Short breaks, residential review & dogs

Short Breaks, Residential Review & Dogs 25th January 2017 Dear All Wednesday 8th February is a popular date (see mid-way through)! More news on the Short Breaks survey to follow soon…

Upcoming Short Breaks Survey "Short Breaks" refers to any activity that a disabled child or young person does. As well as overnight/s away from home, it also includes things like swimming, football and dancing, as well as home and community support and ‘Aiming High’ funding.

ALL disabled children are currently eligible for some short breaks.

Achieving for Children are currently looking at how their short breaks budget is spent. The budget is around £800k per year. All current contracts run until 2018, when new contracts will be agreed and / or existing contracts renewed.

SEND Family Voices will be conducting 4 open meetings and a survey starting next month to get as many opinions as possible, from as many of you as possible, in order to provide a really thorough assessment of what families want from short breaks.

More news to follow – very soon.

Update…

In our last newsletter, we reported on Achieving for Children’s current management review on the services that provide short breaks, respite, specialist social workers and family support workers.

It’s been a long haul. And whilst nothing changes overnight, we’re optimistic that Ian Dodds’ and his review team are objective and thorough.

The gap in understanding between the top and families is closing – we are being listened to.

Once the review team have finalised their report – we hope that will translate into actions by Achieving for Children.

In the meantime, representatives from SEND Family Voices steering group are meeting with Ian and his team at the end of this month, and our understanding is that the report will be finalised on 7th February.

Young People’s Rights With thanks to Heather Mathews from Richmond CVS for this link: The Association for Young People’s Health (AYPH) is the UK’s leading charity working to improve the health and wellbeing of 10-24 year olds. http://www.youngpeopleshealth.org.uk/

The Young People's Health Partnership has published a new briefing aimed at supporting professionals working with young people to identify sources of high quality information and resources on young people's rights. Cut & past the link below into your browser: Rights-resources-for-professionals-working-with-young-people.pdf

National News Last week, representatives from SEND Family Voices attended the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) conference. The speakers included senior representatives from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and the SEND Tribunal.

We’re typing up our notes and will publish these as a separate newsletter. In the meantime, we met Christine Lenehan at the conference and attended her workshop…

Call for Evidence – the Lenehan Review (residential) …we can’t stress enough the importance of contributing to this review.

Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families Edward Timpson has asked Dame Christine Lenehan to conduct an independent review looking at the outcomes and experiences of children and young people attending residential special schools and colleges.

The review is designed to find practical outcomes for the government and other agencies who work with this group of young people, who often have the most complex needs and require more intensive support.

Dame Christine Lenehan is seeking evidence to inform her review into the experiences and outcomes of children and young people in residential special schools and colleges. She would like to receive evidence about:        

the characteristics of the children and young people currently in residential special schools and colleges; how and why these children and young people come to be placed in residential special schools and colleges; the pattern of provision across the country and how it is commissioned and procured; what good quality support looks like for these children and young people, both preand post-placement (including the role of early intervention, family support and community services); the experiences and outcomes of these children and young people and their families, and how these can be improved; how schools and colleges are supported to meet the needs of these children and young people by all agencies; how effectively the workforce in residential special schools and colleges meets the needs of these children and young people; and destinations for these children and young people.

https://consult.education.gov.uk/special-educational-needs-and-disability-division/lenehanreview/ Please send responses by 17 March 2017

The Care Act - transitioning from children’s to adult social care and seminar “One of the biggest concerns for parents of disabled young people who are about to pass 18, is the move to adult services. Sometimes it goes smoothly, but often it ends up being very

difficult with vital support being lost along the way. The 2014 Care Act was supposed to Belinda Blank, Director of the Advocacy and Support Partnership, has written some information for us about the Act and brings news of a seminar to help.

Wednesday 8th February – 10am to 2.3pm To help parents through the maze, the charity Action for Kids is holding a short one day seminar for parents, carers and professionals in central London on Wednesday February 8th.

Lawyers and care specialists will take you through what the act means and how to get the best care plan for your young person. It is heavily subsidised, so only £15 including lunch. Full details are here and places are going fast.”

Link to the Special Needs Jungle article is here, and you can find booking details too: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/care-act-transitioning-adult-social-care/

Talking Healthcare “Local NHS launches new "conversation" with people in south west London People in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth are being asked for their input as the local NHS continues to plan for the future of healthcare in south west London.

Kingston date is 8 February 2017 6pm - 9pm Kingsmeadow Function Rooms, Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Kingston KT1 3PB “ No dates for Richmond yet. http://swlondonccgs.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/r/0618B303C93447DE2540EF23F30FEDED/F212 C69734CDC2BCE89F0E32AAFB68BF

Phyz in the Pub “We are organising another of our informal pub nights to give those of us who can't meet during the day (as well of those of us that just enjoy a drink and a natter) to get together over a few drinks. Everyone is welcome.

Pub night Wednesday 8th February from 20:00 until whenever.

The pub this time is Alba (formerly known as the Aleksander), 277-279 Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 2NP, a bar / restaurant opposite Marble Hill Park (just around the corner from Me Too and Co). It would be helpful if you could let us know if you are planning to come so that we can make sure that our reservation is roughly the right size of table!”

E: info@phyz.org.uk

What’s new on the Local Offer?

There are 30 free places available to people who, as result of their disability, need support to live the lives they want in their local communities – also available to their parents and relatives. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/871-all-together-better-london-a-free-coursefor-young-people-and-parents-and-carers Group Therapeutic Cruises - Book now for 2017 https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/870-group-therapeutic-cruises-book-now-for2017 Applying for schools if you are moving into the area https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/applying-for-schools-if-you-aremoving-into-the-area

More from the Local Offer content manager…

Dial 55 “There may come a time in everyone’s life when you need to call the emergency services, but it might put you or those around you in even more danger by talking. When you call 999, an operator asks which service you require. If you remain silent and it’s an emergency, you’ll be asked to cough or make some other audible sound without speaking.

But what are you supposed to do if making any noise at all might alert an attacker to your presence and so you need to remain silent?

The answer is to dial ‘55’.

The correct procedure is called Silent Solutions but very few people know it exists. If after calling 999 you haven’t been able to signal to the operator that your call is an emergency by coughing, you’ll be put through to an operating system. What you then have to do if you're in danger is dial ‘55’, otherwise the call will be ended. “

Theatre group grows apprenticeship scheme The consortium reported that that 27% of those who have taken part in apprenticeships so far have had a disability. http://www.apprenticeeye.stfi.re/2017/01/13/theatre-group-grows-apprenticeshipscheme/?sf=agrkwbz&utm_content=47835742&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter#aa

Play and Picnic Site for children with SEND Just north of Bristol, on the edge of the Cotswolds… something for a weekend or day out if you’re nearby? http://www.bournstream.org.uk/

Nutmeg…

“This Friday, 27th January, 10:30am – 12 noon will be a very special morning, both for the adults and the children!

As part of the Richmond branch National Autistic Society's coffee morning, an organisation called Autism Life Dogs are joining us to show and tell us what their dogs can do to help families who have children with ASD. They will be bringing a trained therapy dog, Nutmeg, with them and both adults and children are invited to come and meet the her! There will be no pressure for children to interact with the dog, but they are welcome to stroke Nutmeg if they would like and can look at her picture here before hand. If you would like to attend this workshop or to book a place in our crèche, please contact info@metooandco.org.uk “ The Local Offer link is here: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/23061-meet-nutmeg-a-therapy-dog-for-childrenwith-autism?date=2017-01-27 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