Providing Community Support and Social Inclusion for Disabled Children and Young People
at the Ann Tayler Centre
on Thursday 14th Oct 2010
21 parents attended the group
Professionals attending
| Aysegul Dirik | Deborah Walsh | Pat Howley |
| Gillian Goodchild, | Scilla Morgan, | Deborah Ennis, |
| Councillor Saleem Siddiqui, | Paul Goodhew, | Nicky |
| Robert Raby | Kunbi Jones, | + 1 interpreter |
Gillian Goodchild facilitated the meeting.
1. Introductions from the speakers and parents:
Gillian welcomed everyone to the meeting and everyone introduced themselves.
2. Presentation from Paul Goodhew CPC Capital Project Consultancy Learning Trusts Childcare Sufficiency Survey
CPC are Conducting a survey of childcare speaking to parents across Hackney to see what their needs are, what they're looking for, try to identify gaps, looking at how they can feel those gaps, this is no obligation to participate in this survey but it would be most appreciated if you do and there is a possibility of winning a £100 voucher to encourage participation.
3. Grapevine Slot
- DCATCH - Kunbi
- HFBU - Gillian
- The Key - Kunbi
- HiP - Amanda
There is another questionnaire to work out a plan for how the money can be spent, (questionnaire sent with copy on the key and more are available at The Ark please take the opportunity to state how the money should be spent. Fri 29th October deadline.
Hackney Family Backup are running various events at the moment.:
- A free Family coach outing to Thomley Hall on Tuesday 26th October, an indoor and outdoor activity centre especially designed for children with disabilities. £5 returnable deposit. Families welcome to bring other children - SEE leaflets at the back of room.
- Family Club is starting this Saturday 16th 1.30pm-4pm for younger children who have challenging behaviour at the Bathhouse Children's centre on Shacklewell Lane, E8.
- Coffee mornings in our Toy Library focusing on sensory stories and sensory play as well as talking about children with sensory problems. Please speak to Gillian during the break if you want any more information, next one next Tuesday 19th.
The Key Working with carers, parents and professionals to review The Key and how it works. We have introduced a referral process so that people can be referred onto the key by people that know them and they have looked at how things can be improved and make any necessary changes. Families are encouraged to re-register. Launching the free gifts (incl. keyrings, cups) at the Britannia leisure centre event on free event for the whole family on Sunday 24th October 10-4pm. We're running a workshop for young people 14-19 years in morning and in afternoon for their parents and carers, on transition into adulthood and repeating the event on 10th November in a market stall type format, range of activities and courses available. Flyers available today and a questionnaire about what you think of newsletter.
HiP Amanda from HiP Hackney Independent Parents forum informed that tomorrow is the deadline for a consultation for parents of SEN children. Amanda will be completing it tonight, what do we think of statements?, how things are delivered in schools?, please give me your email or email me a response by 8pm this evening if anyone else wants to input. This is about the laws and frameworks surrounding it so please have your say.
4. Councillor Gulay Icoz, Chair of Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission and Deborah Ennis, overview and Scrutiny officer, Hackney Council
This is made up of councillors of all political parties and investigate local concerns, evidence based and non-political, using forums, focus groups, questionnaires, site visits. We make recommendations on services available. Currently 12 councillors and many co-optees, many here today. Aim to find out what the gaps are and how the services can be improved. We have looked at early years incl. Children's centres, raising aspirations for Kurdish, Turkish and Carribean students, and a short review of youth provisions to see how they can be improved. This term we decided to consider services for disabled children in Hackney to see what's available and how they can be improved. We want to find out if services reach the communities that need them, what services include disabled children and what support is available to parents and carers. We have also visited the Ark and are working with primary and secondary disabled children's forums as part of this review and many of them will be attending the event at the Activities For All at the Britannia Leisure centre on 24th.
Break.
Review/Scrutiny of Disabled Children's Services
Parents went to different zones to give their views to members of the scrutiny commission including councillors on what services they have used, what works well, what could be better, what else you parents find useful and anything you think the review needs to know:
7 zones:
- Emotional support/parent groups/counselling
- Short breaks/play/leisure
- Information/advocacy/practical support
- Housing
- Health Services/OT/Physio/Speech & Language
- Transport
- Emergency Support
Deborah Enis will be collecting information until November 2010, report will be written in December and will contain 6-8 recommendations and will go to the head of the cabinet and Rita Krishna as member responsible for Children and Young People. Then 6 months later the council departments for services will need to feed back to Cllr Krishna what they have done to improve services in line with the recommendations of the report.
Deborah Ennis is happy to feedback via HFT or via your own local networks eg In Touch , please get in touch with her to let her know how they would like her to feedback on: Deborah.ennis@hackney.gov.uk or 020 8356 3441.
AOB
Hackney Shed theatre company are running mixed theatre workshops - please take leaflets.
Half Moon Theatre Company is running workshops for disabled children - please take leaflets.
Action points from meeting
- Parents to contact Scilla Morgan at Parent Parnership at the Ark if they have specific issues about School transport.
- Invite commission to report back to us on the report and how services responded.
HFBU never make direct appeals to the public for funding. If you receive an e-mail requesting
financial assistance that you think might be from us please contact us immediately.