Parents & Carers Guide

Introduction

Special Needs Community CIC is a social enterprise set up by parents and carers to support parents and carers. We have first hand experience of what it means to bring up a child/young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). My SEND File was designed specifically for children/young people with SEND, 0-25 years old. It provides practical support to help parents get organised and stay organised. We enable and empower each parent by helping to compile, re-arrange and design their SEND related information into an easy and useful filing system personal to the family in a way that they can easily access. The file can be presented at important meetings with key professionals and agencies. It will provide all the necessary information on the child/young person, which can be taken to any and every appointments.

How to use your file

The contents has five main sections. It will help to quickly explain ALL ABOUT your child/young person and provide the necessary information you and professionals need to make the meetings useful and efficient. It includes information about what the child/young person’s special need are, the impact it has, their likes, dislikes, allergies, concerns and what to be aware of. It has prompts for sections you need to consider and find out more about. It will take the stress and frustration out of your very busy complicated SEND journey.

We will help you:

  • Create the ‘All About Me’ form
  • Understand the local SEND departments (Education, Health & Social Care)?
  • Find out about your legal rights and understanding SEND law.
  • What information do you need for your child’s meeting with a professional?
  • What local and national support and advice are available for my family and I?

Tips for Parents

  • If you have the most up-to-date information and English is not your first language, you can hand the file over to the professional for them to read and get the information they need in the meeting.
  • When you receive a new appointment or report and you don’t have time to file it in your folder. Put it in the purple drawstring bag your folder came in with and file it later. This will save you time looking for it under a pile of paperwork later on.
  • The folder will adapt and grow with your child if you buy a bigger folder, add extra sections and plastics inserts for new information or developments throughout their life.
  • Every time you have an appointment with your GP or another professional, remember to ask them to copy you in on all the notes and you will get them through the post for your records.
  • If you receive a phone call from a professional, either get their email address and email them to confirm what you spoke about or get them to email you for your records. This will help you remember who you spoke to and when.
  • Get connected to your local SEND community and parents networks as soon as possible. You will get the best ideas and information from everyday conversations to help you solve problems.
  • Remember to sign up to local authority departments, such as the Voluntary SEND Register in social care, so you wont miss out on important information and support available.

A Guide for Parent & Carers

Who is a carer? Am I a carer?

 

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to a family member, child, relative, partner or friend who may be ill, frail, disabled or has amental health issues, who could not otherwise manage without this help.

What kind of support is available for carers?

  • Information and advice
  • Benefit Application support including form filling
  • Home visits
  • Advocacy
  • Carer support drop-ins
  • Activities—Yoga, Tai Chi, Complimentary Therapies
  • Training & Events
  • Wellbeing sessions –mindfulness
  • Counselling
  • Support for Young Carers
  • Respite Care
  • Grants for Carers
  • Breaks and Holidays
  • Carer Emergency Card

You may also ask for

  • Carer’s Assessment from the council’s adult social services department
  • Carer’s Health checks from your GP.
  • Carers Allowance for the department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

 

Find your local Carers Centre for more information and also check out the 5 Essential Links for further information on local support available to carers.