List of services
List of countywide services available to those in the 0 to 25 years special educational needs and disability community.
The following list of services and organisations is intended as a quick way to find the information mentioned elsewhere across our website. A much broader list of services is available via the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (opens new window).
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To find out about what sporting activity Wiltshire has to offer for the SEND community visit:
Most local authorities and a range of voluntary adoption agencies assess and prepare prospective adopters with a view to them being matched with children who cannot live with their birth parents.
Advocacy is the process of enabling people to: express their views and concerns, access information and services, explore options and choices, defend and promote their rights and responsibilities.
County Community Projects (CCP) provides free advocacy support to young people in Wiltshire.
County Community Projects (CCP) is our commissioned provider of advocacy services for children and young people in Wiltshire. CCP exists to transform lives. Their priority is to help people who have serious and immediate need, equipping them to meet the demands of an ever-evolving society.
All referrals for advocacy must be made through the CCP advocacy helpline: 0300 365 8300 or by emailing WiltsCYPAdvocacy@ccprojects.org.uk (opens new window).
Apprenticeships give learners the opportunity to earn while they learn, as they work alongside experienced staff members, acquiring job specific skills at their place of work and gain nationally recognised qualifications as they go. Apprenticeships also provide learners with the opportunity to progress onto higher level qualifications such as University or progress onto higher or degree level apprenticeships.
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Barnardos is a charity that cares for vulnerable children and young people across the UK through the work of a number of services.
We believe we can bring out the very best in every child whether the issue is child poverty, sexual exploitation, disability or domestic violence
Information for Barnardos Wiltshire Short Breaks (opens new window).
The programme offers a holistic service that provides personalised support to people with significant barriers and challenges to help them build their independence and move towards education and employment outcomes.
A personalised needs analysis, circles of support map and holistic support action plan will be developed with each participant. They will then be offered a range of one-to-one and group activities based on their individual needs as they progress through support.
In addition, Building Bridges will also offer:
- access to self-confidence building courses
- volunteering and work experience activities
- debt and benefit advice
- travel training
- one to one counselling, anxiety, and mental health support
- support in gaining skills and qualifications.
Participants will be supported to develop their CVs, job search skills and interview skills and have access to support for up to three months to help them sustain their education and employment outcomes.
Find out more about applications and referrals by visiting their section on the Social care page.
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Carer support Wiltshire is a local charity that supports all carers in Wiltshire. This charity aims to create carer friendly communities where carers are recognised, valued and supported
Wiltshire CAMHS provide a range of mental health services for children and young people up to 18 and community services
For more information, visit Wiltshire CAMHS: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - Oxford Health NHS Trust (opens new window).
Connect: Wiltshire Substance Use Service works with residents of all ages, offering support and education to people who want to address their substance use, offering support to the wider family network too. This support is free and confidential and can be delivered either in hub or in the community whilst maintaining high levels of confidentiality.
For more information visit:
Everyday adults, children and their carers struggle to access their community and local area because they are unable to use standard accessible toilet facilities - something that many of us take for granted. Wiltshire Council is committed to enabling everyone within the community access to our vibrant towns, services and local amenities. We are proud to support the national Changing Places campaign.
For more information visit:
All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year. If this is taken during term-time only, this would work out as 15 hours a week over 38 weeks of the year For more information visit Early years and childcare.
The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) brings key professionals together to facilitate early, better quality information sharing, analysis and decision-making, to safeguarding vulnerable children and young people more effectively. Wiltshire MASH aims to initially provide a central point of contact for public and professionals for children's safeguarding concerns.
Citizen's Advice advisors are specially trained to offer personal, confidential advice on all sorts of issues and challenges. Including:
- accessing benefits
- help with debts or financial planning
- help and advice about letters you receive that you do not understand or that worry you
- legal concerns or challenges.
The Community Connecting team assists customers with a disability to find out more about their local community and how they can access some of the following.
- finding voluntary work
- socialising
- joining a club
- going to their local college
- using their community facilities to do things that they enjoy
The Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon is a registered charity and grant making trust. They offer financial assistance to young people who want to make the most of their potential. The offer a variety of funds to help support 0-25 year olds across Wiltshire.
HCRG Care Group provides Wiltshire Children's Community Services across the county. They provide a wide range of children and young people's services, which look after the physical, medical, mental health and wellbeing of children and young people up to the age of 19 years old.
Visit the HCRG site for more information:
HCRG Care Group: Wiltshire children's services (opens new window)
The Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD) supports people who have a learning disability, are over 18 years old and need support to live or to manage their lives. The service can be accessed following a referral from a health care professional.
Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (opens new window)
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Aiming for a society where everyone can participate equally. This is guided by their 3 values:
- Strength in difference
- Sharing power
- Innovating
If you or someone living in your property is permanently disabled you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) towards the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable the disabled person to continue to live there. Such grants are given by the council under Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 and are means-tested except in the case of adaptations for children.
There are strict eligibility criteria for Disabled Facilities Grants.
Mandatory grants - include access into and around the property and the main rooms used by the disabled person, safety of the disabled person and adapting the heating and lighting controls
Discretionary grants - In certain circumstances this provides a top up if the grant exceeds £30,000. If you require further information about this, contact the Private Sector Housing Team (PSHT).
All the information you need can be found below:
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The Education Psychology Service works in the following ways:
- we will discuss the provision and the needs within your setting and help prioritise targeted support
- we will provide support at a systemic level and through individual casework where appropriate
- we will work with you to come to a shared understanding of the issues causing difficult situations, and to plan manageable, realistic ways forward
- we will engage staff, parents, and young people to help them become part of the solution
- we will listen and understand your context
- we will always work within the HCPC guidelines and the British Psychological Society code of ethics, and we will always keep the needs of the young person at the centre of our work
Right Choice: Educational Psychology Service Information (opens new window)
Our Early Support Hub aims to build effective support within our communities for children and families where there is not a safeguarding risk to ensure that children and families receive the right support at the right time for them. We have strong multi agency partnerships with Police, health, education, domestic abuse services, substance misuse services and child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) who are co-located within the Front Door services. The ESH also works with several virtual partners including probation, army welfare service and adult mental health.
Our Early Support Hub also has lead roles for young people, midwifery, early years, domestic abuse and education liaison who sit within the early support hub who can offer advice and guidance to professionals and families.
Access to the service and more information can be found by visiting:
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Family Fund is a charity that provides grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
Family Nurse Partnership (FNP): The programme (opens new window), is an intensive programme of support for young parents during the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. It supports young parents give their children the best start in life and is known to improve child development. FNP is licensed for use with parents under 24 years, however, in Wiltshire it is aimed at expectant young mums aged 19 and under at conception, and their partners.
Ask your midwife to put you in touch with the local HCRG Care Group - Wiltshire Children's Community Services: Family Nurse Partnership (opens new window).
For additional training around parenting, including relationship and conflict courses email parenting@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or visit:
Discover opportunities - Develop skills - Achieve ambitions
Growing a lifelong love of learning with communities in Wiltshire.
Courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Courses are no cost to you if you:
- are 19+ and have been a resident in UK/EU for 3+years (refugees / asylum seekers / have right to remain status are exempt from the 3-year residency requirement)
- have educational needs or care for someone with SEND
- you either have less than 5 GCSEs grades A-C, are in receipt of benefits, a military family, or you may have other issues that joining a course could help you with
You might be stuck in a rut or going through a difficult time? We want to hear from people who are unsure about if they can join, and we are always happy to talk things through. You can find our contact details here: Contact Work Wiltshire (workwiltshire.co.uk) (opens new window).
For more information visit:
Work Wiltshire: Family and Community Learning (opens new window)
FearFree are the domestic abuse support service in Wiltshire. They provide trauma-informed, person-centred support to victims of domestic abuse and their families. They provide this support to both adults and children who are victims of, or have been impacted by domestic abuse.
For support and further information visit:
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Healthwatch Wiltshire is your local health and social care champion. If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, they want to hear about your experiences.
As an independent statutory body, they have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. Last year they helped nearly a million people like you to have your say and get the information and advice you need.
To find out how you can get involved visit:
HCRG provide Wiltshire Children's Community Services across the county. They provide services for children and young people which look after the physical, medical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people up to the age of 19.
For more information, visit HCRG Care Group: Wiltshire children's services (opens new window).
The Hearing Support Team is part of the Sensory Impairment, Physical and Medical Service within the Special Educational Needs and Disability Service. We are a team of specialist staff, comprising qualified teachers of the deaf and teaching assistants working to promote the educational inclusion and achievement of children and young people with a diagnosed hearing loss.
For more information visit:
The Swindon and Wiltshire Careers Hub, within the School Effectiveness team, has launched a new careers platform for home-educating families. It contain advice and support available for those with additional needs, helping people take their next steps in further education, training or employment.
Home Education Futures: Health and wellbeing (Overview) (opens new window)
Homes4Wiltshire is the place to find affordable housing in the Wiltshire Council area, plus information on other housing options available. Homes4Wiltshire is a Choice based lettings scheme for people in housing need seeking alternative accommodation.
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The Learning Disability and Autism Service (LDAS) is an adult social care service.
They work with adults (aged 18 and over) who have a diagnosed learning disability and/or an Autistic Spectrum Condition who have social care needs.
Their work includes: Care Act Assessments, Information, Advice, Signposting and Support Planning.
For more information visit their page: Learning Disability and Autism Service
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The Moving On Service goes live on the 1st of August 2023. It will start by working with young people from Wiltshire Council internal social care teams and will grow to accept young people from the long term adult social care teams, from early 2024. The team will start small but will grow over time to cope with demand. Currently new referrals will continue to follow the current processes.
The service will continue to support young people in fulfilling their pathways to adulthood. The aim of the Moving On Service is to better prepare young adults and their families for adult services and will work closely with other professionals to ensure a smooth journey from childhood to adulthood.
If you are a professional, young person or parent/carer who has been referred to the service and you need to get in touch contact 18to25movingonservice@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).
Wiltshire Music Connect oversees children and young people's music education in Wiltshire. We connect children and young people in our county with a broad range of music making opportunities and experiences to complement and support what schools offer. Because music is excellent for developing young minds.
For more information visit: Wiltshire Music Connect (opens new window)
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Wiltshire offers a free and confidential sexual health advice service for those aged 13 to 24 years old. This includes some of the following services:
- emergency hormonal contraception
- pregnancy testing
- condoms and condom demonstrations
- Chlamydia testing and treatment
- contraception information
- advice and support.
For contact information and more details about the service visit:
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Wiltshire CAMHS provide a range of mental health services for children and young people up to 18 and community services.
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There are a range of specialist services that support special educational needs within schools, for example Physical and Medical Support Team, Vision Support Team, Habilitation Support or Hearing Support Team.
You can find comprehensive information about SEN Specialist Support Services on the Primary education and Secondary education pages.
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Right Choice offers a wide variety of support services to all education providers, including Schools, Academies, Further Education Colleges, Early Years Providers, Childcare Settings and Local Authorities.
We want to ensure that educational settings have access to high quality services and expertise that enables them to focus on delivering educational excellence to all children and young people. We are committed to making a difference to children and young people in Wiltshire and increasing educational attainment for all students.
The Rethink Mental Illness: Wiltshire Mental Health Inclusion Service (opens new window) provides a community mental health service for those in Wiltshire. It is to help support you if you are feeling isolated or lonely due to your mental health and create opportunities of growth to access your local community. The service is jointly funded by Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Commissioning Group.
For more information on Rethink visit:
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Seeds4Success is a small youth work charity based in South West Wiltshire established in July 2012. Their aim is to support the personal development of young people through the delivery of training and practical volunteering opportunities.
Wiltshire SENDIASS is the statutory information, support and advice service for Wiltshire, provided by Family Action, a national charity that hosts nine SENDIAS Services. They offer free, independent and impartial information relating to education, health and social care for children and young people (0-25) with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and their families, to empower them to make appropriate and informed choices.
Services include:
- providing impartial and confidential advice and information for children, young people and families on SEND around education, health and care
- offering support with education, health and care plans (EHCP), including annual reviews, informal and formal mediation and tribunals
- supporting you to work with education providers to ensure your child/young person's needs are met
- offering support and advice on transport, exclusions - related to SEND, disability discrimination, elective home education and personal budgets
- support with writing letters and completing forms, and assistance with discussions and meetings with schools, the local authority SEN team and SEND professionals
- support with resolving disagreements helping you to consider and determine the best way forward
- providing information and signposting to support services in your area
For more information visit:
Family Action - SENDIASS (opens new window)
You can also call the service: 01225 255266 or email them using wiltshire.sendiass@family-action.org.uk (opens new window).
The Shared Lives Service helps people over the age of 18 live as part of a family, within the carers home, where they receive the support or care that they need.
The service places adults who have mental health needs or learning disabilities, physical impairments, or are elderly, or those who, for a variety of reasons, cannot manage to live without support. Shared Lives carers provide support with daily tasks, from personal care and accessing health services, to making decisions and learning new skills.
To find out more information about Shared Lives and about assessment and access to this service visit:
Your Care Your Support Wiltshire: Shared Lives Wiltshire (opens new window)
To see what people involved in Shared Lives have been up to visit Facebook: Shared Lives Wiltshire (opens new window).
The short breaks scheme aims to meet the individual needs and interests of children and young people who require additional support to either access or engage in leisure activities and social opportunities.
The Wiltshire Speech and Language Therapy team supports parents, families, teaching staff, child-minders, and early years staff across Wiltshire. We offer support to children aged 0 to 18 years, who experience problems with their voice, speech, language, communication, stammering, or have swallowing difficulties. We do this by working on communication, understanding, talking, and speech sounds.
The service also provides formal and informal training to support the Team Around the Child to best meet the communication needs of each child and young person and works closely with pre-schools and schools across the Wiltshire community
To find out more about what they offer or how to refer, visit:
Wiltshire Children's Services: Speech and Language Therapy (HCRG Care Group) (opens new window)
Wiltshire Supported Internship Programme is a study programme which is delivered by Wiltshire College in a partnership with Wiltshire Council. Supported internships are individualised Study programmes which are designed to equip students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities with the skills they need to secure paid employment.
SWAPP is a partnership programme between parents and their child's setting or school that aims to build an understanding of autism and the challenges and delights it can present.
The programme aims to empower families and staff who are closely involved in supporting a child or young person on the autistic spectrum.
Wiltshire residents can text WILTS to 85258 to access free, confidential mental health support from a trained volunteer who will aim to get them to a safe and calm place. This will include coming up with a plan around how they are going to support themselves moving forward, and signposting to local support agencies where appropriate. They can help with anxiety and stress, depression or sadness, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, panic attacks, loneliness or isolation, abuse and bullying.
This service is available to Wiltshire residents of all ages, it is available 24/7 and won't appear on the bill.
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No diagnosis or EHCP required.
Children with Special Needs TOFP is for parents and carers of children with additional or special needs aged 3 to 11 years. TOFP courses are 2 hours per week for 7 sessions and are free of charge. A medical or formal diagnosis is not required for parents and carers to attend. Wiltshire Council are working in partnership with the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council to offer these courses.
For further information and to book courses visit:
An online platform for young people 18 and under, by South West based charity - Developing Health Independence (DHI). Advice and tools can be found on a range of topics, for example drugs/ alcohol, mental health and relationships.
For more information visit:
A straight-talking website with information on types of drugs, the impacts and where you can go for help.
Employment and Community Skills provide travel training to assist young people to travel within their community. Full details regarding eligibility, referral and service details can be found in the Travel Training Fact Sheet.
Wiltshire Council are running Triple P parenting groups around the county to help parents make small changes that will have a positive long term impact on a child's behaviour. Triple P is a seven week, free service for families with children up to age 16. Courses run in line with the school terms.
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The Vision Support team are a team of specialist staff, comprising of Qualified Teachers for Vision Impairment (QTVIs) and Specialist Sensory Teaching Assistants (SITAs) and a Habilitation Specialist. We work to promote the educational inclusion and achievement of children and young people who have a diagnosed vision impairment.
For more information visit:
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The Wiltshire Autism Assessment Service (WAAS) provides a diagnostic assessment-only service for children and young people who are showing possible signs of autism.
Wiltshire Children's Services: Wiltshire Autism Assessment Service (WAAS) (opens new window)
The Wiltshire Autism Diagnostic Service (WADS) provides an autism spectrum condition (ASC) assessment service to adults registered with a Wiltshire GP.
We can also offer a limited amount of post-diagnostic support to help people with ASC learn about the condition and access a range of appropriate services.
Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living is an organisation managed by disabled people and is committed to supporting all disabled people to achieve choice, control and equal rights.
Website: Wiltshire Centre For Independent Living (opens new window)
The Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC) is an independent voluntary organisation representing parent carers of children and young people with SEND from 0-25. It is managed and run by parent carers, for parent carers. They provide a consultation and participation service which enables parent carers to have a voice about the services and the support their children and family use, offering real opportunities to influence and shape provision.
The WPCC also provides the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Service, which includes a wealth of information, as well as signposting to specialist services.
Website: Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC) (opens new window)
Address: Unit 1 and 2 Pentagon House, 51/52 Castle Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8AU
Telephone: 01225 764647
The College is based on four main campuses in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Lackham and Salisbury and offers a wide range of apprenticeships as well as full-time, part-time and university level courses
The Wiltshire Employment Support Team assists people finding and sustaining varying levels of paid employment with local employers. To do this they look at different types of suitable jobs that will suit the person.
WiSe offer Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and treatment, contraception and HIV services in Wiltshire. The service offers confidential, non-judgemental service to people of all ages, genders and orientation and is open access to all.
To find out more about the services available and book an appointment visit Wiltshire Sexual Health Service (WiSe) (opens new window).
The digital platform that connects people, groups and organisations in Wiltshire to their community. It features support, events and volunteering opportunities.
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