May 2009
Sharing information – learning disability – young people – transition – black and minority ethnic (BME)
Welcome to the electronic Moving On Update.
This Moving On Update is here to provide information to the carers and supporters of young people aged 14 and upwards from Black and Minority Ethnic communities who have a learning disability and are making the change from school to adulthood.
This electronic Update runs alongside our website www.movingonup.info that is designed to be used by this group of young people supported by their carers.
Run by the Association for Real Change, ARC with a grant from the Dept of Childen, Schools & Families.
Previously funded by Diana Memorial Fund / Vodafone UK Foundation
This Moving On Update goes out free to all subscribers. It will be sent out monthly and the project is currently funded until the end of August 2008. Those who subscribe to come from a variety of backgrounds; some are professionals in both the public and private sector; some belong to voluntary organisations and others are people who have a learning disability or care for someone with a learning disability.
Please feel free to forward the Update on to other people who may be interested. If you have something you want to share amongst subscribers you are welcome to email it to us to pam.smith@arcuk.org.uk
*Please Note: All back issues of the Update will shortly be available to download from the Moving On Update Archive
Sections in the Moving On Update:
Item 1
‘Transition Support Programme – Year two offer to all local areas’
Transition Support Team
All local areas will have access to a wide range of resources and support in year two of the Transition Support Programme. The support will include one to one work, project planning, networks, developing good practice and resources. The national transition support team, along with the National Strategies and the Care Services Improvement Partnership will be leading this work.
Following on from the completion of the Self Assessment Questionnaire in January this year, we have developed a series of support offers for local areas to best use the resources available and make sure every local area benefits from the Transition Support Programme. The structure of these offers is set out below.
In addition to the work outlined in the diagram, all local areas will receive £10,000 to be used to support the improvement of transition. This includes offsetting the cost of working completing the Self Assessment Questionnaire (this will be sent out in September 2009 with a December 2009 deadline) and to develop practice on participation of disabled young people and their families.
24 local areas will receive an extra direct grant of £37,500 to develop best practice and improve support across transition in other areas.
These 24 local areas are:
Birmingham, City of York, Cornwall, Coventry, Devon, Dudley, Gateshead, Hertfordshire, Leicester City, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, LB of Redbridge, LB Richmond upon Thames, North Tyneside, Northamptonshire, North-East Lincolnshire, Nottingham City, Oldham, Rotherham, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Suffolk, Thurrock, Warwickshire and West Berkshire.
The 24 local areas who receive direct grants will work directly with the national transition support team to further develop effective practice.
All other local areas will be offered a range of support and will be contacted by National Strategies and the Care Services Improvement Partnership to look at what will be most helpful to each local area.
http://www.transitionsupportprogramme.org.uk/news.aspx
Item 2
Every Child Matters: Core Offer
Disabled children's national indicator
The disabled children's services national indicator (NI 54) will look at parental experiences of services for disabled children and young people aged 0 to 19 and the extent to which these services are delivered according to core offer standards. The new indicator will be a core part of performance management arrangements aimed at improving the quality of services for disabled children. This is a key priority of the Child Health and Well-being Public Service Agreement (PSA12). This indicator is included in the National Indicator Set (NIS) and the NHS Operating Framework Vital Signs indicator set.
The two new leaflets: NI 54 have been designed to provide more information for stakeholders and parents on the disabled children’s services indicator.
DCSF commissioned the National Centre for Social Research to help develop the methodology of the survey to underpin the indicator. NatCen's scoping report made recommendations on how the survey can most effectively be carried out.
The DCSF have awarded the contract to carry out the survey to the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB). They based their methodology on the recommendations from the NatCen report and feedback from parents and local authorities on the NatCen recommendations. They may also make changes to the methodology based on their extensive professional experience of what has worked well with similar surveys in the past.
The surveys were subject to detailed testing and two reports were produced. The cognitive testing report is concerned with testing whether the individual questions are understandable and achieve what they are designed to do. It made recommendations as to which questions were to be retained and key changes which should be made to the questionnaire. The pilot testing report is concerned with how the two questionnaires as a whole were tested on a sample of parents with children of all ages, with a variety of disability types and who used different types of services.
The indicator will be measured for the first time at local level in 2009/10. A briefing on the indicator (updated 03 April 2009) explains the current position further.
For further information go to:
http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/ahdc/coreoffer/
Item 3
Lost in Transition: Moving young people between child and adult health services
Royal College of Nursing
Children and young people experience many significant transition points between health care services, as well as those between schools, university and other educational settings. All these transitional phases can have an impact on adherence to therapeutic regimes and retention by supportive health care services. This publication is aimed at health professionals who work with children and young people and includes information on the principles of good practice in arranging transitions, keyworkers' roles in transition, young people's involvement and processes and protocols. There are also case studies throughout the publication, along with a list of RCN recommendations to make the transition for children and young people to adult services smoother.
Published: 28 Apr 2008
Free to download at:
http://www.rcn.org.uk/search?queries_search_query=Lost+in+transition
Item 4
Moving On Up Together Fun Days
ARC
Five one-day transition events have taken place (between November 08 and March 09), as part of the Moving On Up Together project.
Between 25 and 45 young people, plus their school staff and supporters have attended each of the events, (in Luton, Oldham, Tower Hamlets, Bradford and Leicester), to look at their choices and opportunities as adults.
The days have varied, but all focused on three main themes of transition, i.e. citizenship, friendships and either future housing or employment. These themes were introduced by interactive workshops, facilitated by various local organisations, including drama therapists, theatre companies, self advocacy groups, service providers and local authority staff.
In-between the workshops the young people had an opportunity to look at the stands representing relevant local organisations, (including Connexions, youth services, disability services, local service providers and advocacy groups), to find out how they could be of interest to them in the future.
Over the lunch time period there was an opportunity to join in with a dance or drama workshop, (even football skills at Oldham) as well as the chance to have your nails painted or experience henna hand painting.
Transition to adulthood can be a daunting time with so many choices and changes, but these days aimed to provide a safe and fun atmosphere to start looking at some of immediate changes e.g. leaving school and those for the future e.g. where to live and the help and information that is available to make these decisions, not least the Moving On Up Website itself.
Full information about these days will soon be available as a resource pack.
These events were funded by the Department of Children, Schools & Families as part of the Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme.
Lesley Dean
Project Worker, ARC
Email: lesley.dean@arcuk.org.uk
Item 5
FASD Trust: V-Bulletin
Foetal Alcohol and Spectrum Disorders
The FASD Trust was started in January 2007 in response to the growing number of requests for information on FASD being received by the adoptive parents of a child with FAS.
To join the forum and receive the V-Bulletin, go to:
http://www.fasdtrust.co.uk/
Item 6
Transmap: From theory into practice
Transition Support Team
The Council for Disabled Children has published a new report that identifies areas of effective practice and developments in transition. TransMap: From theory into practice, identifies a number of underlying principles that, when applied, lead to a high quality service for young people in transition. Implementing these underlying principles across transition practices will mean that young people regularly have a positive experience of transition.
http://www.transitionsupportprogramme.org.uk/news.aspx
Item 7
EDCM Action – Ask your PCT how much money they will spend on disabled children!
NCB
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England have been given £340 million for disabled children’s health services between 2008-2011 but how much has each individual PCT has been given?
PCTs need reminding that they have this money for disabled children, and should be asked how much they are spending on disabled children’s services, including short breaks, equipment, wheelchairs and palliative care.
This is really important to ensure that every PCT in England is prioritising disabled children as they are expected to do by the Department of Health.
You can find out more about the funding announced for PCTs and take action by emailing your PCT at:
http://www.edcm.org.uk/health <http://jan-net.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d62cce986792bbda0e28fd97d&id=d0b46fb0a8& e=b3d88ff316>
If you would like to know more about the EDCM campaign please contact:
Louise Franklin
Senior Campaign Officer
Every Disabled Child Matters
Council for Disabled Children, National Children's Bureau, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE
Direct Line: 020 7843 6108
Fax: 020 7843 6313
Email: louise@edcm.org.uk
Item 8
Shared Care Network aims to recruit over 7,000 new short break carers for 10,000 children
Shared Care Network
The BIG Breaks campaign aims to DOUBLE the number of disabled children in the UK getting short break services to 20,000 by the year 2012. This campaign is coordinated by charity Shared Care Network aims to recruit over 7,000 new short break carers for the 10,000 children and their families UK-wide who currently do not get breaks.
Recently families of disabled children’s entitlements to receive short break services have received a new boost. The new Children and Young Persons Act (2008) places an important new duty on local authorities to provide short breaks to families of disabled children.
For more information on becoming a short break carer, click on ‘Find a Scheme Near You’ at:
www.sharedcarenetwork.org.uk
Tel: 01179415361
Item 9
Website: Persona Doll Training
Persona Doll Training is a registered charity based in the United Kingdom and managed by a committee of four Trustees. Our team of experienced trainers have run training sessions since March 2002 for practitioners, lecturers, students and advisers in Britain and in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Hungary and Iceland.
The innovative Persona Doll approach encourages children to develop empathy and challenge discrimination and unfairness. It helps counter the prejudices and misinformation they pick up even if they have no personal contact with Black and mixed parentage families, with lesbian, gay, Traveller, or refugee families or with families in which adults or children are disabled.
For more information visit: http://www.persona-doll-training.org/ukhome.html
Meetings, Conferences & Events
Item 1
Making the Move: Transition from children’s to adult services for young people with learning disabilities
This national TAC seminar discusses the danger of overloading some ‘complex’ babies and young children with too many practitioners and too many programmes.
A whole approach to babies and young children who have multiple needs: pre-school and into school
Tuesday May 12th 2009, 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. (Reception from 9.30) Armada House, Telephone Avenue, Bristol, UK, BS1 4BQ
Facilitated by Peter Limbrick, this seminar is designed for senior managers and multi-disciplinary practitioners who support babies and young children who have ongoing, multiple conditions and disabilities. Peter argues that radical adjustments are needed in traditional education and therapy services if we are to be effective for these children.
The discussions will include:
How can we be genuinely child centred when so many people have to be involved?
Are we in danger of overloading the baby and young child? What harm can this do to the child? How can we become genuinely child centred?
Is ‘family-centred support’ just an empty phrase?
What would genuine family-centred early support look like? How would we help new families in a family-centred approach?
What sort of anxieties do parents have when their child is about to be admitted into school?
How can we address their anxieties in the transition process? Does TAC continue naturally into school?
How flexible can a practitioner, team or integrated service be – in practical terms?
Are there any limits to flexibility? How can we decide what the limits are?
Costs (to include Lunch): Single delegate: £125 – Two delegates: £220 (£110 each) Three Delegates: £300 (£100 each) – Four delegates: £360 (£90 each) Five delegates: £400 (£80 each) – Parents and carers: Free (Limited number of places)
To Book:
E-mail: p.limbrick@virgin.net
Tel: 01497 831550
Venue: Earls Court Conference Centre, London SW5
Are you working to successfully engage with parents to improve outcomes for children and families?
Effectively engaging parents through communication, a strong understanding of their needs and delivery of flexible services are all central to the wider agenda of improving outcomes for children.
Emap Education's Parental Engagement in Children’s & Youth Services conference provides you with the strategic and practical tools to achieve targeted information provision and service delivery.
Who should attend?
This conference has been specifically designed for Children’s, Youth and Family Information Services professionals in:
• Local authorities • Children’s centres • Schools • Extended schools • The voluntary sector • The health sector
For More Information and Costs
www.emapeducation.com/engagingparents
Tel: 0845 056 8339
Email: educationconferences@emap.com
Item 2
Transforming Disabled Children’s Services Through Partnership
Public Policy Exchange Conference
Thursday 14th May 2009
10.00 am – 4.15 pm
The Academy Conference Centre, Holiday Inn Regent’s Park, London
Over the last ten years, from Sure Start to the Every Child Matters agenda to Youth Matters and more recently the Children’s Plan, the Government has sought to improve the outcomes for all children and young people and provide them with the support and protection they need to safeguard their well-being and development. However, a Parliamentary Report on Disabled Children’s Services, published in October 2006, highlighted the stark gap between national policy and local reality for disabled children and the pressing need to employ additional resources to ensure the effective running of disabled children’s services.
Making disabled children a national and local priority, the Government launched Aiming High for Disabled Children in May 2007 – a radical transformation programme for disabled children’s services. Supported by £430 million of funding over three years from 2008 to 2011, AHDC aims to achieve the Government’s vision that all disabled children and their families will have the support they need to live ordinary family lives, through delivering three priority areas:
• Access and Empowerment • Responsive Services and Timely Support • Improved Quality and Capacity
A year into the AHDC funding programme, this timely conference, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, will provide an invaluable opportunity for local practitioners and stakeholders to assess the progress made in transforming disabled children’s services and consider the barriers that still need to be overcome, particularly in light of the current economic climate. Delegates will discuss how the AHDC Programme can be implemented fully and effectively through coherent partnership between the educational, health and social services to achieve an effective, personal and tailored service for disabled children and their families.
For more information and to book visit:
http://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/9E14-PPE.php
Item 3
MOVING ON PLANNING AHEAD
ARC and United Response
As part of a FSA funded project ARC and United Response are developing new materials to help people with a learning disability plan for their future.
3 pilot sessions are being run. These sessions are for people with learning disability and their supporters who are thinking about moving on and planning ahead. The sessions would also be useful for staff working with individuals who will be moving on and planning ahead now and in future.
It takes individuals through information about living independently and what that really means, including how they can and will pay for things, the support they can get and any benefits that they can get.
The pilots are on:
14th of May 2009 Chesterfield (places limited, only a few left!)
22nd of May 2009 Bristol (places limited)
27th of May 2009 London (places limited, only a few left!)
The pilots are virtually free we just ask for a small contribution towards the cost of the room, refreshments etc of just £15 per person. If you would like to come along then please get in contact with:
Shirley Potter
ARC
ARC House, Marsden Street, Chesterfield, S40 1JY,
Tel: 01246 555043
Email: Shirley.Potter@arcuk.org.uk
