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PANS (paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome) and PANDAS (paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome associated with strep) are devastating neuropsychiatric conditions that are currently poorly recognised, diagnosed and supported both medically and in schools.
Education and Services for People with Autism Limited is a Registered Charity with over 24 years’ experience of supporting people on the autism spectrum.
ESPA’s services include:
We care for children and young adults with progressive, life shortening conditions from across the North East.
Our team of skilled staff provide residential short breaks to local families. Up to six children and young adults can stay at any one time in our relaxed, home-from-home environment.
Children from birth to 18 can benefit from short breaks here. Teenagers benefit from their own living area – complete with games consoles, wide screen TV and PC’s.
We also care for young adults aged 18- 25 in designated, age-appropriate facilities.
St Cuthberts Care is a leading North East charity providing specialised services for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. Our work is often focused on providing services which fill the gaps left by other providers who find our areas of work unattractive or too high risk. We focus largely on:
In 1976, armed with a single phone in a rented office, Dimensions began supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs out of institutions, helping them lead ordinary lives in their local communities.
Forty years on, our work is fundamentally unchanged: we support people with learning disabilities and autistic people to have a louder voice, choice and control in their lives. Our 7000 colleagues deliver ambitious, effective, personalised support often with those whose previous support has not been successful.
Our five Auton residential children's homes can be found in Newcastle, Sunderland and Darlington. Each home offers professional care and a stable environment for young people aged between seven and 17 who are unable to live with their own families.
For more information, visit our website www.autonresidentialchildcare.org.uk
Situated within the Alan Shearer Centre, our specialist home offers residential accommodation for adults with profound and multiple disabilities, offering longer term, safe and nurturing care and support. In addition, our disabled residents have full access to the on-site Activity Centre.
The Humankind LGBT North East Services provide support to young people aged 11 to 25 through a range of projects across the North East region.
LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual or Transgender or other related identities) specialist support includes one to one interventions, workshops, peer support and family work.
Ambitious about Autism has a rapidly growing online Ambitious Youth Network to enable more autistic young people to have their voices heard. Through the network, autistic young people between the ages of 16 to 25 can share experiences, connect with others, have their say on Ambitious about Autism’s projects as well as access a range of opportunities to advocate and improve services for autistic young people.
Qwell is a free, safe and anonymous mental health support tool for 18 to 25 year olds.
We offer a variety of anonymous support options to meet your needs
Online messaging
Our messaging feature allows you to reach out directly to a professional. We also use messages to connect with someone who may need additional support.
Navigate is a national mentoring service, that provides online emotional support for parents and carers of disabled children who are finding out about their child’s additional needs.
Eligibility
Navigate is open to any parent or carer who:
- lives in England or Wales
- has parental responsibility for a child under 18
- this child is on a pathway to diagnosis or has received one in the last year
Accessing the service
You can apply online or get a referral from the helpline.
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website for 4-7 year olds and accompanying guide for parents and carers.
The website is based on the three-episode Jessie & Friends animated series, which aims to equip 4-7 year olds with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to stay safer online. It is intended to be used by 4-7 year olds alongside their parents and carers, or within education settings as a learning tool.
Do you have a learning disability and/ or are Autistic? Would you like to join an LGBTQ+ group? Come and meet us.
The group helps to improve the opportunities for Autistic individuals and people with Learning Disabilties in the LGBTQ+ community.
You can talk to learning disability staff about any worries or ideas you may have.
Click here to download a copy of their flyer.
For over 35 years we've led the way in providing specialist care, education and services for children, young people and adults with autism, across the North-east of England.
Recognised for our innovation and excellence, everything we do stems from an unswerving belief in providing bespoke person-centered support. It’s at the heart of who we are to recognise the uniqueness of every human being, and to understand that as a spectrum condition no two people with autism will have the same needs or wants.
This is a FREE service for parents/carers of children going through the diagnostic process or with a diagnosis of autism.
These groups give support, advice and information on services available to families. Trained autism practitioners will run sessions that aim to:
Autism North East is a Social Enterprise, non-profit-making organisation providing assessment, diagnosis and intervention for children, young people and adults where this is a concern related to an Autism Spectrum Condition.
Based in Stockton, Sunderland and Newcastle, the College provides day and residential education for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). Students come from across the country to access this specialist provision that enables them to achieve their personal ambitions.
The majority of our students have additional and complex needs including learning disabilities, ADHD, mental health conditions, behaviours that challenge and sensory issues.
The Newcastle Community Team for Learning Disabilities is based at Benton House in Newcastle.
The Adult team provides specialist assessment and treatment to people aged 18 years and over with a learning disability and additional health needs, where the person’s needs are complex and require an integrated approach to care and treatment that cannot be met through mainstream services.
The Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Service (CNDS) is a specialist second opinion Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) service for children and young people. We provide diagnostic assessments where there is uncertainty around diagnosis. In addition we also provide consultation and management advice to local services concerning children and young people who already have an existing ASD diagnosis.
Outreach clinic to provide people with a learning disability who have offended or show offending type behaviour(s), and those involved in caring for them the opportunity to seek advice and support on managing day to day forensic issues.
Areas covered: Cumbria, Sunderland and Newcastle
How to get referred:
Referrals must be made through local community nursing teams for each locality.
We provide a range of specialist services for both adults and children with autism and or learning disabilities or both. We work closely with other Trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations.
Lennox is a seven bed unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for young people aged 12-18 with complex mild to moderate learning disability and a requirement of a high level of supervision in a medium secure environment.
Referrals are accepted from specialist mental health teams regionally, nationally and internationally. Informal enquiries are welcomed and advice can be given by telephone prior to referrals.
The team will work with children/young people between the ages of 4-18 with a learning disability and or Autism Spectrum Disorder where their behaviour that challenges occurs as a result of the young person having limited abilities to communicate distress, and get their needs met in other more adaptive ways.
How to refer:
All referrals must come from a Community CYPS team; it is essential that a care co-ordinator is identified. Consultation clinics are held monthly in each locality where potential referrals can be taken to be discussed.
The Secure Outreach Transition Team (SOTT), provides assessment, intervention, treatment, management and supervision for service users with a learning disability and/or autism spectrum disorder who are:
• Currently in secure care
• In the community following discharge from a period of secure care
• In the community having been referred due to offences or offending behaviour that represents a risk to the general public and who potentially may require admission to secure care.
What is Makaton?
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate.
It supports the development of essential communication skills such as: