January 2016

Name of your support group:

Information checklist for parent support groups and the Network

This checklist aims to help parent support groups plan and review the information they share with families on a range of issues and local services.The information will be constantly changing and so it will be good practice to check the content on a regular basis.Encourage your members to input and share their knowledge, and feedback their experience of a service too.

We have a vast range of parent guides and resources on many different topics, such as Holidays, play and leisure and Finding social care services for you and your disabled child.(*denotes a Contact a Family publication or factsheet)

The checklist has plenty of room for you to add notes, such as:

  • information on how referrals are made and waiting times
  • best person to contact
  • time and place of activity
  • speakers to invite

We ALWAYS welcome feedback. Please contact Tel: 07920655125 for advice and support on running a parent support group.

The Contact a Family LOCAL GROUP NETWORK

The Network is a platform for advertising your group on our website; for peer to peer support amongst group leaders in the sharing of ideas, top tips and good practice with each other. Your group can be non-specific in terms of disability or defined by a medical condition or syndrome. Support group sessions or workshops are available where there is a Contact Family representativeavailable in your area.

Contact information in your area:
Who? / Contact details:
Support Groups
Other Support networks
Example: MIND, face2face, circles of support, book clubs, etc
Local Offer* /
A local offer is a wide range of information about all the support and facilities which families can expect to find in their area for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Have you registered with yours?
Parent carer forums * / Parent carer forums are made up of parents of disabled children who aim to provide service providers with the views and concerns of all parent carers to influence the improvement of services in your area. The forum usually provides parent representatives who are able and willing to represent the views of a wide range of parents.
Your Parent Carer Forum:
CVS / CVS (Community and Voluntary Sector) NAVCA
NAVCA is a membership body for local support anddevelopment organisations who are known as community and voluntary sector organisations. Member organisations exist tochampion and strengthen local charities, voluntaryorganisations and community groups. They do this by providing specialist expertise, information and support, and develop the skills local people need to run successful organisations and groups. They support joint working and help groups find funding and make effective use of resources. For further information and to find your local CVS organisation look on the membership directory section of
Your local CVS:
Information, Advice and Support Service (IAS) (formerly Parent Partnership) / Information, Advice and Support Services (IAS) for SEND fulfils the legal requirement to provide information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and has a role in making sure the views of parents are heard toinform local policy and practice. The PPS can also signpost parents to other local and national organisations –
Your local IAS:
Do you have information on the following local services for group members?
Notesandcontact information
Social Services Children’s Disability Team (and carers assessment) / *
Child Development Centre (CDC)
Childcare / short breaks/leisure opportunities / *
Community dentist
Community equipment (for example wheelchairs)
Continence service
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
Dietician
Rare conditions
Development delay
Physiotherapy
Speech and Language
Sensory
Adaptations to your home
Support on challenging behaviour
Disability ‘friendly’ businesses (for example cafés, hairdressers, taxi firms etc)
*
*
(The Challenging Behaviour Foundation)
Notes and contact information
Education
Schools
Special schools
Special Educational Needs
Co-ordinator (Senco) / *Dedicated helpline
Transport
Mobility services/Blue Badge (DLA/PIP)
Finance and benefit entitlements
DLA / PIP
Employment for parents
Direct payments / *Dedicated helpline
*
Translated material / *Language line
Notes andcontact information
Social services adult team
Transition into adult services
Personal budgets/ Direct payments / *
Further Education
Supported Living
Support into work
Advocacy Services
3) How do parents find out about your support group?
Information (circle) / Where do parents find this information? / Is the information up-to-date? Need revisiting?
Advertisingeg: Banners/display board, Business cards,Flyers, Leaflets, Newsletters, Posters, Press releases, Social media (for example Facebook), word of mouth, parent carer forum
Website (linked to other websites too eg Vol organisations, LA etc)
NOTES ….. NOTES …… NOTES

1

Freephone national helpline 0808 808 3555 Contact a Family 209-211 City Road, London EC1V 1JN

Tel 020 7608 870 Fax 0207 608 8701 Email Incorporating The Lady Hoare Trust

Contact a Family is a registered trademark. Registered Charity Number: 284912 Charity registered in Scotland Number: SC039169 Company Limited by guarantee Registered in England and Wales Number: 1633333 VAT Registration Number: GB 749 3846 82