Key Local NHS Health Services

Continuing Healthcare

If your child’s needs are related to their health, then they may be eligible for continuing healthcare for adults when they turn 18.

If your child already receives support from children’s continuing care, your named assessing nurse in that team will work with you and your child at 16 to make sure that your child’s package helps with the move to either social care support, into continuing healthcare for adults or back into the care of your GP. Please note, being eligible for children’s continuing care does not automatically mean that your child will qualify for continuing healthcare for adults.

If your child is not known to children’s continuing care but you think they may require continuing healthcare for adults, a checklist should be completed when they are 17 years old. The Checklist can be completed by a variety of health and social care practitioners, who have been trained in its use. This could include, for example: registered nurses employed by the NHS, GPs, other clinicians or local authority staff such as social workers, care managers or social care assistants. This should be sent to NHS Continuing Health Care Team (adults) to determine their eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare for adults.

Contact details:

16 to 25 Speech and Language Service (NUTH)

Young people aged 16 to 25 from Newcastle with an identified Speech & Language Therapy need, as stated within their Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), can access support from the 16 to 25 Service. The service aligns closely with the Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) agenda, with the aim of improving overall outcomes and increasing participation in education, training and employment. Person centred, functionally relevant and meaningful goals will be developed in partnership with the young person and their educational provider so that support is provided based on an individuals’ specific aspirations/strengths and needs.

Young people (0 to 18 years old) with learning disabilities in CNTW

The Learning Disability Team requires a young person to have had a first line intervention prior to Children and Young People's Service (CYPS) becoming involved (input from specialist with school, paediatrics, Skills for People). The Learning Disability Team provides assessment and treatment with children and young people with a Learning Disability who are presenting with mental health difficulties and/or behaviour that challenges. We also have an assessment pathway for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for those with a learning disability.

On turning 17.5 years old, your child might be invited to attend a transition clinic with the Community Learning Disability Team to see what support available post 18 years old.

Young people under the care of the Children and Young People’s service (CYPS)

The Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS) is for children and young people (4-18 years) who have persistent, moderate to severe symptoms and/or highly complex emotional distress that has not responded to previous targeted intervention.

CYPS offers a comprehensive transition support package to those young people who are approaching their 18th birthday and may need continuing support as adults.

To get in touch with CYPS:

Useful contacts

Anti-Bullying Alliance: Established with the aim of reducing bullying and creating safe environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn. Includes sections for children, parents and professionals.

Childline: 0800 1111 Free, national helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger.

Eating Disorders Association, BEAT: Information and help on all aspects of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and related eating disorders.

Young Minds: Provides information and advice for anyone with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person. The website contains a lot of information about conditions and treatments.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): Provides help, advice and guidance to users of the NHS and their families. North of Tyne – 0800 032 02 02, Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm.

Young people (0-18 years old) within the Neurodevelopmental Pathway in CNTW

The Neurodevelopmental Team within CNTW Children’s and Young People’s Service (CYPS) are responsible for the assessment pathway for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) from ages 0 to 18 years old. It is important to understand that following an ASD diagnosis, we are not commissioned to offer post diagnostic support, but we can signpost you to services which may be able to offer this.

Following an ADHD diagnosis, we only offer a post diagnostic intervention for the medication clinic, up to the age of 18 years old. Post diagnostic services, commissioned to provide this work, will be discussed with families following a diagnosis.

Transition planning commences between the ages of 17 and 17.5 years old, with the aim of care being fully taken over by the adult teams at the age of 18. The ongoing need for treatment of ADHD is reviewed with the young person in collaboration with the Adult ADHD service as part of the transition process; both services share the same electronic records systems, so a full re-assessment is not necessarily required. The adult ADHD service are only commissioned to offer ongoing treatment and annual review of ADHD, therefore if any further needs are identified, any necessary additional referrals are made by the CYPS teams prior to discharge. There may be occasions where the young person’s transition may be delayed if assessment or current treatment has not been concluded. 

In these instances, the young person will remain with the CYPS until assessment is concluded and treatment stability is reached, before transitioning to the adult service.

Autism Hubs

Newcastle has an Autism Hub run by the North East Autism Society offering pre- and post-autism diagnostic support to families.

Their family development service provides support for autistic people and their families across the North-east pre, during and post diagnosis. Their mission is to provide the right support, at the right time, and in the right way to ensure the best outcomes.

Other services to support those with autism

Young people under the complex mental health pathway in CNTW

The Complex Mental Health Team, specialising in children and young people’s mental health services, require a young person to have had a first line intervention prior to a referral being made. This would include input/access to a primary care service, such as early help, a voluntary sector organisation, such as North East counselling, Streetwise, Children’s North East, or similar.

The Mental Health Team within our service will work with young people who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties.

Whilst we work with clients in psychological distress, we are not an emergency or crisis service, and it may take time to allocate clients to a health professional.

The complex mental health pathway will start to look at transitioning young people out of their pathway when they are aged 17.5. years old.

Working with the young person and their families they identify any mental health needs and explore what service would be best suited to meet those needs when they are 18 years old.

The GP and/or other organisations may be able to take over your child’s care before they turn 18.

Useful contacts

  • The Mix: Support and resources for young people under 21.
  • Young Minds: Website with lots of resources and support for young people and parents
  • Kooth: Free online emotional support for young people
  • SHOUT: A supportive text service for young people. Text 85258
  • RISE Mental Health support: Resources and information for parents and young people around mental health and wellbeing.
  • Childline: Free and confidential help for young people in the UK. Visit the Childline website which now includes free Services: Bullying, Sex & Relationships, Abuse, Feelings, Home & Families, School.
  • Positive Behavioural Support
  • Skills for People
Information from https://childrenandfamiliesnewcastle.org.uk/
Printed on October 18th 2026
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