We also installed sensory items such as interactive wall elements, a concave mirror, and a sensory hurricane tube. These sensory installations can help reduce stress while providing essential sensory interactions, helping to stimulate their experiences and providing feedback to their sensory systems. We also developed an outside waiting area with a sensory garden.
Sensory garden Cheyne Child development service (Chelsea and Westminster Site)
The Chelsea site has a sensory room which can be used to support children during their appointments.
Sensory room Cheyne Child development service (Chelsea and Westminster Site)
Children's Outpatients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Sometimes appointments are offered to see a Paediatrician at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in the Children's Outpatients at Chelsea at Westminster Hospital. This is located on the 1st Floor by lift Bank D in the main hospital.
Getting to Children’s Outpatient 1st Floor lifts D (end of the corridor) Chelsea & Westminster Hospital 369 Fulham Road London, SW10 9NH
🚍 Bus Routes
Fulham Road: • 14 – from South Kensington or Fulham Broadway • 211 – from Hammersmith, Fulham Broadway or King's Road
King's Road: • 11 – from Fulham Broadway • 22 – from Putney Common
Redcliffe Gardens (southbound) / Finborough Road (northbound): • 328 – from Earls Court • C3 – from Earls Court or Clapham Junction
🚇 Underground Stations • Fulham Broadway – District Line • Earls Court – Piccadilly and District Lines • South Kensington – Piccadilly, District and Circle Lines • Gloucester Road – Piccadilly, District and Circle Lines
🚗 Car Parking
The hospital has an underground car park accessed via Nightingale Place. Please note that there are sometimes very long queues to access the hospital car park and we would therefore advise using public transport instead. Please check the hospital's website for parking charges.
Below is a video of the Children's Outpatients at Chelsea and Westminster
At Chelsea and Westminster there is a sensory room—a specialised fun space with a range of relaxing, child-centred activities that help, children and teenagers to cope with their hospital experience. There is a booking system in place to use the sensory room, and bookings are made on an assessment of priority for each individual patient. Wherever possible, we will try to accommodate for each patient’s needs.
2) Parkview Centre for Health and Wellbeing Site.
Front Entrance of Parkview centre for health and well being
First Floor, Cranston Court 56 Bloemfontein Road White City London W12 7FG T: 020 3704 6060
6 Bloemfontein Road, London W12 7FG🚍 Bus Routes
Several buses stop directly outside or nearby:
· 283, 207 – stop health centre
· 228, 260 – stop nearby
🚇 Underground Stations
You have two nearby options:
White City Station (Central Line – Zone 2)
➤ Exit the station and turn right. ➤ Take the first left onto South Africa Road, then follow it until you reach Bloemfontein Road. ➤ Turn right — the Parkview Centre will be opposite the shops.
Shepherd’s Bush Market Station (Circle & Hammersmith & City Lines)
➤ Exit and walk down Uxbridge Road. ➤ Turn left into Bloemfontein Road (about 400 metres away). ➤ Continue walking — the centre will be on your left.
🚗 Car Parking
There is limited street parking in the area. It’s best to check local restrictions or use public transport if possible.
Please also note that there are cameras located around the Wormholt estate and only permit holders can enter the estate area. The roads directly next to Parkview Centre for Health and Wellbeing (Bryony Road and Sawley Road) only allow permit holders to drive down these streets and fines are issued by the council if this is breached.
🚶 On Foot If you're coming from nearby stations or bus stops, walking is straightforward. Bloemfontein Road is a residential street with clear signage for the Parkview Centre.
The Parkview Cheyne Child Development Service site is based on the 1st floor and there is lift access if needed.
Please report to the reception area when you arrive for your appointment.
Front reception for Cheyne Child development service (Parkview centre for health and Wellbeing site)
Waiting room for Cheyne Child development service (Parkview centre for health and Wellbeing site)
This is the waiting area for the Parkview Cheyne Child Development Service site.
The Parkview site has a sensory room which can be used to support children during appointments if needed.
Sensory room Cheyne Child development service (Parkview Site)
Who can access us?
Children are usually referred to our service by a healthcare professional, such as a GP, speech and language therapist or a member of the school team.
Our service is available to children whose GP is located in the following boroughs/postcodes:
Kensington and Chelsea: SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10, W8
Fulham: SW6
Hammersmith: W6, W12, W14, NW10
South Westminster: SW1
Members of the team at the Cheyne Child development Service
Cheyne Specialist Nursing Team
The Cheyne Specialist Nursing Team offers assessment and intervention service for children and young people up to 19 years old with a broad range of developmental differences. As a specialist service, referrals are typically made by professionals in the community or through the Cheyne service.
A core aspect of the team’s work is supporting families—especially those with complex neuro-disabilities, Down’s syndrome, and pre-school children on autism pathways.
Children on the neuro-disability pathway receive initial assessments in clinical appointments with ongoing involvement they have transitioned to an educational setting.
Children on the preschool pathway and their parents and carers are supported at various stages. This includes group or one-to-one sessions to help identify early support needs, early referrals and signposting to appropriate support.
The Cheyne Specialist Nursing Team work with colleagues across all settings, including the community.
For further information or to contact the team email: chelwest.ccdscnsteam@nhs.net
Community Paediatricians
Paediatricians are doctors who have specialised in Children’s Medicine. Community Paediatricians have specialised in the care assessment and diagnosis of Children with developmental problems or difficulties. Our role is to find out more about you, such as how children perform certain skills like walking, running , drawing, puzzle solving, storytelling etc. We would also want to know about what your child finds interesting and what they might find a little tricky. We might also be talking to other professionals about your child's strengths and difficulties to know more about tasks they do really well or things that might be a bit harder for them. The reason we are doing this is to understand them better and think about how we might help them with things they find a little challenging.
For questions about your appointment you can contact the appointments coordinator on 020 3315 6577
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy can enable your child to develop their motor skills and physical independence. Our physiotherapists have a wide knowledge and experience of typical and atypical physical development in children.
The physiotherapy team provides:
Initial and ongoing assessment to identify physiotherapy needs and early risk factors which could limit physical development in the future.
Physiotherapy may include:
Neurodevelopmental / physiotherapeutic handling and exercise
Provision of home, nursery and school exercise and activity programmes.
Prescription / provision and monitoring of equipment for mobility and postural management
Education / training to parents, carers, nursery and education staff where relevant, to support understanding of aims of physiotherapy, how to carry out activities and include these in the child’s daily life.
To monitor hip and spine development in children with neuro-developmental conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy)
To work with the multi-disciplinary team (occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, music therapists, paediatricians etc.) to ensure a holistic approach to the child’s care.
In children with orthopaedic needs, liaise with practitioners in the neuro-orthopaedic clinics at Chelsea and Westminster hospital
To co-ordinate joint clinics with physiotherapy and orthotics for the assessment and provision of splints and insoles.
Contact number for the physiotherapy team : 0203 315 8667
Music Therapist
Music therapy uses shared music making as a way of supporting children who may have communication, social, physical, or emotional difficulties. Referral to music therapy can be made for children up to the age of 6 years.
The Speech and Language Therapist looks at your child’s communication including;
Understanding
Play and Social Development
All aspects of communication including looking, pointing., gestures as well as speech
The speech and language therapist will do this by asking how your child communicates with you and by observing their play. They may ask your child to carry our some specific activities using familiar toys and pictures. Following assessment, appropriate therapy input, if needed, will be discussed and planned with you.
Speech and language therapy provide a service to pre-school children with speech, language, communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
If your child is school-aged please speak to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) at your child's school about supporting your child's language and communication skills.
Here is a link to some great communication resources:
The Psychology team at Cheyne are part of the multidisciplinary assessments and provide support and advice to children, young people and their families.
This may involve:
· Direct assessment of development and learning (cognitive) abilities.
· Discussion and advice regarding your child’s emotional, social and behavioural development.
· Discussion and advice regarding family relationships.
The team use a range of assessment methods such as play, conversation, structured assessments, observations (in clinic and at school) and questionnaires.
In terms of support following assessment, the Clinical Psychology team offers a range of groups for parents and consultation to staff working with children. We typically offer support in relation to understanding diagnosis, behaviour, emotional development, sleep and feeding. Most of these groups are also open to families of children/young people awaiting assessment within Cheyne.
Contact number: 0203 315 3196
Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists assess and treat children who have delay or difficulties that affect their ability to independently achieve everyday occupational activities. Occupational therapist have expertise in:
Motor (movement) skills
Cognitive (learning) skills
Psychological and emotional areas
Social skills
Play development
Sensory development
The occupational therapist will assess your child by:
Discussing your concerns
Observing play and activity
Using standard assessments
The Occupational Therapy Team works collaboratively with children, their families and school communities to enable children to achieve their potential within their occupations at school, home, and the wider community. Our Occupational Therapists (OTs) may see a child or young person who requires help with: developing the skills needed to participate in self-care tasks (e.g. tooth brushing, toileting, washing, dressing, eating); participating in learning tasks (e.g. writing, using scissors, selecting and organising tools/belongings); positioning and posture to support participation in everyday activities; accessing play/leisure resources and physical access - this may include supporting a child with motor coordination difficulties.
We require consent to ensure that you understand and are happy with why we are seeing your child. We also seek consent for Cheyne to gain and share information with other agencies (e.g. school) that support you and your child, so we can understand your child’s strengths and difficulties across different contexts. In certain circumstances we might ask for consent from your child if they are over the age of 14 years. If you are unsure about giving consent, please contact us to discuss this further on: 020 3315 6577 or email: Chelwest.commpaed.coordinator@nhs.net
Language, Interpreting Services and Recite Me toolbar.
Telephone interpreter service
Our Translation and Interpretation Service offers a telephone-based service, which allows immediate access to an interpreter 24 hours a day.
Face-to-face interpreter and translation service
Face-to-face interpreters and translators should be booked in advance. If you are an outpatient we recommend booking two weeks in advance. Please contact the department to arrange an interpreter on:020 3315 6488
We request that patients’ relatives do not act as interpreters for the patient. If a patient wishes to use a friend or relative to interpret, the patient will still be offered the choice of a professional interpreter. Patients are strongly discouraged from bringing children under 16 to act as interpreters.
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How to make a referral to the Cheyne Child Development Service:
We provide assessment and intervention services for children up to 19 years old, covering a wide range of developmental differences. Because we’re a specialist service, referrals can only be accepted from professionals in the community, like GPs, speech and language therapists, health visitors, nurseries and schools.
