1:44 pm, Friday, 5th February 2021
Weekly SEND update
This is your weekly SEND update for 1-7 February.
Top topics this week include #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek, a new programme for parents with autistic teens, and better information on the Access Pathway.
Children’s Mental Health Week
This year Children’s Mental Health Week is themed ‘Express yourself’.
Do you express yourself through a favourite hobby or character, telling stories, or with a personal mantra?
Email a picture, quote, video, or description to lauren.thompson2@nelincs.gov.uk and we will add it to the Local Offer.
Many schools and settings in North East Lincs have been supporting children and young people to get involved in Children’s Mental Health Week 1st – 7th Feb 2021. Take a look at some of the great activities that are taking place.
Why not use some of these tools to speak to your child about wellbeing, emotions, and mental health.
Listen to Anna Freud’s Child in Mind children’s mental health podcasts.
See these helpful guidance on friendly ways to discuss COVID-19 with your child.
Read about more youth mental wellbeing on the Local Offer news page.
The #TalkSuicide training only takes 20 minutes and helps you understand the fundamentals of what to spot, what say, and what to do if you suspect someone may be feeling suicidal.
It is available to any adult.
Carers Support Centre can help you access specific training.
Gov.uk comprehensive list of general mental health contacts for parents and carers, children and young people, and professionals.
Teen Life- Autism Programme
Teen Life Programme is a virtual delivery programme for parents/carers of young people aged 10 to 16 years on the autism spectrum.
Topics covered include understanding autism in teenagers, women and girls, self-esteem, spending time with other people, stress and anxiety, behaviour, puberty, independence skills, education strategies and planning for the future.
A Teen Life Programme Book will be provided for each family to accompany the programme.
Read more about the programme and get the contact to enrol on the Local Offer.
Access Pathway
Parents have requested to have a clearer description of the journey.
The team welcome these queries and have provided updated details about your journey from referral to panel and beyond. Read these on the Access Pathway page of the Local Offer.
If any parent or professional would like an update regarding the status of a referral please make contact with the team who will respond to you within five working days. Contact (01472) 323998 or email access-pathway@nelincs.gov.uk.
Preparing for half term
Half-term is approaching. See the school term dates on the Council’s website.
- See the Community Spotlight Calendar of events.
- Show your child the ‘Things to do’ tab on the children and young people’s page.
- If you have a health condition, follow @weareundefeatable for ideas and inspiration.
- Change4Life has kid friendly ideas for indoor activities, active games, and healthy eating that both parents and children will love.
- Follow @DiscoverNEL and take the #DiscoverNELChallenge or visit their website for local walks and things to do.
SEND Team
Feedback from parents about their one-to-one EHCP wellbeing and education phone call has been amazing. Parents have as much time on the phone as they need to voice what is and isn’t going well and plan or solve problems with an expert from the SEND Team wherever this is needed.
Should parents wish to contact us and request an EHCP wellbeing and education contact call please email Siobhan.Hardy@nelincs.gov.uk or call 01472 323166.
Special Schools
The SEN Team continue to meet with Special School Headmasters leaders, to pre-empt who might need a special school place. This ensures children with the highest needs benefit from high need placements.
Every Special School offers a different provision. Read about them on the Local Offer Special Schools and Colleges page.
Y.P.A.G
The Young Person’s Advisory Group is restarting. This is a group for young people aged 11-25 who have Special Educational Needs.
If you would like to be involved in a fun, online (during COVID), social activity and engagement group please contact lauren.thompson2@nelincs.gov.uk.
Speakers from the Horizon Youth Zone would like to do a presentation to encourage more young people with SEND participate in their Youth Development Group for the project. You are encouraged to suggest activities or local opportunities you would like incorporated into the group.
Communication
We encourage regular communication if you have a query or feel your child is not getting the support they need.
Contact the most relevant service or contact sen@nelincs.gov.uk.
Feedback or make a complaint about an NHS Service, Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Health Watch NEL.
Free PPE for parent carer private PAs
The CCG are aware in North East Lincolnshire that a number of people performing services that would not normally require personal protective equipment (PPE) – masks, gloves, aprons, etc. – may well require it during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have identified that personal assistants (PAs) are one such group.
Given that PAs may not be used to obtaining PPE, or perhaps not in the quantities that may be required, we have identified the following local access routes. Please note that these routes may change as the situation progresses, but at the current time please use them in the order given:
PAs connected to PASS:
- If you have one, please start by trying to source your PPE from your normal supplier. If you have no supplier, please see below for suggestions of suppliers.
- If you are still unable to source PPE, please confirm with Lisa Steele in PASS on 01472 322426 that you require PPE and what items you require. They will refer the request through to the locality group, who will attempt to source the order from stock in area. When making the request, please be explicit about what you require and the timescale you require it in. Your contact in PASS will let you know if PPE is sourced successfully and arrange for you to collect it. You will not be charged for this PPE provision.
PAs connected to Penderels:
- If you have one, please start by trying to source your PPE from your normal supplier. If you have no supplier, please see below for suggestions of suppliers.
- If you are still unable to source PPE, please confirm with Lynn Hudson/Tammy Brumpton in Penderels, via email to grimsby@penderelstrust.org.uk, that you require PPE and what items you require. They will refer the request through to the locality group, who will attempt to and how many you require and the timescale you require it in. Your contact in Penderels will let you know if PPE is sourced successfully and advise you of the arrangements for collection. You will not be charged for this PPE provision.
Other PAs:
- If you have one, please start by trying to source your PPE from your normal supplier. If you have no supplier, please see below for suggestions of suppliers.
- If you are still unable to source PPE, please contact Tanya Burnay, NEL CCG via tanya.burnay@nhs.net, detailing what you require and the timescale in which you require it. This officer will refer the request through to the locality group on your behalf, who will attempt to source the order from stock in area. The officer will communicate with you about the success of the request and arrange for you to collect the PPE if available. You will not be charged for this PPE provision.
Potential supplier (stage 1)
Careshop coronavirus@careshop.co.uk.
Blueleaf 03300 552 288 emergencystock@blueleafcare.com *.
Delivernet 01756 706 050 lee.morris@delivernet.co.uk.
Countrywide Healthcare 01226 719 090 enquiries@countrywidehealthcare.co.uk.
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs Disability Information Advice Support Service)
SENDIASS provides free impartial information, advice and support to disabled children and young people aged 0-25, and those with SEN. Hours Monday-Thursday, 8.30am- 4.30pm. Friday 8:30am- 4pm. Leave a message and we’ll get back to you within three days.
Email: nelincs@barnardos.org.uk
Facebook: @NELSENDIASS
SEND Annual Survey
Take the SEND Annual Survey as a parent or carer or a child or young person.
No young people have done the survey yet! Your views always make an impact. Take one minute or 30 minutes to say as much or as little as you like. Everything helps.
The survey’s close on 22 February.
The Educational Psychology Team
The Community Educational Psychology Service Advice Line for parents and carers offers advice regarding COVID related difficulties. Call 01472 323308.
Health
If you are struggling or are worried your child’s health needs are not met in school please email Sarah Harding, the Designated Clinical Officer for SEND at designatedclinicalofficer@nelincs.gov.uk.
Video appointments are continuing. Training with health professionals to familiarise them with the new EHCP Hub and process is continuing.
North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation (NELPFF)
Follow the North East Lincolnshire Parents Participation forum on Facebook.
See NELPFF on the Local Offer.
Email: nelppf@gmail.com
Telephone: 07583 474892
Read the latest COVID guidance on Gov.uk and local guidance on North East Lincolnshire Council’s website.
Attendance at school by children with an EHCP plan was 36.9% nationally and 52.4% locally.
All NE Lincs educational setting are working with our Public Health team to communicate information regarding new or suspected cases of COVID and the local position is being carefully monitored.
Local Authority Education Link Officers contact settings regularly during the week to offer support or guidance. If parents/carers have any questions about COVID and their child’s education, they can email school@nelincs.gov.uk and an education officer will directly respond to your communication. Emails can be sent at any time and will be responded to between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.
Useful Numbers
The Sector Support ‘Community Service Fact Sheet’ has an extensive list of community support available for money, food, wellbeing, welfare and more.
See the Voluntary Sector Alliance COVID-19 updates page for more on financial support, health and wellbeing, local updates, COVID updates, community safety, volunteering and more.
• Report a concern online or call 01472 326292 (opt. 2)
• Support for those isolating without anyone to support them for supplies and more call the Council (01472) 313131
• Health – if you are struggling to manage your symptoms, call 111. If you are in urgent need of medical assistance, call 999
• Domestic Abuse (women and men). NEL Women’s Aid (01472) 575757, and Men’s Helpline, 0808 8010327
• Wellbeing – if you are struggling with your mental health, call (01472) 256256
• Carers’ Support Service (support for informal carers). Go online or call (01472) 242277
Alcohol
Parents/carers are aware that at this anxious time some families have reported struggles with mental health and sought support for the overuse of alcohol.
Alcohol change UK offers COVID tips on alcohol and mental health.
We Are With You provides support for drugs and alcohol. You can also get in touch if you are worried about someone else’s drinking or drug use. Chat online or call- 01472 806890. Local charges apply. They also have information on their Facebook, @wearewithyoucharity.
Up next!
There’s lots changing to the Local Offer every week.
- Up next you can see more added to the coproduction and engagement page including the Young Person’s Advisory Group.
- See new Learning pages with a suite of links to home learning and practical support for every age and need selected for you by our Specialist Advisory Service.
- Find more training opportunities on the news page
If you have questions about SEND we are always here to help. Please don’t hesitate to email sen@nelincs.gov.uk. We always try to make sure that children and parents/ carers voices are heard.
These Weekly SEND parent/carer newsletters are shared with teams within education, health and social care as well as parents/carers SENCOs, the DfE and local charities. If you would like to be in the weekly meetings, you are most welcome and can contact clare.linfitt@nelincs.gov.uk for more information.
If parents/carers or young people over 16 do not have access to the internet or if they prefer to receive paper copies only please contact sen@nelincs.gov.uk.