Children's cleft lip and palate psychology service - Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The service works with people of all ages and provide outreach clinics across the North East of England.

Clinical psychologists are part of the cleft lip and palate team. We work closely with other healthcare professionals, mental health professionals and schools in the region.

Our team includes

Consultant clinical psychologist

Manages the team, works with children and families, carries out consultation work with staff in the cleft Lip and palate service, supervises staff, and provides consultations to other members of the team about psychosocial aspects of care.

Clinical psychologist

Works with children and families, carries out consultation work with staff in the unit. In addition, they provide advice and consultation to other members of the team about psychosocial aspects of care.

Assistant psychologist

Attends clinic appointments to identify patients and families struggling with their diagnosis and on-going care. They can also offer individual work to patients and families under the supervision of the consultant clinical psychologist.

Administrative officer

Deals with enquiries, types letters and organises appointments.

What we do

The main role of clinical psychologists is to offer psychological therapy to children, parents, families and adults. This helps to deal with any psychological issues or distress after a cleft lip and palate diagnosis.

Clinical psychologists are usually involved with patients from the first time they attend an appointment with the Cleft Lip and Palate Service. This means we can introduce the role of clinical psychology, and begin to provide support and advice.

A clinical psychologist can offer help to children, parents and adults for issues including:

Surgical assessment and decision-making
Behaviour management eg sleep, feeding, toileting or anger tantrums
Education and learning, including cognitive assessments
Helping parents adjust, and mental health issues around their child having a cleft lip and/or palate
Appearance concerns and body image issues
Communication skills, confidence-building and self-esteem
Problems with bullying and relationships with peers
Emotional difficulties
Worries about being in hospital or having a medical, surgical or dental procedure
Periods of transition
Education and information about their condition or diagnosis.

We use a range of psychological approaches such as ‘cognitive behaviour therapy’ and family therapy. When working with a child or young person, our appointments might include:

Talking
Playing
Thinking
Filling in questionnaires
Drawing/creative activities
Playing puzzles and games.

Accessing our services

Clinical psychologists often attend clinic appointments to identify patients and families who are struggling. This helps us to recognise patients who would benefit from additional psychological support.

Patients and families can refer themselves to the psychology service. You can refer yourself by contacting the number on your clinic appointment letter, alternatively, you can speak to your GP.

You can be referred by other members of the cleft lip and palate team. Although, professionals such as GPs, health visitors, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and schools can also refer you.

We see most patients at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. However, we also visit schools, homes and clinics in hospitals across the North East.