Positive behaviour, Autism, Learning disability, Mental health Service

Other Services in Hertfordshire

Information, advice and training
Name/service / What do they offer / For who / Where / How to refer/join / Contact Information
ADD-vance / Provide specialist information, training & advice
Offer coaching, group support & free training courses for families / Professionals, children & families / County-wide / Online membership form / Tel: 01727 833 963
Web: www.add-vance.org
Email:
Aspergers 4 Herts / Website which signposts to services which may be appropriate for children, teenagers & adults affected by Asperger’s syndrome / Children & Families / County-wide / Online membership form / Web: www.aspergers4herts.org
Autism Education Trust (AET)
The DEN / AET is focused on improving education for individuals with ASD
Website comprehensive information for parents and educational professionals, with resources available for purchasing
The DEN is part of the AET website and is designed for older children with ASD to access information relating to health, law, money, friendships, travelling etc. / Parents & professionals
Older children / National / Not applicable / Tel: 0207 903 3650
Web: www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk
Email:
Web: www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/the-den.aspcx
Carers in Herts / Countywide charity which provides information, advice and support to carers within Hertfordshire.
Offers support hubs for carers, as well as information relating to ‘Carers Assessments’, benefits, and supports the learning and development of carers with courses such as creative writing and art classes / Families / County-wide / ‘Recognising Carers’ registration form available on Herts County council website / Tel: 01992 586 969
Web: http://www.carersinherts.org.uk/
Email:
Recognising Carers registration form website: https://www.hertsdirect.org/recognisingcarers/
Cerebra / Charity providing help & information for children with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and intellectual disability
Offers a free library with an extensive collection of books
Offers advice from professionals in Sleep Service
Innovation service helps identify or create unique equipment for disabled children / Parents & professionals / National / Referral forms available online / Tel: 0800 328 1159
Web: www.cerebra.org.uk
Contact A Family / Provide information, advice and support to families of children with disabilities across the UK. Include a medical advisory panel. / Parents / Nationwide / 0808 808 3555
https://contact.org.uk/
DSPL / Working together as part of an Area Group, to ensure that there is a range of provision and support services available in their local community / parents, carers, staff in early years settings and schools, further education colleges, local authority officers / Hertfordshire-wide / http://www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/sen/whole_school/dspl/
Families in focus / Support groups for parents caring for children with ASD, PDA, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, LD or chronic illness throughout Hertfordshire
Provides free courses to parents including: “handling anger in your family”, “managing behaviours of teenagers with additional needs” and “the complete guide to parenting children with additional needs”
Offers training to professionals / Parents & professionals / County-wide / Booking is required for free parent courses and is done on their website
No need to book for support group, just turn up / Tel: 01442 219 720
Web: http://www.familiesinfocus.co.uk/
Family Fund / UK’s largest provider of grants to families raising children and young people with disabilities. / Parents / UK / 01904 621115
www.familyfund.org.uk.
Family Lives / Charity who provide professional, non-judgemental support and advice about all aspects of family life including child development, issues with school and behaviours and parenting/relationship support / Parents / 0808 800 2222.
Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database (HAND) / Council-run service which provides information on benefits, activities, support groups etc. for parents or carers of children aged 0-19 with additional needs (including ASD and LD).
Provides parents or carers with the opportunity to influence the planning of services within Hertfordshire
Membership provides concessions to some leisure facilities within Herts. / Parents or carers / County-wide / Online membership form accessed through HAND website / Tel: 01992 556 984
Web: www.hertsdirect.org/hand
Email:
H.A.R.C; (Hertfordshire Autism Resource Centre) / HARC provides support to individuals and their families, of all ages, who are finding difficulty in identifying support for their children following a diagnosis of autism. / Families / County-wide / www.harc-online.org.uk
07836-667394.
Home Start / Home start offers one-to-one and group support to families with young children who may benefit from practical or emotional help.
A diagnosis of ASD or LD is not necessary to access this service. / Families with young children aged 0-12 years / North Herts and Dacorum / Self-referral via website
Referrals accepted from professionals if family consents / Tel: 01438 36 7788
Web: http://home-startherts.org.uk/locations/st-albans/
I support behaviour / A private specialist service for children and young people with ASD, LD and other complex needs which draws upon Positive Behavioural Support and Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Offer behavioural assessment, and develop and implement support plans.
Offers training to nurseries, schools and colleges.
Families can receive a free telephone consultation. / Families & professionals / London and South East / Form on website to arrange phone consultation or can contact using telephone number / Tel: 07957 164952
Web:http://www.isupportbehaviour.com/home.html
Independent Parental Special Educational Advice (IPSEA) / Charity which offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to get the right education for children with special educational needs and disabilities
Provides training on the SEN legal framework to parents, professionals and other organisations / Parents & professionals / National / Online booking forms for advice line and tribunal helpline / Web: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/home
KidsHub / HUBs offers information and support for parents and carers, including help finding activities and signposting to specialist services
Offers a toy and resource library and access to software to help develop social stories
Access to a closed Facebook group just for parents/carers / Parents / County-wide / Referral not necessary, just call or email / Tel: 01923 676549
Web: www.kidsorg.uk
Email:
Twitter: @KIDSHUBHerts
National Autistic Society / Leading UK charity for people with ASD and their families. They provide information, support and pioneering services / Families & professionals / National / Register online / Tel: 0808 800 4104
Web: www.autism.org.uk
Email:
Mencap / A charity providing a range of support and information to people with learning disabilities both locally and nationally, including a telephone helpline. / Parents and carers / National / www.mencap.org.uk
Scope / Support families of children with cerebral palsy and can provide written information about difficulties, such as toilet and sleep training. / 0808 800 3333.
http://www.scope.org.uk.
Spectrum Girls / Social group for girls with high-functioning Autism or Asperger syndrome. Provides girls with the opportunity to find pen-pals, online friends and to attend monthly social events.
Spectrum girls also organise social and life skills courses to help members integrate socially / Girls of any age with high-functioning Autism or Asperger syndrome / No referral necessary, just contact to gain further information / Tel: 07714 483 485
Web: http://www.aspergers4herts.org/spectrum-girls-teenagers/
Email:
Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS; formally Parent Partnership Service / Provides impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents, carers and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND / www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/support/sendiass.aspx
Mental health services
Counselling in schools / Counselling / Hertswide / Tel: 01992 588 796
Web: www.thegrid.org.uk/counselling/info.shtml
The Asperger Social Care Team / Service for young adults who have a diagnosis of autism without a Learning Disability and are in mainstream education. / Young adults 16 upwards. / County-wide / Referrals can be made at age 16 / 01442 453535.
CAMHS / Mental health service for children and young people aged 0-18 experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties. / Children and young people aged 0-18 / County-wide / Referrals accepted from health or care professionals via Single Point of Access / Web: www.hpftcamhs.co.uk
Children’s Speech and Language Therapy (HCT) / Offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children with a range of speech, language, communication and feeding difficulties. / Children and young people aged 0-16 / County-wide / Referrals from health professional / www.hertschs.nhs.uk/services/children/childrens_speech_language_therapy/.
Families Feeling Safe - Herts Protective Behaviour Service / Enabling and carers to help their children to build self-esteem and confidence, improve their well-being and have strategies and ideas to keep themselves feeling safe”.They can also advise about what protective behaviour support can be accessed through your child’s School Partnership / Children and young people 0-19
Parents
Professionals / County-wide / Contact to register / 01438 728 653
www.familiesfeelingsafe.co.uk
Children’s Occupational Therapy (Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust). / Provide a specialist assessment, treatment and advice service for children who have a physical disability or a condition that impacts on their development and functional daily activities at home or school. / Children and young people aged 0-18 / County-wide / Referrals from health professional / www.hertschs.nhs.uk/services/children/Childrens_Occupational_Therapy/default.aspx
Health Visitors (Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust) / Offer support under the remit of parenting children with additional needs (under 5 years of age) to help meet the family’s current needs. / Children under 5 years old. / County-wide / Referrals from health professional / www.hertschs.nhs.uk/services/children/health_visiting/default.aspx
Hertfordshire Children’s Services, / If your concerns escalate regarding the safety of the young person and/or others. They have a duty team who are able to respond to calls out of hours. Furthermore, should you think that your child is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, the police, the GP and A&E should be contacted for immediate support / Anyone / County-wide / 0300 123 4043
Hertfordshire Community Learning Disability Teams / County Council run service, including Social workers, Learning Disability nurses, community care officers and Health support workers. / 18 years old and over with LD’s / County-wide / 0300 123 4040.
Integrated Services for Learning (ISL) / Multi-professional service to support schools, settings and families. Different teams include: Communication & Autism Team, and the Early Years Action Group. / Parents and professionals / County-wide / Typically made by schools and via Hertfordshire service request form. / To contact the relevant team: 0300 1234 043.
Single Point of Access (SPA) / Contacted when there are concerns regarding a young person’s emotional wellbeing / Parents and professionals / County-wide / Health/care professionals and parents / 0300 777 0707 between 0800 and 1900 hours or on 01438 843322 between 1700 and 0800 hours.
Step2 / Early intervention CAMHS service for children aged 0-19 in Hertfordshire. Service offers range of support including 1:1 direct interventions and group support.
Step2 also offers telephone advice to professionals who are concerned about a child’s mental health or well-being. / Children and young people aged 0-19 / County-wide / Step2 does not accept self-referrals
Step2 accepts referrals in writing or via the Single Point of Access from health care professionals in Hertfordshire / Web: https://www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/step-2-camhs/
Email:
Support groups
Angels Support Group / Support group for parents of children with ADHD or ASD.
Offers weekly “adult only” support groups, with both day groups and evening groups.
A free crèche is available for members of the Hitchin and Stevenage groups.
Also offer 1:1 meetings and activity clubs for children during the school holidays. / Parents and children / North Herts (Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth, Baldock & Royston) / Online membership form to be completed before attending / Tel: 01472 685 150
Web: www.angelssupportgroup.org.uk
Email:
CHIPS / CHIPS stands for Children’s Integrated Playschemes. They offer play and social opportunities for children with additional needs / Parents, children and siblings / East Hertfordshire and Borough of Broxbourne / https://chipsplay.org/
Families First / Work together to help you with any problems you or your family may be facing, before things might get worse. / Parents & Professionals / County-wide / https://directory.hertfordshire.gov.uk/kb5/hertfordshire/directory/familiesfirst.page?familiesfirstchannel=0
Hertfordshire Mind Network / Run local groups to meet other carers and support carer’s mental wellbeing. They also run carer’s pottery classes and offer counselling. / Parents and carers / County-wide / www.hertfordshiremind.org/services/carer-services.
Kidzone / Support group provided by CHIPS to support the siblings of children with additional needs.
Offers fun activities, outings and opportunity for siblings to share their experiences with other children in similar circumstances / Email:
The Mentor Scheme / Service for young people with difficulties/disabilities in Hertfordshire. / aged 11-19 years and up to the age of 25 / County-wide / Emma Greenwood from the Mentor Scheme can be contacted on 01992 588796/07880 903206.
SPACE / Support group for parents/carers of children with ASD, ADHD and related conditions.
Groups are held in Buntingford, Cheshunt, Hatfield, Hertford, Hoddesdon, Ware and Welwyn.
Groups have regular professional speakers, workshops, seminars and social events.
SPACE has a library of books available for lending. / East Herts / No referral/ registration required / Web: www.spaceherts.org.uk
Email:
PACT for Autism (Parents and Children Together) / Provides services including Parent Helpline, monthly meetings with guest speakers, online forum and signposting.
Also offer access to regular sport and leisure activities for children and their siblings, including trampolining and swimming. / Families of children with ASD, LD and disabilities / Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford / Telephone: 01279 430 300
Email:
Website: www.pactforautism.org.uk
Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS; formally Parent Partnership Service) / Provides impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents, carers and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). / Parents, carers and young people / County-wide / No referral required / Telephone: 01992 555847
E-mail:
Website: http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/healthsoc/childfam/specialneeds/educ/parpart/
Youth Connexions / Youth Connexions provides information, advice, work related learning, outdoor education and support for young people.
Youth Connexions provide both county wide and local projects and events, with specific projects for those with disabilities and learning disabilities. / Young people aged 13-19 (up to 24 for young people with learning disabilities) / County-wide / No membership/ referral required / Telephone: 0300 123 4043
Email:
Website: www.youthconnexions-hertfordshire.org

Information on other services within Hertfordshire

Updated 13th February 2017