Parent network update – 19th March 21

A shorter email this week with:

  • Regional Mental Health Survey
  • Help with Universal Credit claims for 16-20 year olds in education
  • SNJ post on complaining the ombudsman
  • Potential Kids Easter activities.

Regional Mental Health Survey – open until 30th April – your experiences wanted

Parent carer forums in the eastern region (including HPCI) have been supporting NHS England and NHS Improvement to prevent inappropriate admissions to mental health hospitals for children and young people with SEND.  The project is called TIER 4 Admission Avoidance. This online survey is seeking the views of parents and carers whose children have experience of any of the following: CAMHS, PALMS, inpatient or highly specialised mental health services.  The information gained from responses to the survey will be used in the project to identify good practice, highlight barriers to access, and identify gaps in services.  The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete and will remain open until 30 April.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KQ5WY9Q

Take a look – HPCI Parent carer guide to mental health services – March 2021

This new mental health service guide is written by one of our parent reps and has been welcomed by the Senior Family Carer Adviser from the Learning Disability and Autism Directorate of NHS England and NHS Improvement.
The guide covers all forms of mental health support, but is particularly aimed at those CYP with serious and complex conditions who require multiagency support.
Find it here on our new Getting help with mental health page: https://hertsparentcarers.org.uk/getting-help-with-mental-health/
Tell us if you find it useful and feel free to share with other parents.

Universal Credit claims for a disabled 16-20 year old in education

Claiming Universal Credit for this group can be a complicated process and particularly if they are still in education.  However Contact have produced new resources to help families.  They are on a new webpage on Claiming Universal Credit for a YP in education

Contact Facebook Q&A on Universal Credit – next week – 25th March
National charity Contact, are running a special Q&A on Universal Credit in their closed (private) Facebook Group on Thursday 25th March from 10-12 noon.
You will need to join the Facebook Group (link above) which has over 4,500 parent carers in it and on the 25th Contacts Family Finance advisers will be waiting to answer your questions.

SNJ (Special Needs Jungle) Post on how to complain to the ombudsman over SEND failures
What can you do if you believe the local authority (LA) has behaved unlawfully or badly in your quest to obtain the right support for your child with special educational needs?  Take a look at this recent SNJ post.
https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/the-abc-of-the-lgsco-how-to-complain-to-the-ombudsman-over-send-failures/

Potential Kids Easter Fun