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Children & Young People Disability Hub (The Heathway Centre)
Information about the Children & Young People Disability Hub (The Heathway Centre) and it's services
We are pleased to announce that from 1 April 2023, the Heathway Centre will be changing its name to the Children and Young People Disability Hub. The address will stay the same of Becontree Children Centre, Steven Road, Dagenham, RM8 2QR.
The current CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk, email address will cease from 20th April 2023
The Children & Young People Disability Hub also known as (CYPDH) is based at Becontree Community Hub, Stevens Road, Dagenham RM8 2QR in
We share the premises with both the community hub staff and the nursery who operate from the same building. The building has been adapted to meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families and is open to the community.
The Children & Young People Disability Hub is fully open and operating on a daily basis. The CYPDH is wheelchair accessible, with a fully adapted shower/hygiene room, working hoists, sensory room (bookable), play areas and accessible kitchen. Throughout the year there are a range of different programmes to meet the needs of our children/young people with disabilities.
There will be a Schools Out programme, and a Term Time Fun programme, please check our website for further information.
To ensure that you are kept updated please complete our registration form below, so that you can be added to our new mailing list.
Register your child on the additional needs list
We continue to forge effective partnership working with all services who use the building and will support existing children hub services to look at ways their services can be more inclusive to meet the needs of all of our parent carers, children and young people.
We strive to ensure our staff is present in the hub but we cannot always guarantee. Whilst you are able to pop in for some support, making an appointment would be advisable, so you are not disappointed if a staff member is not available.
Our Targeted Early Help offer continues to be delivered by Early Intervention Workers. We accept referrals via the Early Help Portal (link below), please be aware we do operate a short waiting list for this service.
You can also send any enquiries to email CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk
Please see below for an update on our groups, some of which are not yet able to operate until our building works are complete:
- Monday: Sycamore Trust Youth Group - Cancelled until further notice. They can be contacted on 0208 517 9317 for further details
- Sunday: Purple Penguin club - Purple Penguins is currently running from the Vibe with reduced capacity. They can be contacted on 07881 949 799 for further details
- Music & Movement (5-13) – located at Becontree Community Hub
- Play and Communicate (under 5’s)
- CYPDH Youth group (13+) TBC
- Parenting Programmes - TBC
What we do
The Children & Young People Disability Hub provides services for families with children and young people aged 0 to 17 years (up to their 18th birthday) with a disability or additional needs.
We provide information and advice on a wide range of issues affecting families through delivery of both our universal and targeted early help offer. For more information on our early help offer, please refer to the links below.
We also support families to access specialist training aimed at increasing confidence and awareness in caring for a child with an additional need.
We’re based in a children centre building which is currently undergoing some building adaptations to make the centre more inclusive. This will include a wet room and multi-sensory room.
We have access to a secure outside play area with a range of adapted outdoor play facilities including mobility adapted bikes and scooters.
We can signpost and refer you to specialist local organisations including:
- Carers of Barking and Dagenham
- Sycamore Trust
- Portage Team
- Disability Service
- Ab Phab
- Butterflies project
Short Breaks 4 me grant
Short Breaks 4 Me is aimed at families that are residents of The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, with children aged 1-17 years that have a disability or severe healthcare and cannot access leisure activities in the community without additional help or support. For example, they need constant supervision, 1:1 help or have a difficulty communicating.
This may include some children who are eligible for Portage, Early Help or those with an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan or a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN).
For further information and to apply for the Short Breaks 4 me grant please visit their website.
Carer’s card
A carers' card is aimed at helping parents/carers get recognition for caring for a child with a disability or additional needs, this is valid until their 25th birthday.
The card is transferable so can be used by any person caring for the child or young person to show that they are the Carer. The card can be used as evidence when accessing some Leisure Activities, many Local and National attractions do offer discounts for a Carer.
To apply, please complete the below application form. The form will need to completed and sent to CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk along with a head and shoulder photo of the Child.
Carer's card (DOC, 66KB)
Respite
If you feel your child has a diagnosed disability and needs to attend a provision to support their development and also need a break from your caring responsibilities, you can apply for a short break, often referred to as respite.
Respite can be offered through a request being made for your child to attend a provision of your choice or a request for a carer to provide care for your child whilst you attend to day to day activities which you are unable to complete because of your caring responsibilities.
If you have an allocated social worker, early intervention worker, portage worker or any other professionals, you will need to complete an assessment to determine the impact this will have on your child and your family. They must ensure that their contact details is clearly stated on the form
If you don’t have an allocated worker please complete the short breaks self-referral form. short breaks self-referral form (PDF, 102KB) Please refer to the guidelines (PDF, 80KB) when completing your self-referral and send to ChildrensRespiteRequests@lbbd.gov.uk. You will be contacted within two weeks of your application being received.