Professionals involved with your child

If your child has a disability or special need you may come into contact with many professionals.

Child psychiatrist

Child psychiatrists are doctors who understand how developmental disorders can affect children’s behaviour, emotional adjustment and social relationships. Child psychiatrists are expert in the use of medication in children with developmental disorders.

Clinical psychologist

Clinical psychologists are experts in the natural development of learning, behaviour, emotional adjustment and social relationships.

Community paediatrician

Community paediatricians are doctors who specialise in the health and development of children. They carry out physical examinations and investigations and know when and how to refer to other specialists. These professionals are often called upon to make a diagnosis of a child suspected of having a disability.

Dietician

Dieticians provide advice, information and teaching on nutrition and diets. They work with parents, professionals and the general public. Your GP, paediatrician or hospital consultant can refer your child to a dietician.

General practitioner

GPs are doctors who are often the first port of call for health services. GPs are responsible for the general health of people but do not usually make diagnoses or offer specialist advice and treatment. The general practice records that a GP keeps are the only medical records which follow a person throughout life, so it is important that other health professionals keep the GP well informed. 

Health visitor

Health visitors are specially trained nurses responsible for the promotion of the health and development of pre-school children. Concerns about development may be first raised with, or by, a health visitor during routine developmental assessment in the home or clinic, leading to referral to other professionals.

Neurologists

Neurologists are doctors who specialise in impairments of the brain and nervous system. 

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapists (OTs) understand how disabilities can affect daily living. They can give practical advice to parents on how to reduce everyday problems. 

Opthalmologists

Test eyes, prescribe and refer to specialist services. 

Orthoptists

Work with people with visual and eye problems.

Orthotists

Fit and supply equipment and aids such as wheelchairs or shoes to help with mobility. 

Paediatrician

Paediatricians are similar to community paediatricians except that they usually work from hospitals and organise hospital services for sick children. 

Physiotherapists

Specialise in assisting people with movement problems, using methods such as exercise, manipulation, heat and massage to develop good patterns of movement. They can also advise parents on ways of carrying, holding and positioning a child. 

Pre-school teacher counsellors

Have particular skills in working with parents of pre-school children by helping them with developmental difficulties. 

School nurse

The school nurse provides an important link between the school and health services. The school nurse’s particular interest is in conditions that may affect children’s ability to learn in school. She or he may be involved in health education. 

Social workers

Can advise you about care services and assess your child and family’s needs for support including respite and short-term care. They may work as part of a specialist disability team. 

Special Educational Needs co-ordinators

SENCOs are in every school, and have responsibility for ensuring children’s additional needs are met.  

Speech therapist

Speech therapists (or speech and language therapists as they are sometimes called) have special expertise in the area of development of language and communication. 

The Child Development Team (CDT)

Team members typically include community paediatricians, educational psychologists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. A main job of the team is to produce a comprehensive assessment of development which will help to plan treatment, education and other arrangements. 

Community teams for people with learning disabilities

These teams offer therapeutic and practical help and support to people who have a learning disability, their families and carers. Team members may include psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses and occupational therapists.