Disabled children and young people

If your child has a physical, sensory, learning disability or mental health issue and is under sixteen, then we may be able to help you by:

• Giving you information on services in Edinburgh
• Assessing you and your child's needs for our services
• Offering emotional/crisis support

Our services range from day activities to overnight care, some of which may be:

• Available immediately
• Will need an assessment
• May have a waiting list

These services are:

• Children's Practice Team (Disability) - offering information and assessments, as well as statutory support (such as child protection and crisis care)
• Children and Families Occupational Therapy Team - working directly with children supporting occupational therapy needs in the Child and Family Centre setting as well as assessing for equipment and adaptations in the home
• Social Care Workers' Team - supporting you and your child at home or through community activities
• Family Focus - supporting you and your child with medical and therapy programmes at home or through community activities
• Outreach Services such as Lothian Autistic Society, Action Group, Medico to support your child with community activities or personal care
• Play schemes - activities during the school holidays subsidised for up to three weeks
• Weekend Activity Clubs such as Kidz Own & Yard Youth Club, offering fun activities and youth groups
• Family Based Care - caring for your child overnight in the carer's home
• 3 Residential Short Break Units - Action for Children's Gilmerton Road ; Barnardo's Caern; and Seaview.  They offer a variety of different overnight care packages, averaging about 35 nights a year.  Calareidh & Sunndach offer respite for children with complex health care, through our partners in Lothian Health
• Direct Payments - a cash alternative to social work arranging their services after an assessment

Service Review

Edinburgh Development Group, a voluntary agency, carried out an independent review of our services. View their report and our action plan.