PROJECTS WE'RE WORKING ON
We are delighted to announce that Parent Carers Cornwall (PCC) has been awarded Lottery funding to deliver a three-year training programme of workshops to parent/carers.
Autism In Schools
The Autism in Schools programme was initially rolled out in the Northeast of the country just before Covid struck. It was originally devised to help reduce the amount of school exclusions for those young people who are Neurodivergent.
Parent Carers Cornwall is leading on this in Cornwall as part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums. We have been holding meetings with different sectors and spoken to carers and young people and from looking at data we will initially roll out to secondary schools in Cornwall. Training will be for school staff as we evidenced many parents felt staff do not understand their child’s needs. It will be a whole school approach and not just for teaching staff. There are also workshops for parents and young people who attend the schools who sign up. Letters went out to all Secondary schools in Cornwall and virtual and face to face meetings have been held with some schools and they are keen to be involved.
This first roll out of the programme we have nine schools involved who are receiving training from the Autism Education Trust for staff and parents. Aspires are delivering workshops for young people and Young People Cornwall are also linked in with this work.
Lottery funding to deliver a three-year project:
Our project will provide, free of charge, vital training to parents and carers of children with special educational needs (SEND) to give them the knowledge, confidence and skills to support the health and wellbeing of the child and young person Therefore, this training and support will be of direct benefit to the children. This intervention will reduce the impact on statutory services whilst empowering the families of those children with SEND it would empower them with the knowledge and skills to help support their children/ young people. This could reduce the need to gain advice and support from statutory services. Hence putting less pressure on them when services are hitting capacity.
Our proposed courses will enable parents and carers to access non-statutory training. The courses will offer a supportive network of parents of children/young people with Special Educational Needs
These workshops/training days will enable parents a chance to meet, support and share experiences in a relaxed, informal environment. Evidence has shown that meeting other families can help stop isolation which could lead to depression and mental health issues
An example of some of the workshops we will deliver to parent/carers.
- Positive Behaviour Support
- Growing & Changing - Relationships & Sex Education
- Circles of Support
- PDA
These are just a few of the courses we will be delivering through the workshops. Details of the training/workshops will be promoted through our website, social media pages, newsletters and other volunteer organisations channels.
The Keyworker Pilot
Parent Carers Cornwall has been involved with the NHSE keyworker programme from day one including supporting Cornwall to produce the bid for this pilot designing the leaflets, Parent Carers Cornwall Lead Kay Henry chairs the strategic meetings for the keyworker programme. Kay also attends the National Community of Practice meetings with NHSE to report back on the pilot.
We will be meeting with families who are supported by the keyworkers to evaluate how the keyworker is supporting their family and how the service is running for the benefit of the young person.
Currently the keyworkers are supporting those young people who would normally be admitted to a residential unit, they are helping them avoid admission. This is a three-year pilot however through evidence during the pilot we feel encouraged it will become a long-term area of support to young people and their families.
The Key Working Function has been developed as a response to the NHS England & NHS Improvement Long Term Plan (LTP) commitment that by 2023/24, children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both with the most complex needs will have a designated Key Worker, implementing the recommendations made by Dame Christine Lenehan.
Initially, key worker support will be provided to children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both, who are inpatients or at risk of being admitted to hospital, but it is envisaged that support will also be extended to those who face multiple vulnerabilities such as looked after and adopted children, and children and young people in transition between services. This links closely to other commitments in the Long-Term Plan, including the ambition to move towards service models for young people that offer person-centred and age-appropriate care for mental and physical health needs, with a needs-based approach – instead of age-based - to transition to adult services.
A Key Working function is seen as being an important response to ensuring children and families get the right support at the time and that local systems are responsive to meeting their needs in a holistic and joined up way. To ensure multi-agency co-ordination around the young person’s plan, considering influencing factors including the wider family’s needs.
5 Keyworkers are now in post to support families in Cornwall and additional funding has been achieved to employ another keyworker.
Details about the keyworker programme can be found on The Council for Disabled Children’s website. What is Key Working FINAL (councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk)