Portage Service
Your GP or health visitor may refer you to another professional if they think your child needs extra support. This could be someone like a Speech and Language Therapist or a Dietician, or they may refer you to the Child Development Centre (external link) to be seen by the Consultant Paediatrician.
Portage Home Visiting Service
The Team of Professionals working with your child may talk to you about the 'Portage Home Visiting Service' if your child has significant needs.
A family can access the Portage Service if their child lives in Haringey and the following apply:
- Your child is under 5 and has complex health needs or a disability from one of the following groups:
- Your child has a Neurodisability (ie: cerebral palsy, chromosomal and genetic conditions and syndromes)
- Your child has a Neurodevelopment disorders (ie Autism)
- Your child has severe physical and/or learning difficulties/developmental delay
- You child has a severe sensory impairment (blind or deaf)
How Portage works
Portage workers visit children at home with their families, and help children to develop their skills through supporting parents in play based activities with their child. The Portage workers will visit families until your child starts in an Early Years Setting, advising and supporting parents in all areas of the child’s development. They will also work closely with the professionals working with your child.
Portage Visitors will work:
- to support the development of play, communication, relationships and learning for young children within the family
- to support the child and family’s participation and inclusion in the community in their own right
- together with parents/carers within the family, with them taking the leading role in the partnership that is established
The aim is to help parents/carers to identify what is important to them and their child and plan goals for learning and participation.
If you would like to find out more please contact the portage team on portage@haringey.gov.uk