Questions, gold, respite and trains

Questions, Gold, Respite and Trains 4th March 2017

Dear All Our next mid-week newsletter will focus on the national questions (again). Below we talk about our local news and questions…

Question from the CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspectors….

This is a Kingston residents only question, and it’s important…

If you use the therapy or nursing provision in Kingston (for children or young people with SEND), please could you reply to this e-mail with your experiences. The questions are: 1. What do you like about the therapy and/or nursing provision in Kingston?

2. What would you change about the therapy and/or nursing provision in Kingston?

Please reply as soon as possible, and we will anonymise and collate all responses for the inspectors. Thank You! sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com

The Golden Binder – what do you think?

The Golden Binder is the official guidance for Richmond and Kingston on all things related to Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs), SEN Support, Annual Review, Early Years and much more.

It is our “bible" locally and was co-produced by SEND Family Voices and professionals from Achieving for Children (the SEN Team, Educational Psychologists and the Early Years team, amongst others), also Health and from Schools (SENCos and special schools). https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning/the-golden-binder Twice a year the group who are responsible for maintaining the Golden Binder (known as the Process Governance Group) get together to discuss how things are going and what needs to be changed, updated or added.

Please could you reply to this email with your feedback on your experiences of the Golden Binder and the processes relating to EHCPs / SEN Support / Annual Review etc. For instance: 1. What is going well / what works / what is useful?

2. What is not going well / needs improvement / needs to be changed?

Deadline: Monday 20th March (Not all problems in the system can be corrected by changing the guidance and forms; but by understanding what is useful and what needs improvement we can slowly improve things for all.)

We appreciate any feedback you can give us – and we will share the updates via this newsletter and the Local Offer. Reply to: sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com

The Golden Booklet – coming soon This is a new, shorter and (we hope) easily digestible version of the Golden Binder; less of a bible, more of a Quick Start. SEND Family Voices are working on an overview of the Golden Binder which will cover the main points in a short, easy to understand booklet. More news to follow.

Respite….

1. What does ‘overnight respite’ mean to you – and for you?

Perhaps your child has complex health needs, severe or complex learning difficulties, or other complex additional needs that we have not described? Does your child, or you, receive ‘overnight respite’ (that’s an overnight break for you and them!). Would you like to?

We all have our own experiences and we’d like to hear yours. So, four questions. Please reply by e-mail and let us know your thoughts. And, thank you to all parents who have replied so far. Four questions – please reply by e-mail to sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com : 1. What does overnight respite mean to, and for, you?

2. What works?

3. What doesn’t work?

4. Is there anything else you would like us to know?

2. New, proposed overnight respite provision at Moor Lane…. …for families in both Kingston and Richmond. More information here: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23255-have-your-say-on-designing-new-respiteprovision?date=2017-03-06 Monday 6th March – 10.30am to 12noon The Strada – Kingston Please contact sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com to attend this consultation. We hope to see you there!

3. All respite provision – come and talk…

How do you access current respite provision (not just overnight respite)? What do you need?

What do you like about past, current and possible future provision? These are very open questions…

MeToo&Co, with SEND Family Voices, will be hosting an open meeting for parents in the near future. More news to follow (it will be a Friday morning in Richmond borough – and we hope to hold a similar event in Kingston borough).

What’s new on the Local Offer?

1. Extra 15 hours of childcare….

From September 2017, the government is introducing an additional 15 hours of funded childcare for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds that meet the eligibility criteria.

To prepare and plan for the full roll out of the extended entitlement in September 2017, it is important for us to gather information on the potential number of families who will be eligible for this and what their childcare needs will be.

Please complete the survey below… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/951-30-hours-childcare-entitlement-for-3-and4-year-olds-parental-demand-surveys

2. Lift the Blues Thursday 9th March – 6pm to 10pm

Lift The Blues - an event about ADHD, Autism and Personality Disorder This is an NHS consultation event. Food, live music and drink is free. Follow the link below… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23324-lift-the-blues-an-event-about-adhd-autismand-personality-disorder?date=2017-03-09

3. SIBS Support Group - if your brother or sister has a disability SIBS is a UK charity for people who are siblings of children or adults with a disability.

Grand Avenue are holding Sibs sessions for: • Parents/Carers of children with autism who have siblings.

• Children who have a brother or sister with autism. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23424-sibs-support-group-if-your-brother-or-sisterhas-autism?date=2017-05-08&term=sibs

Young Minds - Always “Children and young people with mental health problems or autism should never have to live in inappropriate mental health hospitals.

Good inpatient care acts as a lifeline to many young people, who get the expert support they need to get better and return home.

But for others, including some with autism or a learning disability, their mental health can get worse in that care and they and their families can struggle to get help that is right for them.

We are calling on the Government to set out strong, enforceable rights to protect children in mental health hospitals, and their families, when they need it most.

Please sign the petition to make sure the voices of young people and their families are heard. Always.” https://act.youngminds.org.uk/always

Eye Tech Solutions Day “We thought you might be interested in the above exhibition which we are holding once again in conjunction with Kingston Association for the Blind (KAB).

Wednesday 22 March – 10am to 3pm St James Church Hall, Bodley Road, New Malden, KT3 5QD Items on display will include specialist equipment for people with a visual impairment such as, hand held and electronic magnifiers, accessible software for computers, scanners, and accessible mobile phones. Volunteers will be available to assist you around the venue and coffee and tea will be provided. “ Helen Butler and Miriam Osborne Helen.butler@kingston.gov.uk and Miriam.osborne@kingston.gov.uk T: 0208 547 5005 or 0208 605 0060

Positive Action Scheme 2017 – Journalism “The Guardian believes there should be a better representation of our diverse society in the media, and each summer runs a two-week work-experience scheme for those considering a career in journalism. This year our London office is running a scheme for applicants with disabilities.” https://workforus.theguardian.com/jobs/kin000106/

All Age Learning Disability Strategy (Kingston) “Help us develop a better future for children, young people and adults with learning disabilities in Kingston. Please take just a few minutes to complete this survey. You can help us to develop Kingston's vision and plan to improve the life chances of people with learning disabilities.“ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_e1rdoSozNtq8_YBCxqTaQaiS0DIpITMm0N9J_gIAyTc3Q/viewform?c=0&w=1

Sleepless Britain Thank you to the parent that sent in this listing…

Panorama – BBC 1 – Monday 6th March, 8.30pm Our children are exhausted. Britain's kids are going to bed later and sleeping less, and hospital visits triggered by poor sleep have tripled in ten years. We understand this programme will offer some new solutions (or at least, things to try) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08hymf3

How the Tube works “We wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity for autistic people to visit London Underground and be shown how the Tube works 'behind the scenes'.

We are looking for autistic adults (with or without a support worker, as appropriate) or children (with carers) who would be interested in meeting with London Underground staff for either a ride in a train driver's cab, a station visit or a visit to the Waterloo and City line service control room.

The visit will be hosted by staff who have been trained about autism, and your needs and preferences will be taken into account in the planning of the visit. And there will be some free merchandise to take home!

1. When will it take place? In the last week of May during the daytime.

2. Meeting point will be at White City (train ride), Bond Street station (station visit) or Waterloo station (service control visit).

3. The entire experience will take about 2-3 hours.

4. You will travel on the Underground for free during the visit.

5. There will be some opportunity for 'hands-on' activity during the visit.

6. If people are not comfortable with travelling on their own they can bring a parent/carer, support worker or similar.

People who are interested in taking part can get in touch with JanineBooth@tfl.gov.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, Caroline North (for Kingston) and Romany (for Richmond) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org