Neurodevelopmental support

Neurodiversity (ND)

Neurodiversity covers many conditions:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Foetal alcohol syndrome
• Dyspraxia
• Social anxiety and over 30 other conditions.

Identifying these conditions early is important so that children, young people and their families can get the right support, understand what is happening and how it fits into daily life.

Some people find having a formal diagnosis really helpful but there is a lot of advice, information and support available to neurodiverse children, young people and their families, without the need for a formal diagnosis. If you think your child is showing signs of a neurodivergent condition and you would like to access advice, information or support, you could speak to:

• a GP
• a health visitor (for children under 5)
• any other health professional you or your child see, such as another doctor or therapist
• special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) staff at your child's school.

NeuroHubs

Families and carers for children with neurodivergent conditions have said they need help and advice on:

• being out and about
• sleeping, eating, toileting
• communication and interaction
• education, work or play
• sensory processing, crisis and behaviour.

To provide that early support, five Neurodiverse Community Hubs have opened in Derbyshire. These can be found in South Derbyshire, Derby city, central Derbyshire and High Peak. Download the map of the Neuro Hub locations.

With no formal referral needed, the hubs offer children, young people up to the age of 25, their families and carers:

• drop-ins for advice and information
• one to one sessions or groups by appointments
• a space to work out how to manage their situation
• support with the assessment process, before and after a diagnosis
• training for parents and individuals
• specialist sessions covering housing, benefits, finance and employment.

The hubs will also provide a safe and supportive environment where people can:

• ask questions
• be heard without having to repeat their story
• receive hope and encouragement to reduce isolation.

They will meet staff acting as guides who provide a listening ear and are:

• compassionate and supportive
• experienced with both personal and professional expertise.

Zink ND Community Hub (Buxton)

• Mobile: 07498 892525 (please try the mobile number first)
• Telephone: 01298 214926
• Email: neurohub@zink.org.uk
• Website: zink.org.uk
• Address: ZINK HQ, Clough Street, Buxton, SK17 6LJ

St James’ Centre ND Community Hub (Derby city)

• Mobile: 07561 856320 (please try the mobile number first)
• Telephone: 01332 604080
• Email: neurohub@stjamescentre.org
• Website: www.stjamescentrederby.co.uk
• Address: St James Centre, Malcolm Street, Derby, DE23 8LU

AEM Community Hub (Heanor)

• Mobile: 07510 928349
• Email: neurohub@aem.org.uk
• Website: www.autismeastmidlands.org.uk/child-services/neurohubs
• Address: Mundy Street Day Service, Mundy Street, Heanor, DE75 7EB

Fairplay ND Community Hub (Chesterfield)

• Mobile: 07874 941890
• Telephone: 01246 886475
• Email: neurohub@fair-play.org.uk
• Website: www.fair-play.co.uk
• Address: Fairplay, Alexandra Road West, Chesterfield, S40 1NP

South Derbyshire Neurodevelopmental Community Hub

Hub opening hours:

• Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm

Face to face appointments:

• Contact directly by phone or email if you would like to schedule a booked appointment.

Drop-ins:

• Held every Monday from 10am to 4pm either at Citizens Advice Mid Mercia, Church Gresley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9NR or Swadlincote Library, Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AD
• Satellite hubs also run locally in schools, children’s centres and early years settings.

Contact:

• Telephone: 01332 228744 (9am to 5pm)
• Email: ch@citizensadvicemidmercia.org.uk
• Address: 114 Church Street, Church Gresley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9NR

Download a leaflet with opening times and contact details.

Derby City NeuroHub

Derby city’s neurodiversity hub is based out of the St James Centre, Malcolm Street, Derby, DE23 8LU.

Opening hours for calls, booked appointments and drop ins:

Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1:30pm
Friday 10am to 1:30pm

Contact details:

Telephone: 01332 604080
Mobile: 07561 856320
Email: neurohub@stjamescentre.org

Neurodevelopmental Pathway

The Neurodevelopmental Pathway is a specialist service responsible for the assessment of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Referrals for an ADHD assessment for children will be considered from the age of 5 and a half years.

You can find out more about the support available to children and young people living in Derby and South Derbyshire who need an assessment for a neurodevelopmental condition on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website.

Dynamic Support Pathway

The Joined Up Care Derbyshire Dynamic Support Pathway (DSP) brings together the services who provide help and support to children, young people and adults with a learning disability, autism or both, who are struggling with their health and wellbeing whilst living in the community, with the key focus being on prevention, early identification and early intervention.

The purpose of the DSP is to make sure that people with learning disabilities and/or autism, and their carers receive good and timely support, and respond quickly to any problems and concerns which may lead to a crisis.

The DSP provides a place where agencies communicate and work together to develop an action plan to support people using various levels of multi-agency coordination and review. The DSP also helps to connect people to appropriate services.

In Derby and Derbyshire, all agencies and services that care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism use a digital database, called the Dynamic Support Register (DSR). The DSR helps identify those who need support the most, so they don’t have to go to a mental health hospital, if this is not the best thing for them.

To learn more about the Dynamic Support Pathway, or for professionals to make referrals, visit Joined Up Care Derbyshire - Dynamic Support Pathway

Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools

The Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools Project (PINS) is a nationally funded pilot project for 2024/25 and 2025/26, building on the success of the national Autism in Schools Project. The approach of PINS has been developed around the key principles of Autism in Schools:

• Whole-school approach.
• Good quality training for staff.
• Parents Supporting Parents groups.
• Understanding students experience of schools.

In Derby and Derbyshire, PINS is being delivered through a partnership by the NHS, local authorities and the Derby and Derbyshire Parent Carer Forums in mainstream primary settings to: 

• Help shape whole-school SEND provision.
• Provide early interventions at a school level.
• Upskill school staff.
• Support strengthening of partnerships between schools and parent carers.

We hope that PINS will leave a sustainable impact after the funded period and build evidence on the benefits of closer collaboration between education and health, including working collaboratively across professional boundaries.

The focus is on a needs drive rather than a diagnosis focussed programme. Strengthening knowledge, skills and improving environments to better meet the needs of neurodiverse children, will reframe the focus to how a supportive learning environment and well-equipped school can improve the outcomes for this group of children.

37 mainstream primary schools across Derby and Derbyshire are taking part in the PINS project.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 

Autistic people may act in a different way to other people.

Autistic people may:

• find it hard to communicate and interact with other people
• find it hard to understand how other people think or feel
• find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
• get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
• take longer to understand information
• do or think the same things over and over.

The NHS has a useful video on what autism can look like in everyday life.

Autism Information & Advice Service

Citizens Advice Mid Mercia, with the support of Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council, operates a free information and advice service for Derbyshire County and Derby City Autistic community.

We support individuals aged 16 and over in Derbyshire living with autism, their families, carers and friends. We also work with professionals to identify gaps in services, raise awareness and promote acceptance of autism.

Our service includes:

• Signposting and referral to suitable services
• Parent and carer support groups and a free monthly autism support course
• Autism passport
• GP Surgery drop-ins
• Free Autism Awareness Training for Statutory services in Derby City and Derbyshire County
• Support and training for Derbyshire County and Derby City based professionals and businesses seeking to become more Autism aware or to support employees with autism.

Contact details:

• Phone: 01332 228790
• Email: autismservice@citizensadvicemidmercia.org.uk
• Website: www.autisminformationservice.org.uk

Derbyshire Autism Partnership Board

The Derbyshire Autism Partnership Board brings together people with autistic spectrum conditions, their parents, carers, local health and social care professionals and the voluntary sector to improve services for young people and adults with autism in Derbyshire and Derby city.

The board aims to work with and influence commissioners and develop improved services within Derbyshire for people with autism of all ages. The board and its members and representatives also work to raise awareness of autistic spectrum conditions to the public, implementing an action plan to deliver the Derbyshire Joint Health and Social Care Adult Autism Strategy.

The partnership board meets four times a year and oversees the care and support provision for people with autism in Derbyshire of any age.

Children, young people, adults and their families can also access advice, information and support from Autism East Midlands' Child Services. 

Download the Understanding Autism flyer.

Anxiety in children with learning disabilities and ASD

Part 1 of a two-part webinar about anxiety in children and young people with learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorders:

Part 2 of a two-part webinar about strategies for supporting anxiety in children and young people with learning disabilities or autism spectrum disorders:

ND and food refusal

Sensory processing differences, anxiety, difficulty in feeling hunger or fullness, and several other factors can lead a child to refuse certain foods. This can make mealtimes challenging, and cause concern around nutrition and healthy weight. You should always mention any concerns to your GP or healthcare professional in the first instance, but there are other resources to help with support in addition to this.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

The NHS have produced a video to explain:

• What is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
• Causes of ARFID.
• Vulnerability factors.
• What to look out for.
• Top tips.

ARFID can affect anyone, but it can sometimes be triggered by sensory processing difficulties. It involves restricting food intake to the point of impacting your health, sometimes due to weight loss, poor nutrition

It is more than being a picky eater; it’s restricting food intake to an extent that it has a negative impact on a person’s health. They may struggle to stay a healthy weight, to get the right nutrients in their diet, and it can have a major impact on day-to-day life. ARFID is not driven by worries around body shape or weight.

Possible signs and symptoms of ARFID include:

• sensitivity to the texture, smell or temperature of foods
• eating a very limited range of food
• only eating food of a similar colour
• finding it difficult to recognise when you’re hungry
• feeling full after only a few mouthfuls and struggling to eat more
• being anxious at mealtimes
• nutritional deficiencies like anaemia caused by not having enough iron in the diet.

The Infant and Toddler Forum has produced a helpful factsheet for Understanding and Managing Extreme Food Refusal in Toddlers.

Derby and Derbyshire Keyworking Service

The keyworking service in Derby and Derbyshire provides dedicated keyworkers for children and young people with a learning disability and/or autism, who are at risk of being admitted into a mental health inpatient setting.

The service is for Children and Young People up to 25 years old with a learning disability, and/or who are autistic, and who are on the Dynamic Support Register (DSR).

The keyworking service in Derby and Derbyshire is provided by Affinity Trust.

To learn more, visit the Affinity Trust - Derbyshire Keyworker Service website.