Sharon Samuels is our Children’s Health & Wellbeing Navigator here at New Hayesbank Surgery and works with families with children 0-18 years (up to 24 years of age if there is a SEND need).
Sharon’s role is designed to enhance the care and support given to children, young people and their families, particularly those with neurodevelopmental disorders both pre and post diagnosis.
Sharon can offer support and empower families to navigate their child’s needs/care. This support can take place over the telephone or face to face in the surgery.
Support that can be offered by Sharon:
- Support with finding community support/social groups and signposting to online resources
- Liaising with schools/education, Health Visitors and other professionals involved in your child’s care
- Referrals to Kent School Health, NELFT and other support services/charities
- Support you to complete paperwork for self referrals
- Referrals for support with behavioural difficulties, SEND, hygiene concerns, ADHD and Autism, anxiety and any physical needs
- Offer telephone check in calls to discuss ongoing needs
For support, please email kmicb.chwnreferrals@nhs.net ensuring you include details of what support you require (please put names and dates of birth in the email). Please note that Sharon works part-time only, so there may be a short wait for response.
Additional External Services & Support
Children and Young People Health & Wellbeing
Kent Resilience Hub – This page will provide you with a list of services and support available for young people to support them around specific areas of their emotional wellbeing and resilience.
Salus – Kent Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance | If your child or Young Person (CYP) feels they are not able to engage with support their school may offer, parent are able to self-refer via this service.
Kooth – Soluna by Kooth is our new mental wellbeing platform for young people, designed by the same team behind Kooth and co-designed with young people. Soluna is a free, safe space to access one-to-one practitioner support, connect with others in moderated forums, and discover content and activities that support wellbeing goals. Available as a mobile app or online.
With you – Mind and Body is part of the new Kent Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance (KTA), commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway, which will support children and young people who would benefit from support to improve their emotional wellbeing and mental health. If you are 13-17 years old, you can refer yourself to Mind and Body. Alternatively, you can be referred by a professional or parent/carer.
Kent School Health Referral – Support for children and young people from their first day at primary school until 19 years of age, including those who are home educated.
Help with a range of issues young people might face including:
- friendships, healthy relationships and bullying.
- day and night-time wetting and soiling
- children and teen’s sleep
- children and teen’s behaviour
- children and teen’s healthy lifestyle
- puberty and growing up
- behaviour and emotional health
Disability
Includes us too – A local parent-driven charity providing information and support to disabled children, young people and their families in the areas of Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe and Dover.
Autisim
Anna Freud – Autism Central is England’s Peer Education Programme for families and support networks of autistic people of all ages. Delivered by Anna Freud and commissioned by NHS England, it offers education, coaching and connection through resources, peer support and events.
Kent Adult Education – Understanding Autism – Kent Family Learning courses and workshops are free for parents, carers and grandparents, who are aged 19 years and above and who live in Kent and are intended to help create a better family life. All courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and are FREE to eligible learners.
National Autistic Society – are there to transform lives and change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people.
ADHD
Kent Adult Education – Supporting ADHD in the Home – Kent Family Learning courses and workshops are free for parents, carers and grandparents, who are aged 19 years and above and who live in Kent and are intended to help create a better family life. All courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and are FREE to eligible learners.
Kent Community Health – ADHD information and support services – If you feel you have ADHD traits that are affecting your daily life, please discuss with your GP who can make a referral under the Right to Choose pathway if this is required.