Our Survey, the BBC, PCNAs, Phyz, Magic & Wizards!! 13th January 2018
Dear All We hope that many of you have received our Happy New Year card. This week we’ve included the links from this and more…
What Matters to You? We've put together a very short survey asking families about what matters to you... Please take a few minutes to complete our survey. There are 5 multiple choice questions in total, the first two are mandatory (you have to answer these), the rest are optional. We’d value your comments as well! https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/WhatMattersToYou/
BBC Filming at MeToo&Co Last Friday 12th January, the BBC filmed parents at MeToo&Co on their experiences of EHCP Transfers (from Statements). We don’t know the shape of the report, but understand that it should be airing on Tuesday 16th January on BBC Breakfast.
PCNA = Your feedback please… PCNA = parent/carer needs assessment Some while ago, we got very excited by PCNAs. We’d like to know now what your experience of this is… Did you apply for one? Did it meet your expectations? Please reply and let us know. E: sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com More details on the PCNA here:
What is a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA)? Parents and carers have a stand-alone right to assessments and services under the Children and Families Act 2014. This is called a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA). Very simply, a PCNA is about parents and carer's needs - assessing what parents and carers need to enable them to carry on caring. It is your chance to consider your role as a carer and what help you may need to support you, to maintain your own health, as well as balancing your caring role with other aspects of your life, such as work and family.
The law recognises that parents and carers needs are just as important as a child or young person’s. If a parent or carer’s needs are not met – how can they continue to care for their child or young person? https://www.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/assessment-andeducation-health-and-care-planning/parent-carer-needs-assessment
Phyz Phyz = physical disabilities Children with physical disabilities and their families have a particular range of things to deal with – the members of Phyz have all sorts of experience: various types of physiotherapy, equipment from standing frames to installing a lift at home, encounters with orthopaedic surgeons, experiences with hippotherapy, riding for the disabled, hydrotherapy and adapted sailing: we’ve navigated the minefields of wheelchair vehicles, cursed inaccessible public transport and toilets, deciphered the blue badge and taxi-card schemes, grappled with supporting our children in school and yet we are still learning and still have much to share. Open meetings with the usual mix of coffee, chat and information - all welcome. Friday 26th January 10:00 - 12:00 at Me Too and Co, Crossways Centre, East Twickenham Friday 9th March 10:00 - 12:00 at Me Too and Co, Crossways Centre, East Twickenham Pub night …proposed date is Thursday 22 February 19:30 - 22:00 at Alba pub, 277-279 Richmond Road, TW1 2NP This is a chance for us to meet in a relaxed way and particularly aimed at anyone who is at work or otherwise unable to attend our morning meetings. All welcome. And… Phyz Swimming sessions - Sundays 15:30 - 16:30 To find out more or to join our mailing list please e-mail us at E: Info@phyz.org.uk
EHCP Transfers – Part II (Free to attend) Are you going through or are you about to go through the process of transferring a statement to an EHCP? Can we help? To help families to help themselves we are running a series of workshops / open meetings to help you understand the process, what you can do to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible, and what to look out for. The workshop will be run by Penny from SEND Family Voices (the EHCP Lead and main author of the Golden Binder) and Alex Hardy of the Independent Supporters. Thursday 18th January – 10am to 12noon Doubletree Hilton, Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ Thursday 25th January – 7pm to 9pm York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3AA If you are able to register attendance that would be helpful, but feel free to just turn up. E: events@sendfamilyvoices.org
Community coffee mornings Just come along, have some cake and talk. We will listen and offer help where we can. Whatever you talk about is confidential and will help us plan what else we could do to help our community.
Monday 29th January – 10am to 12noon at Whitton Youth Zone, 1 Britannia Lane, TW2 7JX Friday 9th February – 10am to 12noon at Moor Lane Centre, Chessington, KT9 2AA Monday 19th February – 10am to 12noon at Searchlight Centre, New Malden, KT3 3RX Tuesday 27th February – 10am to 12noon at Castlenau Centre, Barnes, SW13 9AQ
Magic, Fun & more ... an afternoon of fun for all the family! Booking is essential for this free event (see below). If you have not booked you will not be admitted. Families attending this event will have a child /ren or young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The idea is that families will come and enjoy themselves (party bags included) and, in return, talk to NHS South West London about the health services that affect them. Our plans include a Magic Circle magician, a sensory room and other magical activities. Refreshments, including gluten and dairy free, will be available- all free of charge. Booking for this afternoon is essential:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/music-magic-tickets-41465706043 Sunday 25th February at DoubleTree Hilton,1 Skerne Road, Kingston, KT2 5FJ SEND Family Voices are very grateful to Caroline North who is project managing this event. If you have any queries, please contact: E: events@sendfamilyvocies.org
Jack & The Beanstalk Last week we were pleased to offer complimentary tickets to see a relaxed performance of Jack & the Beanstalk - 32 tickets were applied for and confirmed within a 36-hour period! We’ve received some lovely Thank You e-mails – the relaxed performance was enjoyed by all. đ&#x;˜Š
CYPMH Positive Practice Awards 2017 CYPMH = children and young people’s mental health It’s always nice to be nominated for an award, and even better to be shortlisted. We didn’t make it to winner‌ but are thankful to Richmond CCG (clinical commissioning group) for nominating our joint work on CAMHS (children and adolescent mental health services) and we were delighted to be shortlisted!
Carer/Parent/Sibling award This award recognises a group or individual parent, carer or sibling whose efforts in promoting whole family involvement within CAMHS services has improved services within their communities. Winner Wendy Minhinnett -The Rollercoaster Group Highly Commended Helen Bibby, Cheshire SEND Family Voices – Kingston & Richmond
And the winner’s work - the Rollercoaster Group - looks fantastic!! http://www.countydurhamfamilies.info/kb5/durham/fsd/organisation.page?id=2WaSnZuXas8
Freedom Wizard So… it’s a Sunday evening and some of us are watching Countryfile on the BBC (we live a quiet life). If you have a child or young person in a wheelchair, this looks like fun!
“Enabling Access to rugged Britain in all terrain wheelchairs There are currently 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK according to the 2011 census. That's 1.9% of the population. With this in mind, there is limited commercial focus on the population sector aside from disability aids and day chairs. As a direct result, the availability and cost of enjoying the outdoors is significant and limited. Freedom Wizard arrange regular experience days, events and challenges to enable access to forests, moorland and fells throughout the UK. Based in Eccleshall, Staffordshire - we are centrally based for access to the Shropshire hills, Staffordshire Moors, surrounding forests and easy access to the mountains of Snowdonia, the Lake District and beyond!” http://www.freedomwizard.co.uk/ As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and we'll always do our best to find an answer. With best wishes, Romany (for Richmond) and Caroline North (for Kingston) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org