Community Paediatricians are specialist children’s doctors with training and expertise in developmental paediatrics and disability, social paediatrics (child protection and children in local authority care), neurodevelopmental work (ADHD and ASD diagnostic assessments) and educational paediatrics (special educational needs).

What they do

The Community Paediatricians assess and care for children with a wide range of needs and conditions, particularly children with developmental problems and complex needs. They have specific expertise in Neuro-disability, looked after children, child protection and school health and have specialist clinics for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autistic spectrum disorders.

They work closely with colleagues in primary care, therapy services, CAMHS and local schools seeing children in outpatient clinics at both Wycombe and Amersham hospitals and Rayners Hedge in Aylesbury, as well as assessing children at home and school or nursery.

Statutory role and Partnerships

Health partners also have a statutory duty to notify the Local Authority of any children who are under 5 and who have special educational needs or a disability.  This is so that the iSEND Team can review whether they are getting the appropriate support.  In Buckinghamshire, this was formerly known as CHSU5 but is now called the Statutory Early Years Notification Process. Paediatricians complete a form with the parents, which is submitted via secure email to the Local Authority and allocated to one of three area iSEND Teams for discussion

Training and Qualifications

All of the Medical staff are fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).  All of the Medical staff have the relevant training and qualifications in line with the GMC’s requirements.  All nursing staff have qualifications and training in line with the requirements set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). 

Getting a referral

The service accepts referrals from professionals involved with a child and a young person.

For example, a referral may be made by a School or Nursery, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Therapists, GPs, Acute Paediatricians, Tertiary Centre or other Paediatricians from neighbouring hospitals.