What resources are available in East Lothian?
A range of services is available in East Lothian to help support children and young people affected by disabilities.
Children and young people with the most severe needs
Our Respite Support Panel will consider the assessment of children and young people with the most severe, complex and enduring needs, (see the 'Assessing the needs of children with disabilities' page in this section). This is a multi-agency panel made up of representatives from:
- social work
- health
- education
- the voluntary sector
The Panel provides an independent forum to advise on the fairest use of limited resources and uses a vulnerability scale to:
- assess your needs and those of your child against a range of criteria
- make sure needs are prioritised and resources allocated in a clear and fair way
Possible resources are:
- Bankfoot - providing respite care at Bankfoot and at your home
- NCH Gilmerton Road Project - support services for children and young people with profound learning disabilities and severely challenging behaviour
- NHS Lothian Calareidh and Sunndach - a respite residential service within a community setting that provides packages of care to Lothian children with profound disabilities and complex health care needs
- Domiciliary Care - East Lothian Council's home-help service
- Family Support Team - East Lothian Council's Domiciliary Care and Befriending Services
- Rachel House and Robin House - CHAS hospices
Children and young people with less severe needs
If your child does not have this complex level of disability and their assessment doesn't go to the Panel, the worker who carried out the assessment will discuss other kinds of support and resources with you and recommend the resources that would best meet your child's needs.
However, there are very limited resources available, which means that there is often a waiting list for them.
Other specialist resources in East Lothian that you can contact are:
- Special Needs Playscheme (your child's name can be placed on waiting list from the age of 5)
- Star Youth Club (ages 14-18) (a young person's name can be put on the waiting list from the age of 12)
- Multisports at Meadowmill
- Pennypit Special Needs Youth Club (for young people aged 15-24)