Our team

Cheyne Child Development Service is a multidisciplinary service, which means families may see different professionals depending on a child or young person’s needs. Below is an overview of the roles you might meet, what they do, and how to contact them.

Cheyne Specialist Nursing Team

The Cheyne Specialist Nursing Team offers assessment and intervention services 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 neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, and pre-school children on autism pathways.

Children on the neurodisability pathway receive initial assessments in clinical appointments, with ongoing involvement as they transition into an educational setting.

Children on the pre-school pathway and their parents or carers are supported at various stages. This may include group or one-to-one sessions to help identify early support needs, early referrals, and signposting to appropriate services.

The Cheyne Specialist Nursing Team works closely with colleagues across all settings, including community services.

For further information or to contact the team, email chelwest.ccdscnsteam@nhs.net.

Community Paediatricians

Paediatricians are doctors who specialise in children’s health. Community paediatricians specialise in the assessment and diagnosis of developmental differences.

Their role is to learn more about your child, including how they are developing skills such as walking, running, drawing, solving puzzles, and telling stories. They also want to understand what your child enjoys and what they may find more difficult.

Community paediatricians may speak with other professionals involved in your child’s care to build a fuller picture of their strengths and support needs. This helps the team understand your child’s development and plan the right support.

For questions about your appointment, you can contact the appointments coordinator on 020 3315 6577.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapy can help your child develop motor skills and physical independence. Our physiotherapists have wide experience in both typical and atypical physical development in children.

The physiotherapy team provides:

• Initial and ongoing assessments to identify physiotherapy needs and early risk factors that could limit physical development.

Physiotherapy may include:

• Neurodevelopmental and physiotherapeutic handling and exercise
• Home, nursery, and school exercise and activity programmes
• Prescription, provision, and monitoring of equipment for mobility and postural management
• Education and training for parents, carers, and education staff to support therapy goals in daily life
• Monitoring hip and spine development in children with neurodevelopmental conditions (for example, cerebral palsy)
• Working with the multidisciplinary team (including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, music therapists, and paediatricians) to provide holistic care
• Liaison with neuro-orthopaedic clinics at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for children with orthopaedic needs
• Joint clinics with physiotherapy and orthotics for assessment and provision of splints and insoles

Physiotherapy team
T: 020 3315 8667

Music Therapists

Music therapy uses shared music-making to support children who may have communication, social, physical, or emotional difficulties. Referrals to music therapy can be made for children up to the age of 6 years. If you would like more information about the music therapy service, see our Music Therapy page.

• Ideas about using music in day-to-day life to support your child’s development

T: 020 3315 6472
E: caw-tr.mtreferrals@nhs.net

Speech and Language Therapists

The speech and language therapist looks at your child’s communication, including:

• Understanding
• Play and social development
• All aspects of communication, including eye contact, pointing, gestures, and speech

This is done by discussing how your child communicates with you and by observing their play. Your child may be asked to complete 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 services are provided for 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 support for communication and language skills.

• Speech and language therapy (CLCH)
• CLCH Communication Hub

T: 020 7266 8777

Clinical Psychologists

The psychology team at Cheyne is part of the multidisciplinary assessment process and provides support and advice to children, young people, and their families.

This may involve:

• Direct assessment of cognitive (learning) abilities
• Advice about emotional, social, and behavioural development
• Support and guidance around family relationships

The team uses a range of assessment methods, including play, conversation, structured assessments, clinic and school observations, and questionnaires.

Following assessment, the clinical psychology team offers parent groups and consultation for staff working with children. Support commonly focuses on understanding diagnosis, behaviour, emotional development, sleep, and feeding. Many groups are also open to families who are waiting for assessment within Cheyne.

T: 020 3315 3196

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists assess and support children who have delays or difficulties that affect their ability to take part independently in everyday activities.

Occupational therapists have expertise in:

• Motor (movement) skills
• Cognitive (learning) skills
• Psychological and emotional development
• Social skills
• Play development
• Sensory processing

An occupational therapy assessment may include:

• Discussing your concerns
• Observing play and everyday activities
• Using standardised assessments

The occupational therapy team works collaboratively with children, families, and schools to support participation at home, in education, and in the community. This may include support with self-care (such as dressing, washing, toileting, and eating), learning tasks (such as writing or using tools), posture and positioning, and access to play and leisure activities. Support may also be provided for children with motor coordination difficulties.

• CLCH occupational therapy website
• Occupational Therapy Support Hub