Notts youngsters with disabilities could now receive a better level of support after the County Council launched a new scheme which brings together support teams from the education and social care sectors.
The Integrated Children’s Disability Service (ICDS) went live on September 1 and will aim to help families with children aged 0 to 25 years.
Councillor Kate Foale is the vice-chairman of the Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee.
She said: ” This new service is part of our continued commitment to improving the health, well-being and future lives of children and young people with disabilities.
“A family will now only have to tell their story once and the service will ensure they have information and access to all of the services that they’re eligible for.”
What will the service include?
- A single contact point for short breaks, education health and care plans, home care, sitting and befriending, specialist play services.
- An assessment service which will undertake face-to-face needs assessments jointly with families
- Different levels of support tailored to each child and family
- A new Transitions Protocol to support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- A clear outline of the transition journey which explains everyone’s roles and responsibilities to young people and their families.
- Ensuring services work together effectively to support the young person to reach their maximum potential and help prepare them for adulthood
- An impartial service which provides information, advice and support given to families about SEND (0115 804 1740).
Jill Norman, the Council’s temporary SEND group manager said: “Previously, for example, we had two separate systems – one for assessing education, health and care plans and another to assess disabled children and young people for short breaks.”
“This improvement has been prompted as a result of the feedback we’ve received from parents and recent major overhaul of national services to support families with sons and daughters with special educational needs and disabilities.”
The service has benefitted our son in so many ways
Tracey and Paul Goodwin, from Newark, are delighted with the support they have received for their 12 year old son.
Tracey said: “The service has benefitted our son in so many ways and he has made the most of every opportunity and enjoyed taking part in activities that have improved his confidence, physical fitness and emotional well-being.
“The support he has received from the county council’s short breaks service has been greatly appreciated by the whole family.”
The Nottinghamshire Participation Hub (NPH) is a voluntary organisation developed to engage with the local authority decision makers in the Health, Education and Care sectors to provide input from parent an Ud carers in the development of services in Notts.
The vice-chairman of the NPH, Darren Fleetham said: ” NPH has welcomed the involvement in the Integrated Children’s Disability Service at the transitional stages to ensure that parents and carers can have meaningful input into how services will develop.”
The NPH is a voluntary organisation developed to engage with local authority decision makers in the Health, Education and Care Sectors to provide input from parent and carers in the development of services in Nottinghamshire.
Jill Norman added: “We will also be holding two family information events where we’ll explain the changes in support for children and young people with disabilities and share how we would like to involve families in upcoming projects.”
Further details about services available in Nottinghamshire can be found at HERE.
