Knowledge
April 5, 2022
LOCAL OFFER WEBSITES:
Did you know: every Local Authority has to provide a Local Offer, a database of everything that is available locally for children and young people with additional needs.
Richmond and Kingston’s Local Offer website is available at:
Hounslow’s is available at:
AFC
Achieving for Children have made changes to the Local Offer website. This brings together lots of information for families who have children with SEND in the boroughs of Richmond and Kingston. Have a look at the updated website here: https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/local_offer
Have you joined your local Parent Carer Forum yet?
Kingston Parent Carer Forum
Richmond Parent Carer Forum
Membership form - https://www.richmondpcf.org.uk/membership/
For more information contact
E-Mail: Administrator@richmondpcf.org.uk
DISABILITY AWARENESS CARD
What is the Special Educational Needs and Disability Register for Kingston and Richmond? How can I get a Disability Awareness Card for my child? Click here to find out:https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/social-care/special-educational-needs-and-disability-register
Mobilise - Blue Badge
Could your child be eligible for a Blue Badge? Check here with Mobilise
HOUNSLOW PARENT CARERS FORUM
All parent carers of children with disabilities are invited to our monthly Forum meeting. This is a chance to be involved and kept up-to-date with all the services provided for our children and is an opportunity to have your say.
All parent carers welcome. This is an informal, social get together to meet up with other Parent Carers who are going through all the same things as you and can often offer encouragement and good advice. Please also come with your issues as the more we know about what is happening in Hounslow the better the Forum can represent parent carers.
For more information, please visit:
or
email Aldona or Joy at hounslowpcf@gmail.com
or telephone 020 8750 4671
or email Aldona or Joy at hounslowpcf@gmail.com
What is a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA)?
PARENT CARER NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN RICHMOND AND KINGSTON
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). 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?
Find out more here:
PARENT CARER NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN HOUNSLOW
Do you help a friend or family member who has a disability, illness, mental health problem, or who needs extra help as they grow older? Then you're a carer. Support is available, visit
Grand Avenue School
Grand Avenue School in Surbiton runs regular training sessions in autism for parents, as well as support groups.
For more information, contact:
Name: Jane Pidduck
Email: jpiddu2@grandavenue.kingston.sch.uk
Telephone: 020 8399 5344
Information on Preparing for Adulthood from Achieving for Children
The Next Steps Pack is aimed at young people in years 10 and 11, including information if you need extra support with your learning. The aim is to help you understand education and employment options.
Find out more on the Training and Employment pages on the Local Offer website:
https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/post-16-education-training-and-employment/preparing-for-employment
Our Barn Carers Project, Hounslow
Our Barn offers support to Hounslow families to deal with the emotional impact of being a carer.
They also offer support with form-filling such as DLA and PIP and practical advice from a team of experienced volunteers.
You can contact them by email to community@ourbarn.org.uk
or telephone 030 0777 2800.
Connect to Tech
Richmond AID, Richmond Mind, Ruils, Richmond Mencap and Age UK are all working together on Connect to Tech!
We will support adults living in the borough of Richmond to help people stay in touch with friends and family, find information about services and explore new tools for support.
All our services will support people across all impairment groups and health conditions including physical and sensory disabilities, learning difficulties and people with mental heath conditions.
Richmond Mencap will be helping people with learning disabilities, autism and ADHD to get comfortable with tech. We know people have a range of needs so we can work with people who might want their interest sparked, who need to learn how to work a device, or who already use zoom and want more skills.
We will be working in friendly groups and be able to offer some 1:1 support within these. We know it can take time to learn and remember what can be complex information, so we will move at the pace of the varying groups. People can use their own devices or the iPads we will provide within learning groups.
Contact
For more information about Connect to Tech, please contact us by email or phone:
Email: office@richmondmencap.org.uk
Tel: 020 8744 1923
RUILS: Connect To Tech:
In April 2022 RUILS launched a new ‘try-before-you-buy’ digital scheme for residents interested in trying out different types of electronic devices. You will be able to borrow a laptop, phone, tablet or smart speaker for a short period so you can see what works for you and we will then work with you to assist your purchase. Connect to Tech is running across the Borough alongside IT support opportunities being run by Richmond AID, Richmond Mind, Mencap and Age UK. For more information please contact connecttotech@ruils.co.uk
Richmond Carers Centre – Young Carers Service
Richmond Carers Centre supports young carers aged 5-18 with information, advice, emotional support, one-to-one mentoring, after school groups, regular newsletters and school holiday activity programmes.
A young carer is anyone under the age of 18 taking on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities normally expected of an adult, and can include anything from cooking, shopping and housework to administering medication, assisting with personal care such as washing or dressing, interpreting, physical support such as lifting, and even emotional support or looking after younger siblings.
For further information on this service please call the Young Carers Support Team on 020 8867 2383 to leave a voice message or email youngcarers@richmondcarers.org
Free home sensors for unpaid carers in Richmond
Richmond Carers Centre are offering new opportunity for unpaid carers in Richmond to receive free home sensors as part of a pilot project being run by Richmond Council’s Adult Social Care team and Canary Care.
The Canary Care sensors are wireless and discreet, they monitor movement, temperature, and door activity, which can be viewed from anywhere on a smart device. The sensors don’t need an internet connection or a phone line to work and are useful when you are at work or out shopping, or if you do not live in the same house as the person for whom you care.
If you would like to take part in this pilot project, please email digitalsupport@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk or call 020 8891 7151.
Council for disabled children
COUNCIL FOR DISABLED CHILDREN: Spring Digest, which includes information on the SEND Review Green Paper: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/attachments/20210304_CDC_Digest_Spring2022FINAL.pdf
Contact: Need help completing your child's DLA form?
DLA (Disability Living Allowance) is the main benefit for children under 16 with a condition or disability. Families we speak to describe getting this benefit as ‘life-changing’. There is a specific form that is used for claiming DLA for a child, called DLA1A Child.
The form is long and requires lots of information. So to help, alongside our webpage on completing the DLA claim form, our benefits expert Derek has recorded three videos taking you through the process. read our other tips on completing the DLA form: https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/benefits-and-tax-credits/disability-living-allowance/tips-on-completing-the-dla-form/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=wn26april22&utm_content=whats+new+26+april+B
Contact: Is your child having trouble eating?
Seeing your disabled child struggling to eat or refusing food altogether can leave some parents feeling anxious and frustrated. There are many different reasons why a child might have trouble eating — and lots of advice on how to deal with their situation. Get the support and information you need in our website https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/common-concerns/feeding-and-eating/?fbclid=IwAR0vhxj8lWN1J_yiffMt4ygX440_lcFhybYgfXTrMD64BcIzPFs14kzyUps&utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=wn26april22&utm_content=whats+new+26+april+B. or by reading our Feeding & Eating parent guide here: https://contact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/feeding_and_eating.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=wn26april22&utm_content=whats+new+26+april+B
Contact: Going potty trying to toilet train your child?
Most children start to show an interest in moving onto a potty at the age of two. But if your child has a physical or learning disability, they may not be ready until they're older.
Take a look at our advice on when (and how) to start toilet training — and how to deal with common issues that may come up: https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/health-medical-information/common-concerns/potty-and-toilet-training/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=wn26april22&utm_content=whats+new+26+april+B
You can also read our Potty Training parent guide for more information: https://contact.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/potty_toilet_training.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=wn26april22&utm_content=whats+new+26+april+B
SUPPORT AROUND COST OF LIVING INCREASE:
Martin Lewis video on the £200 energy bill discount (note this is repayable)
Council tax rebates for Band A to D properties.
Cerebra's Guide on Money Matters
Money Matters: A Guide for Parents
Our Money Matters guide gives basic information about the main types of financial help available for parents of disabled children and for disabled young people aged 16 and over who may be able to claim benefits and other money in their own right