FamilyFX: The Family Reset System
Local support in Lisburn and Castlereagh

SEN support in Lisburn and Castlereagh: choosing the correct service

The district combines communities served through different health footprints. School SEN remains regional through the Education Authority.

Sources checked 14 August 2026Next review 14 August 2027
An illustrated Lisburn and Castlereagh riverside with a green path, mature trees, stone buildings and low hills.
Stylised illustration representing the area's character, not an exact photograph of a landmark or service location.

How support is organised in Lisburn and Castlereagh

Lisburn and Castlereagh is one council district, but its communities do not all sit neatly inside one HSC trust route. That matters for health referrals, not for the first conversation with school.

If a child is struggling with learning, attendance, communication, sensory demands or relationships, take specific examples to the teacher or SEN coordinator. Ask what can be adjusted now and when the result will be reviewed.

Schools provide ordinary SEN support, while the Education Authority manages regional services, statutory assessment and statements. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council's role includes local leisure, facilities and community programmes rather than statutory education decisions.

The district includes places associated with South Eastern Trust services and parts of the former Castlereagh area associated with Belfast Trust services. Do not infer the receiving service from the district name. Use the HSC service finder, a current health letter or the referring professional to confirm it.

SENAC provides independent education advice. Family Support NI can be searched by area, age and type of support.

FamilyFX local support signals

The local picture in Lisburn and Castlereagh

This section maps the current health bodies serving this area and, where a comparable official measure is available, presents it alongside the national figure. It is not a rating of the area or the quality of an individual service.

Health

Health and Social Care trusts for Lisburn and Castlereagh

Health and Social Care trusts deliver many local health and social care services in Northern Ireland. Some services are organised regionally, so the organisation listed is a starting point rather than a promise that every pathway is based locally.

South Eastern Health and Social Care TrustCovers Part of the districtVisit trust websiteBelfast Health and Social Care TrustCovers Part of the districtVisit trust website

Urgent help

Lifeline crisis support

Lifeline provides confidential crisis support in Northern Ireland. Call 999 if life is at immediate risk.

Visit Lifeline crisis support

Local organisations and advice

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Covers Lisburn and Castlereagh

Council leisure, facilities and community services.

Visit website

Education Authority

Covers Northern Ireland

The Education Authority manages regional SEN services and statutory processes.

Visit website

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Covers Part of the district

South Eastern Trust services cover part of the current district. Confirm the receiving service.

Visit website

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Covers Part of the district

Belfast Trust services cover part of the current district. Confirm the receiving service.

Visit website

SENAC

Covers Northern Ireland

SENAC provides independent education advice and advocacy.

Visit website

Family Support NI

Covers Northern Ireland

Family Support NI lists registered family and community services.

Visit website

HSCNI Strategic Planning and Performance Group

Covers Northern Ireland

The official finder helps confirm HSC services when council and trust boundaries differ.

Visit website

Services and local pathways

Education Authority SEN information

Education Authority

Current Education Authority SEN information and online routes.

Who it is for: Children and young people in Northern Ireland who have or may have special educational needs.

How to access it: Begin with the school for current support. Use the Education Authority guidance and online services for statutory processes.

Check current details

South Eastern Trust neurodevelopmental service

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

South Eastern Trust neurodevelopmental service information for residents in its service area.

Who it is for: The current page explains the service geography, evidence and referral routes.

How to access it: Read the current criteria and ask the GP or involved professional whether this is the correct pathway.

Check current details

Belfast Trust child and adolescent autism service

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Belfast Trust child and adolescent autism information for residents in its service area.

Who it is for: The service is for children and young people up to 18 where concerns about autism have been identified.

How to access it: Use the Trust page for the current contact and speak to the named professional about referral.

Check current details

Family Support NI directory

Family Support NI

Searchable regional directory of registered family support.

Who it is for: Each listed service has its own location, age and eligibility criteria.

How to access it: Search by area and need, then confirm current details directly with the provider.

Check current details

HSC service finder and trust contacts

HSCNI Strategic Planning and Performance Group

Use the official finder to confirm the correct trust or service.

Who it is for: Open to anyone looking for current HSC service or trust information in Northern Ireland.

How to access it: Search by service or place. If the trust is unclear, check a current HSC letter or ask the referring professional.

Check current details

SENAC education advice

SENAC

Independent SEN education advice and advocacy.

Who it is for: Parents and carers of children with special educational needs in Northern Ireland.

How to access it: Check SENAC’s current advice and contact arrangements online.

Check current details

Practical next steps

Ask the school to state what support is active, what evidence is being gathered and who will follow up. If the EA is involved, keep its decision or request distinct from the school's continuing duties.

For a health referral, provide the full postcode and ask the professional to confirm both the trust and named service. If a generic search produces Belfast and South Eastern results, do not submit duplicate referrals without checking the correct route.

For community help, verify location, catchment, accessibility and booking directly. A provider using Lisburn, Castlereagh or Belfast in its description may still cover only part of the district.

Related FamilyFX help

Library articleSchool Support Scotland Wales Northern IrelandUse the Northern Ireland SEN framework and the correct regional education route.Library articleSend Rights Scotland Wales Northern IrelandUnderstand statements, rights and the Northern Ireland system.Library articleKeeping A Record For School And Gp MeetingsKeep school and health actions clear without creating an unmanageable file.
Help us strengthen this directory

Do you support SEND families in Lisburn and Castlereagh?

If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in Lisburn and Castlereagh, we would like to hear from you. Send us your website, the area you cover, who the service is for and how families can get in touch. We check submissions before deciding whether to add them.

Send us your details

Sources and checking dates

Local services change. We check the sources below and review any substantive change before altering the page.