Wirral Learning Disabilities Children and Young People's Mental Health Services

Our Wirral Learning Disabilities Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service is a community-based, specialist service offering support to children, young people, families and carers in Wirral. 

Our aim is to provide a service that works in partnership with families and carers, is person and family-centred and focused on the needs of the child or young person, offers support based on goals identified by the family, uses a multi-agency approach (different organisations and professionals working together), and has a flexible, person-centred way of working.

Who is the service for?

The Learning Disabilites Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service is available to anyone up to the age of 18  who has a diagnosis of a severe learning disability, profound and multiple learning disabilities (you might see this abbreviated to PMLD), or a moderate learning disability with additional complexities that impact on functioning.

How to access the service

To access the Learning Disabilities Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service, please speak to your GP or any other health or educational professional (such as a teacher or school nurse). They will be able to make a referral if they think our service can help.

Alternatively, a self-referral form can be completed on the My Mind website.

What will happen at your first appointment?

When the team have received a referral for a child or young person, the referral will be triaged to check it is appropriate for the team, then the parent/carer will be contacted by the team’s administrator, to arrange an initial assessment. The initial assessment will take place at your home unless you would prefer it to take place in our Pensby Clinic.

Our team consists of:

• Psychologists
• Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist
• Clinical coordinator
• Learning disability nurses
• Assistant practitioner
• Assistant psychologist

You will receive a letter before the initial assessment which confirms the date, time and location of the appointment. The letter will also let you know the name and job title of the clinician who will be completing the initial assessment.

A typical initial assessment lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. During the assessment, the clinician will ask a range of questions to understand the child or young person’s current behaviours and needs, and how these impact their life. Within the initial assessment, the clinician may also ask questions about the child or young person’s history, family life, school, and any other services they access. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have.

Following the initial assessment, if you are offered support from our team, we strongly recommend parents and carers attend our Challenging Behaviour Workshops.

Where we are based

As a community team, many of our appointments will be based at your home. However, if this is unsuitable, appointments can take place in our Pensby Clinic.

Most commonly, one-to-one work completed with the child or young person will take place within a school setting.