Parent carer meetings, camhs update & diagon alley

Parent/Carer meetings, CAMHS update & Diagon Alley 4th June 2017

Dear All Hoping everyone had a good enough half-term‌ đ&#x;˜Š

SEND Family Voices - summary of meetings for parents and carers Full details of these meetings can be found on our website – just go to the Events tab. For easy reference, a summary.

Online Safety – keeping our children and young people safe If you’re worried about your child and the world on the internet, please come to one of our workshops on Online Safety Monday 12th June - 10.30am to 12.30pm Whitton Youth Zone, Whitton, TW2 7JX Thursday 15th June - 6.30pm to 8.30pm York House, Twickenham, TW1 3AA Wednesday 21st June - 10.30am to 12.30pm Castlenau Community Centre, Barnes, SW13 9AQ

Coffee & Cake - Open Meetings We hope that our meetings will provide the chance to meet and talk to other parents in a relaxed atmosphere; and to learn from each other. We will also be able to answer your questions on the Golden Booklet (summary guide for parents on EHC processes).

Thursday 15th June - 10.30am to 12.30pm at Express CIC, 452 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 7EL Friday 16th June - 10.30am to 12noon at MeToo&Co, The CrossWay Centre, Twickenham, TW1 2PD * Thursday 22nd June - 7pm to 9pm at The Strada, Griffin Centre, Kingston, KT1 1JT Thursday 29th June - 7pm to 9pm at the Petersham Hotel, Nightingale Lane, Richmond, TW10 6UZ

CAMHS – Meet the Commissioners Please read the article below for more information and how to book your place.

Monday 19th June - 10.30am to 12.30pm at Express CIC, 452 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 7EL Wednesday 21st June - 7pm to 9pm at Russell Cooke, Kingston upon Thames Friday 23rd June - 10.30am to 12noon at MeToo&Co, The CrossWay Centre, Twickenham, TW1 2PD * One more - tbc at tbc * creche available. Contact Fiona: info@metooandco.org.uk

And in the Autumn term…

In the autumn term, we are looking forward more Coffee and Cake and especially these workshops with the following services: the Educational Psychology Service and the Disabled Children’s Team (DCT) social workers/family support workers.

We are just at the point of booking dates and would like to hear from you what you might ask an Educational Psychology Service and/or the DCT workers. Please reply to this e-mail – it will help us plan the events.

Latest news on SWLStG CAMHS South West London St. Georges, Children & Adolescent Mental Health Service Of the 2000+ children and young people with identified needs in Kingston and Richmond, nearly half are somewhere on the autistic spectrum. This news affects a lot of families.

Following last weekend’s media coverage, here’s an update (and good news), with dates for local meetings as the next item.

Statement from the National Autistic Society (NAS) Good news on diagnosis in South West London (2 June 2017) The CCGs have reiterated that they have agreed ongoing arrangements for the diagnostic service that currently exists, for 12 more months to make sure that waiting times do not grow further.

During those 12 months, they want to look at how the service should be redesigned.

Importantly, they told us that services would be available for children from across the autism spectrum – so no child will be denied access to the care they need. This is very welcome news. http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/media-centre/news/2017-06-02-swl.aspx

Comment from NAS Richmond: NAS Richmond, SEND Family Voices, Express CIC and ADHD Richmond are all working together to challenge such changes, and NAS Chief Executive Mark Lever has also written to the South West London Collaborative Commissioning Group plus the individual Clinical Commissioning Group in each borough. http://www.richmondnas.org/our-branch-news.html

Comment from Express CIC: We see this as a review of the diagnostic pathway and possible change to the criteria for being assessed by CAMHS - not a change to assessment criteria. Possibly an opportunity for decreased waiting times and a better service? (btw – Express also have a list of easy read manifestos; follow the same link) http://mailchi.mp/expresscic/q8esq88kei-2973058?e=d84c594243

Comment from ADHD Richmond: The CCGs have not yet agreed to any proposal and will be taking our views into account when discussing it. They accept that they will need to consult publicly in the event that they do decide to go ahead with changes to eligibility. https://adhdrichmond.org/2017/05/25/adhd-richmond-statement-on-swlstg-autismdiagnosis-story-in-the-news/

SWLStG CAMHS – Meet the Commissioners Necessarily, the meetings must take place after this week’s General Election and post purdah. Details below.

All meetings require that you MUST book a place.

Monday 19th June - 11am to 12.30am – Express at their offices (Surbiton) “Please do join us for a Coffee Morning on 19th June with an opportunity to meet and question the Commissioner. Come along for coffee and to meet other parent/carers, find out information and share experiences. You are welcome to come whether your child is awaiting a diagnosis/is on CAMHS waiting list or if you would like to share your experience of diagnosis via CAMHS.” W: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/express-cic-coffee-morning-meet-the-commissioner-19thjune-2017-tickets-35005871504 E: info@express.org.uk

Wednesday 21st June - 7pm to 9pm – ADHD Richmond at Russell Cooke (Kingston) “This is your chance to put your questions and views to the two local commissioners for Kingston & Richmond. They want to hear your views on the pathway to diagnosis.”

E: communications@adhdrichmond.org

Friday 23rd June - 10.30am to 12noon – SFV at MeToo&Co* (Twickenham) Please come along and talk with the Kingston Commissioner regarding the proposed changes at SWLStG NHS Trust. This is one of two meetings arranged by SEND Family Voices on this subject. To book a place, please contact: E: sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com T: 07469 746 145 * crèche available at meetings hosted by MeToo&Co. Please contact Tell: 07946 646033 or e-mail: info@metooandco.org.uk to book a crèche place.

tbc – SFV with the Richmond Commissioner We are in the process of confirming details. Please check our website for details; and we will provide an update next week.

W: www.sendfamilyvoices.org/events

National Carers Week - 12th to 18th June The link to national activity is below, followed by what’s happening locally: “This year we're focusing on building communities which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.” http://www.carersweek.org/

Kingston Carers Network “We have a fantastic programme of events (pages 4-9 and 18-22 of our latest newsletter) lined up including: • Young Carers' Party • Carers' Pamper Day • Talk on Benefits with David Still” https://issuu.com/kingstoncarersnetwork/docs/2._summer_newsletter_with_mh_and_de/1?ff= true&e=10126300/49600957

Richmond Carers Centre “The Carers Conference (15th June), which takes place during National Carers Week 2017, is an opportunity for carers to find out about local organisations that provide services for carers and to participate in activities that promote health and wellbeing.” https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/52fbb7_03019f4943124b4f87414da757a3319c.pdf

Update on the changes to the support provided by the PLSA team (PLSA = peripatetic learning support assistant) Reminder: Before half-term, the concerns from the parent community were raised with Achieving for Children and the Councillor; and a request was made for much greater clarity on how the support will be provided from September to be shared as a matter of urgency, if many of the current PLSA team will not continue in role from September.

For more details please contact Penny on Penny@sendfamilyvoices.org.

Let's embrace our "Local Offer" From Karen Lowry, our Local Offer content manager…

“Thank you to SEND Family Voices for their continued support of the Local Offer and continual efforts to raise awareness. The phrase "Local Offer" entered our consciousness as part of the SEND reforms in 2014. I remember thinking at the time that it was a strange title but now after living and breathing it for nearly three years, I feel it perfectly describes what it does - if you know what it is and where it is!

The job of spreading the word should never stop. There will always be new families in our area needing this information whether because they have welcomed a new child who will need additional support, received a diagnosis, have moved into our area or because maybe the family themselves need support to access information and services.

A re-launch is coming…

As SFV mentioned previously, "all sorts of technical works" have been going on. These will be revealed to you when the Local Offer relaunches as part of a new AfC info site in summer 2017. The Local Offer will remain as a distinct area of the new site but with better links to some of the universal and mainstream information that forms part of the "Local Offer", but is not specific to SEND. The Local Offer itself will have a fresh look and some improved search functionality and clearer signposting.

Until then please embrace your Local Offer and help by telling others about it. Please continue to let us know what works for you and what doesn't - it may be something that we can easily improve.”

W: www.afclocaloffer.org.uk E: sendlocaloffer@achievingforchildren.org.uk

Fairness for All 2014 “Some of you will remember Fairness for All 2014. This was a survey that we [Ruils]conducted to determine the experiences of disabled people, the elderly and people living with long term health and mental health issues and learning disabilities in the [Richmond] borough.

We are repeating the survey – with only one or two changes, to see what has changed over the last few years. We would like to think that things have got better, but fear that this is not the case. Please can you share this survey with the groups that you support. We had about 130 respondents last time and we would like to get the views of as wide a group as possible.

The survey can be completed: 1. Online -https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FairnessForAll17 2. By telephone - please call our volunteer, Patty Lloyd on 0208 831 6413 on Monday or Thursday 9.30AM to 11.30AM 3. By post - If you would like a paper version please call 020 8831 6083 and we will be happy to post one out to you. We can also provide you with multiple copies for mail outs or feel free to PRINT the attached.”

Information about the survey is available here: http://www.ruils.co.uk/news/ruils-launches-fairness-for-all-2017/

Employing disabled people isn’t just about building ramps This article is short and succinct. “We need to challenge employers to better understand the needs of their staff and provide equitable access to all areas of employment.” https://blog.scope.org.uk/2017/05/31/employing-disabled-people-isnt-just-about-buildingramps-2/

Diagon Alley OK, so this is a bit silly… and we’re not at all sure it’s fully accessible. But this is the kind of neighbourhood action that puts a smile on our faces. https://twickerati.wordpress.com/2017/05/31/harry-potter-diagon-alley-in-twickenham/ 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, Caroline North (for Kingston) and Romany (for Richmond) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org