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Devon’s SEND Local Offer

Sensory impairments: useful referral contacts

NHS services

Audiology

Paediatric Audiology Services provide support for children with hearing difficulties, from newborn to adulthood.


Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD)

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) provides integrated care and treatment for both physical and mental health for children, young people and their families in Devon.

The CFHD website also contains lots of useful information, including for sensory issues.

Single Point of Access Team: 0330 0245 321


Ear, nose and throat (ENT) departments

ENT teams look after children and adults with ear, nose and throat conditions.


Hearing (cochlear) Implants Team

The West of England Hearing Implant Programme (WEHIP) is the regional centre for the South West, providing implants for children and adults, who remain under the care of the programme for life.


Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery that deals with eye disorders. There are Ophthalmology services teams based at all the major hospitals in Devon.

  • Ophthalmology Team at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    Telephone: 01271 322577
    Paediatric Ophthalmology Secretary: 01271 322411
  • Ophthalmology Team at Torbay and Newton Abbot Hospitals (Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust)
    Telephone: 01803 614567
  • Ophthalmology Team at Royal Eye Infirmary Plymouth
    Telephone: 01752 202082

Social Care

ROVIC service

The ROVIC service (Re/Habilitation Officer for Visually Impaired Children) is a county-wide team supporting children and young people from birth to 18 years who have; visual, dual sensory (vision and hearing impairment) deafblind and multi-sensory impairments.

Read our guide to the ROVIC Service to find out how they can support you.


Disabled Children’s Service (DCS)

A specialist service within Devon Children’s Services which provides a range of support and services to disabled children, young people and their families across Devon.

Find out more about the Disabled Children’s Service and the support they provide.


Telephone: 01392 385276 (option1)
Request for support form:


Early Help

Devon County Council: Early Help


Education

Sensory Needs and Physical Difficulties team

All requests for support are made using our online form using the link below.

Requests can be made by:

  • an educational setting,
  • medical professional, for example Audiologist, Orthoptists, Paediatrician,
  • other professionals working with a child or young person, for example social worker, speech and language therapist, ROVIC, Occupational Therapists

As a service we use the NatSIP eligibility criteria to guide decision-making on the level of support allocated to children and young people.


Request support from Sensory Needs and Physical Difficulties team

Consent

All requests for support must have a signed consent form. These need to be signed by a parent or carer if the child or young person is under sixteen. Young people over sixteen will need to sign their own consent form. These forms can be downloaded separately, or completed within the main request for support link.


Devon parent support services

DiAS (Devon Information, Advice and Support)

Parent Carer Forum Devon

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