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Improving Services for Disabled Children and their Carers
Developing and enhancing services to meet the needs of disabled children, their families and carers is the driving force behind a consultation process being carried out by Hampshire County Council.
The 12 week consultation process will end at the end of April and will ensure disabled children and their families are directly involved, helping to shape the way services for them are planned, commissioned and delivered in the future. The aim of the consultation is to ensure the County Council's services meet the future needs of children and their families. The timing of the consultation comes as Hampshire County Council plans its strategic priorities under the Government led Aiming High for Disabled Children and Young People programme. Under the programme the Government has made some  £340m available nationally to local authorities to develop and enhance services for disabled children in a bid to improve their outcomes. Hampshire’s share of the funding is expected to be in the region of more than  £2m capital funding and around  £6m revenue funding over two years from 2009. Go to http://www3.hants.gov.uk/communications/mediacentre/mediareleases.htm?newsid=207748 for more information.
Information provided by BVS.
Draft Hampshire Carers' Strategy Consultation
Throughout 2007 many people who are interested in supporting carers in Hampshire have been involved in developing a draft plan, called the Hampshire Carers Strategy. To help HCC make sure they have properly understood what people have told them and to check that what they are planning will improve services and support, they are asking more people what they think of the plan. This plan is important because there are currently a lot of carers in Hampshire who need services and support. Over the next few years even more people will need help, as the number of carers is increasing and the caring role has become more complex and demanding. All local services need to work together to support people in the best way possible. Go to www.hants.gov.uk/adult-services/carers-consultation-document for more details. The consultation closes on 23rd April.
Information provided by BVS
Young Carers Resources
An information pack has been produced to raise awareness of young carers and suggest ways of offering support for GP Surgeries in Hampshire. This includes the leaflet Supporting young carers and their families: Information for health care professionals, a quick checklist for supporting and signposting young carers in Hampshire, a poster for the waiting room and a poster for the staff room. It also includes details of the local young carers projects. It has been sent out to ten surgeries across Hampshire to pilot and will be available for use across Hampshire after it has been evaluated. These resources are available on the resources pages at www.youngcarer.com. Information provided by BVS.
ADHD Fact Sheet
Between three and seven per cent of school children could have ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) according to one of the UK’s foremost authorities. Dr Peter Gardner, co-founder of Appleford School, a specialist school for children with dyslexia and related learning problems, has produced a fact sheet for parents who think their child may have the condition. For a FREE copy of the fact sheet telephone 01962 621020 or e-mail factsheet@appleford.wilts.scho.uk .Information provided by BVS.
Hampshire Parent Development Team
This team Co-ordinates parent education and development across Hampshire and includes a range of FREE courses including Confident Parents, Confident Kids (Under 8s); Supporting Parents of Teenagers (Teenagers); Special Children, Special Parents (All ages). For more information and schedules go to http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/families/parentdevelopment.htm. Information provided by BVS.
Special Needs Play Scheme
A play scheme which aims to provide specialist help and fun for children with special needs and their parents has been launched by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Children attending the sessions which are run on alternate Saturdays at Limington House and Maple Ridge Schools will be able to interact with other children with similar conditions such as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism in a safe environment. The equipment used will include soft play areas, parachute games, arts and crafts, remote control cars and, at Limington House, a special sensory room. There will be an opportunity for parents to learn more about how to get the most out of play time with their child and have a coffee and a chat to share information and issues with each other. The scheme is run by Basingstoke Play Limited after a successful BDBC bid to the Big Lottery Fund Children’s Play Initiative Programme. For further information contact Samantha Naylor the Corporate Communications Officer on 01256 845504 or fax 01256 845200 or e-mail Samantha.naylor@basingstoke.gov.uk Note by Web Site moderator: Please note that this scheme is only open to pupils of Lymington House and Maple Ridge Schools. Please contact Samantha and let her know if you are interested and have a child that does not attend these schools as they are looking at trying to get extra funding for other ASD children.
Dyslexia Support Group
The Hampshire Dyslexia Association Support Group for adults in Basingstoke meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month in the Church of St Bede, Popley, Basingstoke between 7pm and 9pm except in January, July, August or December, when there are no meetings held. Contact Sue McKenna on 0787 6277507 if you are planning to attend. They also have a new website at www.hantsda.org.uk Sure start
Sure Start is a government initiative for all children, parents and communities and brings together free early education and better childcare. The project has particular commitments to children with disabilities.
Professionals will work with you to:
· define the nature of your child's needs and the impact on your family
· look at the support needed and agree the type of the equipment, medical care, therapy, information and practical advice you may need
· agree how, where and when support will be provided to you
Go to www.surestart.gov.uk for more information Family Fund Trust
The Family Fund provides grants to families with severely disabled children, based on families' views and needs.
The Family Fund champions an inclusive society where families with severely disabled children have choices and the opportunity to enjoy ordinary life.
In 2006-07, the Fund distributed £28.2 million to 50,000 families.
The Family Fund is a registered charity covering the whole of the UK and is funded by the national governments of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Fund will consider any request on its merits and within the following grant-making criteria:
The Family Fund is open to families with children and young people aged 15 and under who have a severe disability
The family must be resident in the UK
Families whose income is entirely from benefits are eligible for consideration
The Fund can consider applications from families whose gross earned income is less than £23,000 (£25,000 for families in Wales) excluding overtime and bonuses
Where savings are less than £18,000
The Family Fund cannot help on behalf of children and young people in local authority care, including those living with relatives or foster carers
These criteria are set out and regularly reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The grants awarded must relate to the disabled child's needs. The Fund works with an annual fixed budget so all grant awards are discretionary and subject to funds being available. Please note that the Fund cannot help where there is a responsibility on a statutory agency to help with the requested item.
The Family Fund: Unit 4, Alpha Court, Monks Cross Drive, Huntington, York, YO32 9WN.
Tel: 0845 130 4542
You can contact Family Fund in the following ways:
By post:
Family Fund,
Unit 4,
Alpha Court,
Monks Cross Drive,
Huntington
York
YO32 9WN
Telephone:
General enquiries
Low cost line
0845 130 45 42
Text phone
01904 658085
Fax
01904 652625
E-mail:
info@familyfund.org.uk
Early Support Programme - support for young disabled children
If you are the parent of a young disabled child, you may get help from the Early Support Programme. This programme is a starting place to find out about your child's condition or impairment.
Disability information and services from Early Support Programme
The programme:
· brings together the different services available to you and your child
· focuses on children under three years old but some councils use it for children up to five years old
· is accessed through social services and managed by your council
Early Support has developed a range of disability-specific leaflets containing information about disabilities. These are intended as a ‘first step’ in informing parents about the disability and pass on information and advice from other parents. There are specific disability booklets including:
· sensory impairments
· autism
· rare conditions
· speech and language difficulties
There is a booklet covering the situation where no diagnosis has yet been made. This can be necessary because a child often needs support services before a diagnosis is made.
You can order or download these leaflets from the Early Support website.
Early support Family Pack
There is also an Early Support Family Pack, which informs parents about services to support them and to help families to know what to expect by way of good service provision and what to ask for.
The pack contains a background information folder containing booklets explaining health and social services and what they should provide for you as well as childcare, financial help (for example Disability Living Allowance), information on education and more.
The family file
Part of the Early Support pack is a family file. This includes the following sections:
About your child
There is a section called 'introducing ourselves' to write information like your child's disability, medical history, what they do and don't like, which language is used at home and more. Most parents and carers found they were repeating themselves so this part of the pack aims to cut down the time you spend saying the same information to different people.
Professionals working with you
Any new professional that comes to work with your family, for example an occupational therapist or nurse, can write their contact details in this section. It keeps all relevant names and numbers in one place in case you need them.
Record of professional contacts
Here you can list all the meetings you have with professionals and there is space to write any follow-up actions. Some carers find this useful to tell another family member who was not present at the meeting what happened. Often there are many details to remember and this is a way of noting what was talked about.
Family service plan
This is where you and the professionals working with you write about the services and support you think would help your child and set out a plan of who is going to provide help and when.
What your child can do now
By writing down what your child is capable of now you will see how far they have progressed over time.
Local organisations and contacts
You may find it useful to talk to other parents and carers who are in the same position as your family. This is the place to list local organisations that may be of interest to you. Your key worker (this is someone who co-ordinates your child's care) will probably be able to tell you what organisations are available in your area.
Questions and drawings
There are places to stick photographs and write lists for questions you may want to ask. Brothers and sisters often enjoy being involved in sticking things in and drawing on the appropriate pages.
For more information about these packs talk to your key worker or health visitor. The packs and booklets may be available at you local children's centre. You can also visit the Early Support website, which contains all of the materials in PDF format.
Website: www.earlysupport.org.uk
Travel Tokens
A child who has ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder), and other Special Needs and Disabilities are entitled to travel tokens from the local council.
Contact Basingstoke Council direct for your entitlement. You can use tokens on taxis, buses, or trains.
Tel: 01256 844844
Yellow card (available from Social Services)
Upon diagnosis of ASD, or any other disability, you can receive a yellow card for your child.
This card is very handy, and is proof of disability.
This can be used to gain free entry, into many places. Some places may not give free entry, but will give discounts - examples below:-
Aquadrome - Free for child with disability and 1 carer.
Tadley Swimming Pool - Free for child with disability and 1 carer.
Hart Leisure Centre, Fleet - Free entry for 1 carer.
Cinema - Free entry for 1 carer.
Milestones - Free entry for 1 carer
Intec Centre, Winchester - Free entry for 1 carer.
All theme parks will give discounts, some give 1 carer free.
And many more places!! Wherever you go, always remember to ASK if you can receive discount/free entry.
Theme Parks
The worst thing about going to theme parks is the waiting around in queues. For our children, it is ever harder. They do not understand the concept of time, or why they even have to wait.
However, you are able to take them to the front of the queue! Go to the information desk, state your child's disability, and they will either issue a wristband for all the family, or stamp the hand.
This allows you to access the rides straightaway without waiting in the queues.
Your child has a right to this, so don't feel guilty about using it.
Radar Key
This allows you to be able to use disabled toilets all over the UK.
This comes in very handy when there is a big queue in the main toilets, or your child is not able to go to toilet by themselves. They are more spacious and usually cleaner.
Contact Social Services, or the Disability Information Centre next to Basingstoke Library in town. It is free, but you will need to show proof of disability, a letter or the yellow card will suffice.
Library
A child with Special Needs is able to get CDs, DVD's and Games out on loan for free. Ask for an Access Card for your child at the membership desk, and they will provide one.
This applies to all the libraries around this area.
All information correct at time of publishing (8/10/2007)
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