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Children's Clinical Psychology

clinical psychology sign


We provide assessment and psychological help to young people aged 0 -16 and their families/carers.

A young person will usually be referred to clinical psychology because they, or someone else, is concerned about their emotional well-being, their development or their behaviour. 


What will happen at your first appointment?

The first time you come to see us, your appointment will usually last about 1 hour 30 minutes (unless it says something else on the letter we send you).

The person who referred you will have told us some information about you and the reasons why they've asked us to see you.

In your first appointment, the psychologist will ask questions to find out more about the difficulties/concerns you are having.

These questions may be about how things are at home, at school or within your family. You and the psychologist will talk together about what the difficulties are and about how we might be able to help.

On this first visit we often speak to you and your parents/carers separately.


Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Information and resources explaining how Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can affect young people >
 

Tics/Tourette’s syndrome

From 1st April 2022 referrals for children and young people with tics or Tourette’s syndrome will no longer be accepted by the Department of Clinical Psychology.

The new referral pathway is detailed in an information sheet below.

On this page there are resources about tics and Tourette’s for children, young people and their parents and for schools. There is an advice sheet for talking to young children about tics and examples of stories that may be helpful to further explain and reassure young children about tics/Tourette’s. There are also informational videos for children and young people and for parents of children with tics covering information about what tics are and about living with and coping with tics/Tourette’s syndrome.


Resources 

Complex behaviour service

The complex behaviour service is a specialist mental health service for children with learning disabilities.

The service provides intensive support in the family home to facilitate behavioural change. Staff work closely with the child’s existing professional networks, and can also provide consultation about children not directly referred to the service.

The team consists of clinical psychologists and specialist learning disability nurses. This is a small team, and referrals will only be accepted if the child and family have already received significant support and advice from specialist professionals.

Referrals can be made by paediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and community learning disability nurses.

Contact and find us

Location

Level 1, Children's Hospital
Royal Derby Hospital
DE22 8NE

Getting to Royal Derby Hospital >


Contact

Simon Lalonde, Head of Service

Telephone: 01332 785 542

Email: simonlalonde@nhs.net

Information for referrers

Ours is a specialist service which accepts referrals from GPs, hospital and community consultants, social care (only when the family has an allocated social worker), child and adolescent mental health services and psychiatrists, educational psychologists and clinical psychologists.

When you refer to child clinical psychology we need the following information:
 

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • GP
  • School and details of other professionals or services involved with the family.
     

In addition to the reason for referral, any significant family history would be helpful.

The referral must be in writing. We do not accept telephone or email referrals.

All new referrals are discussed at a weekly meeting by senior members of the department.

Every referral will be acknowledged by letter.

You will receive a copy of the first appointment letter and regular updates of progress until discharge.
 

Your child's emotional wellbeing

In this section you will find a list of resources to use if you are worried about your child's emotional wellbeing;
 


If you feel your child is at risk of serious self-harm or suicide, please call 999 or take them directly to A&E.