Message sent on behalf of: Geoff Catterall - Head of Service - SEN and Complex Needs

For the attention of: Primary Headteachers / Secondary Headteachers

Subject: Salford Contacts for SEND health queries during the COVID 19 Pandemic

Dear Headteachers,

Salford Contacts for SEND health queries during the COVID 19 Pandemic

The numbers below are available Monday – Friday during office hours and are for quick and easy access to health professionals where there are urgent queries about a child or young person with special educational needs.

For general health queries:

• Parents are still advised to seek advice from their GP. They are able to give advice via telephone and arrange face to face appointments where these are needed.
• When you child is ill or injured it is very difficult to decide who  you should contact to get help  . During the current situation and while the government  is asking everyone to stay at home  the  guidance at the end of this document   may help you

For Medical queries

• A Paediatrician is available on 0161 206 0253
• Urgent new referrals will be dealt with as normal and discussed via the telephone or seen face to face if this is needed.
• Existing appointments have been converted to telephone appointments and parents notified of this by letter
• Review appointments will still happen but may be delayed
• If a child is awaiting a review appointment and there is concern which is urgent and cannot wait then please contact the above number

For Therapy queries

Speech &Language Therapy

• A Speech and Language therapist is available on 0161 206 2509  or via the Speak Up Salford website https://www.speakupsalford.nhs.uk/
• Urgent feeding referrals will be managed as usual and discussed via the telephone in the first instance. If a face to face appointment is needed this will take place at Pendleton Gateway or within the home setting if no family members are showing symptoms of covid-19. Please note that therapy staff will be wearing protective equipment.
• We are not currently accepting any new referrals for communication difficulties, but we can give advice if you contact us on the  helpline above
• All existing  appointments have been converted to telephone appointments and parents will be notified of this by letter
• For children on our caseload with EHCPs and/or were already receiving regular therapy we will try and make contact with you to talk parents through a home therapy plan.
• The SLT team are also exploring ways to use video calling and  video advice clips  to provide more support to families at home.

Occupational Therapy & Physiotherapy

• A physiotherapist / Occupational therapist is available on 0161 607 1448
• The service  will  ensure that as much of a child’s postural management equipment is available at home as possible 
• All caseload children will be provided with an updated at home therapy plan to help parents/carers  to continue to support their child A member of the  team will be available over the phone to support families  with any concerns about a child’s therapy or the equipment. If it is identified that a home visit is needed  to review equipment, then this will be offered  as long as there is  no one in the family home that are showing symptoms of coronavirus. We may also contact families over the phone to carry out  review

• All children who had an appointment in a clinic will be telephoned within a week of that appointment to be reviewed over the phone. If the therapist needs to see your child you will be invited to a face to face appointment at either Pendleton or Swinton Gateway.

• The team are exploring ways to use video calling to provide more support to families at home.
• The team are still accepting referrals. Urgent referrals will be contacted by phone for an initial assessment. Routine referrals will be allocated a telephone clinic appointment  in line with our usual  waiting times. A letter will be sent about   this appointment.

For Mental Health queries

CAMHS is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm and can be contacted on the following telephone numbers:

• Salford CAMHS Tel: 0161 518 5499   
• CAMHS 16/17 Service( Emerge )   Tel: 0161 226 7457
• New Referrals are being received as usual will be reviewed by a clinician who will decide if CAMHS is the right service for you.  If so we will ring you to discuss your worries and make a plan with you.
• If you are already a CAMHS patient your named worker will keep in touch by telephone with in the next 4 weeks.  Some young people may need to continue to be seen face to face in CAMHS,  we will be in touch to arrange this.
• CAMHS continues to support our local hospitals and young people who are in crisis and require urgent appointments.
• CAMHS have a daily duty worker available to offer advice and support to families, carers and young people and professionals
• This  website contains lots of useful information: