CAMHS Learning Disabilities

Updated: February 2022

Redbridge Information Advice & Support Service (RIASS)

  • Offers a free and impartial service to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents or carers.
  • They can offer information, advice, and support on a range of issues including:
    • SEND support available in Redbridge
    • The Local Offer
    • Local parent support groups
    • Individual case work
    • Support in resolving disagreements, mediation and tribunals
    • Local policy and practice including transition to adulthood, the law on SEN and disability, information on health and social care
    • Help with social care and health services issues
    • Support around Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC) including Annual Reviews Parents, carers and young people can make a self-referral via phone or email.
    • Phone: 020 8708 8922
    • Email: redbridgeiass.org.uk
    • Visit the website for more information: https://find.redbridge.gov.uk/kb5/redbridge/fsd/localoffer.page?localofferchannel=1_1_10

Children with Disabilities Service provides support to children and young people who have been diagnosed with a permanent, severe or profound disability, and their families.

  • Work with families to support them in ensuring that the children are happy, safe, and making progress.
  • Provides advice and assistance to families with children who have severe, profound, and complex disabilities.
  • Parents, carers, professionals, or members of the public can make a referral to the Redbridge Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub to request support for children and young people who require services from the Children with Disabilities Service.

Redbridge Specialist Education and Training Service (S.E.a.T.S.S.) provides education support:

Families Together Hub – London Borough of Redbridge

Butterflies Project

Butterflies Project aim to promote the health and wellbeing for families with a child or young person with a learning disability and/or on the autistic spectrum and are aged 0-19 years.

Fun 4 All (Redbridge Forum) Fun for all is an exciting project for the family which organises trips and fun activities for families living in Redbridge with a disabled child aged 0-18 years.

  • A small charge is made for the activities, but it is often a fraction of the full cost. Some of the trips on offer are Theme Parks, London, Ice Skating, Swimming, Zoo & More.
  • A referral is needed; can be self-referral, from schools or social workers.
    • Referrals from a Redbridge Social Worker are prioritised.
  • There is a waiting period for this service.
  • Contact Olivia Morgan on 07719 045938
  • Website: https://redbridgeforum.co.uk/fun-4-all/
  • E-mail: redbridgeforum@hotmail.co.uk

SNAP – Special Needs and Parents: a charity for families with children and young people who have any special need or disability. This service is open to families in Redbridge, albeit with limited service opportunities as children that are registered under Essex County Council are prioritised for the activity groups. Parent training and workshops are freely accessible.

What they offer:

  • Resources, Guides, Information Sheets and Links: such as a Christmas Survival Guide which covers a variety of different topics and provides strategies to help make the holiday period less stressful for all the family.
  • Snap Directory – Useful contacts for numerous areas, including education, health, community support, leisure time, all collated in one place for your ease
  • Information Network – Includes social and training opportunities in local areas, relaxed performances, events and useful articles. This network is updated on a fortnightly basis.
  • The SNAP Centre – Offers various events and activities for different age groups; majority have a small cost of £5.00 per session (children living in Essex County Council are prioritised)
  • A list of activities for different age groups at the SNAP Centre can be found here https://www.snapcharity.org/need-support/at-the-snap-centre/#activities
  • SNAP Counselling Service
  • Contact details:
    • Address: Pastoral Way, Warley, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5WF
    • General Enquiries: info@snapcharity.org
    • Helpline: 01277 211300 – 9.00am until 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am until 4.00pm on Friday.
    • Website: www.snapcharity.org

Families Together Hub – London Borough of Redbridge

  • Parenting Programmes are delivered within groups of up to 12 parents, from community-based venues.
    • Group Stepping Stones Triple P (For families with children aged 3 to 12 years; Duration: 10 weeks)
      • For parents of children with a range of disabilities (e.g. intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, and/or physical disability) who have concerns about managing their child’s needs, diagnosis is not essential to eligibility
      • The intervention provides parents with comprehensive support in managing their child’s behaviour across various settings.
  • Contact details:

P.S. We are listening - Counselling service

P.S. We Are Listening is an Independent Confidential Counselling service, providing affordable counselling to parents, carers and siblings aged 12+ of children and young adults with disabilities, learning difficulties and special educational needs.

  • They can provide 6 free counselling sessions to those residing in the London Borough of Redbridge.
  • Parents can either self-refer or refer through the Social Services Children with Disabilities Team. Contact:
  • Telephone: 020 3380 1409, 07710 419149 (Suzanne) or 07828 17725 (Muneeba) - All calls remain confidential
  • E-mail info@counsellingservicesessex.co.uk
  • Website www.counsellingservicesessex.co.uk/
  • Address 150 Longwood Gardens, Clayhall, Ilford, Essex, IG5 0BE

Redbridge Forum

A charity organisation based in Redbridge with an aim to improve the quality of life for people with a learning disability (including ASD) and their carers.

·Time for Tea:

  • Social and information sessions for Carers, as well as trips out.
  • Previous social and fun activities have included trips to Kew Gardens and the Tutankhamun exhibition in London. It is a great way to meet other local carers, or to go for a trip out with others.
  • Contact Olivia Morgan on 07719 045938 or email redbridgeforum@hotmail.co.uk
  • Location: 98-100 Ilford Lane, Ilford, Essex IG1 2LD
  • Website: https://redbridgeforum.co.uk/

Mencap: Information and advice about coping with behaviour that challenges in chidren with learning disabilities:

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation provides Information and advice about coping with behaviour that challenges in children with profound and severe learning disabilities

o Number: 0300 666 0126

 

 

 

Kith & Kids supports families who have a child with autism or a learning disability to overcome their social isolation. They provide a variety of volunteer-supported projects and services, offering opportunities to learn new skills, make friends, go out and have fun. This service can be accessed by anyone, including families in Redbridge.

  • Family Support Service helps parents and siblings by introducing them to other parents and siblings as well as providing individual information and support.
  • Weekend Clubs (Fortnightly Saturday/Sunday afternoons, during term-time)
    • Workshops run by our professional creative therapists and activity leaders
  • Summer Camp (One-week residential camp at the end of August)
    • Each participant is supported by trained volunteers. They build a community in which they play and work together on the necessary domestic tasks to live away from home.
    • Potential participants must attend some other activities for at least a year before coming to the Summer Camp
  • D's Day is a special play day for children of all ages and abilities
    • Takes place on the first Sunday in June, 12.00pm - 4.30pm
    • All activities are free
    • Where: Coram's Fields, 93 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DN
  • Social Development Projects link children and adults with learning disabilities or autism with two trained volunteers (5 days in Christmas and Easter holidays, 10 days in the Summer holiday)
  • Address: Kith & Kids, The Irish Centre, Pretoria Road, London, N17 8DX
  • Tel: 020 8801 7432
    • Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm
  • Email: projects@kithandkids.org.uk
  • Website: https://clarahost.clara.net/www.kithandkids.org.uk/what-we-do.html

 

 

 

Respond is a trauma informed organisation supporting the lives of people with learning disabilities and autism. This is a national service, so anyone living in Redbridge can access it.

  • A range of services to enable children and young people with learning disabilities, autism or both to cope with trauma, and develop healthy relationships.
  • The services can be accessed online or in central London.
 

·Services include:

  • Individual and group therapy.
  • Therapeutic support to parents and carers.
  • Sex and relationships programmes for individuals and groups.

o Tel: 020 7874 5485

 

 

SOS SEN: The Independent Helpline for Special Education Needs

  • They offer a free, friendly, independent and confidential telephone helpline for parents and others looking for information and advice on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
    • Call our Term-Time Helpline and speak to an adviser

o Tel: 0208 538 3731

  • Open hours: 9:30-12:30 and 2-5pm
  • Information sheets
    • Offer practical advice on the statutory assessment and EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) process, on how to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SENDIST), and on requesting a judicial review as well as a number of other topics.
    • Link: https://www.sossen.org.uk/information_sheets.php

 

 

 

The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities have created a booklet: Children and Young People with Complex Health Needs.

 

 

SCOPE: A disability equality charity which provides practical information and emotional support for anyone with a learning or physical disability.

  • Online community: Our online disability forum is a vibrant and supportive space for disabled people, parents and carers to get disability advice and information, and talk to people with similar experiences.
 
  • Sleep Right: A free online, and telephone support service, that helps parents and carers of disabled children to improve their child's sleep. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, sessions will be run online and by phone until further notice.
  • Navigate: a national mentoring service, that provides online emotional support for parents and

carers of disabled children who are finding out about their child’s additional needs.

  • Parents Connect: A 6-week support programme for parents and carers of young disabled people.
    • The service is free and for parents and carers who are aged 18 or over, the parent or carer of a young disabled person between the age of 0 and 18 and living in England or Wales.
    • Each session will encourage you to talk to others in the group and provide you with information about local and national services.
    • The sessions take place once a week. Apply through the website.
    • Link: https://www.scope.org.uk/family-services/parents-connect/
  • Telephone: 0808 800 3333
  • Website : www.scope.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

FIND Neurogenetic Disorders Research Website

  • On this website you will find information on the characteristics and behaviour associated with several rare genetic syndromes including Cri du Chat, Cornelia de Lange, Angelman, fragile X, Prader-Willi, Smith Magenis and Rubinstein-Taybi syndromes, among others.
  • Website: https://www.findresources.co.uk/

 

 

 

 

Down’s Syndrome Association offer information, support and advice on any question or concern you

have related to Down’s syndrome.

  • Topics include:
    • Emotional well-being resources: an innovative new set of resources to support the emotional well-being of children and adults with Down’s syndrome, and their parents and family-carers. These practical resources can be used to support various aspects of emotional well-being
    • Growing up
    • Supporting behaviour positively
    • Health and well-being
  • They also have specialist advisers who can provide you with information and support on issues

such as health, social care, benefits and education for people with Down’s syndrome.

 

o Tel: +44 (0)333 1212 300

 

 

 

 

The Aim Group - There are currently (January 2022) several free online Level 2 CACHE/ TQUK/ NCFE

Accredited Courses for parents/ carers to help better understand some key issues around young people’s

mental health and wellbeing. Potential courses on offer include:

  • Understanding Autism (learn how individuals process sensory information, understand characteristics, understand conditions, learn how speech, language and communication differ in people with Autism)
  • Understanding Children and Young Peoples Mental Health ( Understand factors which may affect Young Peoples mental health, the impact that they have and how to support them with these issues)
  • Understanding Behaviour That Challenges (supporting positive behaviour, effective communication & how to manage challenging behaviour)
  • Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (understand characteristics of ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia & Dyscalculia, importance of early diagnosis, assessment methods available to diagnose learning difficulties)

 

The qualifications are completed within a 6-week period, duration is completely dependent on each learner's ability as to how fast they complete and how many hours it takes.

 

To be eligible, learners must:

 

 

 

 

 

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) by Dr. Steve Carnaby, consultant clinical psychologist

  • A video series demonstrating PBS – an individualised and comprehensive approach that parents and carers use to teach and encourage children to behave in appropriate ways.
  • PBS is for anyone with behaviour difficulties, including autistic children.
 

·How PBS can help during the COVID-19 pandemic

 

 

Bounce Forward offer free online parent resilience training.

 

 

 

 

Family Lives

  • Confidential helpline for support with any aspect of parenting and family life
    • Available 9am-9pm Monday – Friday and 10am-3pm Saturday - Sunday: 0808 800 2222
  • Email support (aims to respond within 24 hours Monday – Friday): askus@familylives.org.uk
  • Family Lives Live Forum: https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/forum-community/
  • You can also find the organisation on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
  • Accessibility & language : Text. Skype sessions available. To use this service, you will need to have a Skype account. To set up one up, please visit www.skype.com. Once you have your Skype account and are signed in, please open the Skype Dialler and call 0808 800 2222 and press the green call button. You will then be connected to the helpline confidentially and free of charge.
 

 

Action for Children helps children across the UK supporting disabled children and intervening early to stop neglect and abuse

  • Free confidential live chat with parenting coaches. Chats can be online, or you can request a call back. Enter your email to be directed to the confidential chat page. Conversations can be continued as and when needed:
  • Main website link: https://talk.actionforchildren.org.uk/

 

 

 

 

Family Action provides support with parenting and guidance around more complex issues:

  • The Family Line helpline is free
    • Available 9am-3pm and 6pm-9pm Monday – Friday: 0808 802 6666
  • Text service: 07537 404 282
  • Free 24 hour, 7 days a week crisis text support service in partnership with Shout

oText FAMILYACTION to 85258

 

 

 

 

MindEd provide free e-learning resources to support families and professionals.

  • It is not compulsory, but the best way to use MindEd is by creating a learning account. This will allow you to track your learning, as you complete different courses.
  • You can browse the catalogue of available courses here: https://www.minded.org.uk/catalogue/FolderView
    • In the catalogue (folder view), expand all for the folder “Child Health (PWP)”
      • Information on positive parenting and parenting issues, children with additional needs and health promotion
  • Type the following terms in the search bar to find these relevant courses:
    • Tier 1 and 2 Supporting Adults (Learning Disability) at Risk of Behaviours that Challenge – covers what is meant by ‘challenging behaviour’, reasons as to why challenging behaviours occur, and what ‘positive behavioural support’ is and how you can use functional analysis to work out the reason for the behaviour.
 
  • Person to Person – communication skills and building a relationship with a disabled child or young person

oBehavioural management in Special Education Needs

  • Responding Positively When Behaviours are Seen as Challenging – This session introduces positive behaviour support (PBS), an evidence-based approach to meeting the needs of people whose behaviours are seen by others as challenging.
  • BACD Disability Matters e-learning (Basic) – This learning course is for those who regularly work with disabled children and young people. Topics covered include tips on building relationships between professionals and families and working together in a person-centred way, taking into account different languages and cultures, environmental challenges, advocacy and deaf communication.
  • Disability Matters for Schools, Further and Higher Education Settings (Basic) – The sessions can be helpful for people working or volunteering in education settings. They provide a starting point for individuals to develop their understanding about disability, build their confidence and improve their communication skills when engaging with disabled children and young people.
  • Building Relationships Matters – This session helps us understand that a disabled child or young person needs what all children and young people need: a stable background, continuity of care, a listening ear, opportunity and encouragement.

 

 

 

 

Supporting Positive Behaviour in Intellectual Disabilities and Autism by Tony Osgood – ISBN 1787751325 Blurb from the publishers: This highly practical book is an accessible and grounded handbook for addressing challenging behaviour in children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. It recognises that challenging behaviour does not appear out of nowhere and is

meaningful for the person exhibiting it. Behaviour can be communicative and an important signifier of

underlying sensory or environmental issues.

  • Tony Osgood is a Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Disabilities at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent. He teaches on positive behaviour support, autism, intellectual disabilities, human services, and challenging behaviour.
 

 

Many Ways to Learn: A Kid’s Guide to Learning Disabilities, Second Edition by Judith Stern and Uzi Ben- Ami – ISBN 978-1-4338-0739-8

Blurb from the publishers: Adopting a positive, friendly approach, this guide defines learning disabilities and offers suggestions for coping at home, in school, and with friends.

  • Published by Magination Press, the children’s book imprint of American Psychological Association
  • Judith Stern is an educational consultant who specialises in working with children who have learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder.
  • Uzi Ben-Ami is also an educational consultant who has served as chief psychologist and clinical director in two child guidance clinics.

 

 

Understanding and Responding to Behaviour that Challenges in Intellectual Disabilities: A Handbook for Those Who Provide Support by Peter Baker, Tony Osgood– ISBN 9781911028956

Blurb from the publishers: This book intends to help family members and support staff better understand challenging behaviours and help to improve the quality of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. This handbook will benefit support workers, community learning disability teams, all professionals who support a person with a learning disability and family members.

 

Managing Challenging Behaviours by UCLA Centre for Autism Research and Treatment

 

 

Making a Difference Toolkit: A communication toolkit developed by Keele University and Assist Advocacy Services in partnership with Birmingham Children's Hospital and others.

  • This toolkit can help communication with children, young people and their families where there is a learning disability.
  • The resources include information on understanding autism, and access to healthcare
  • Link: https://aldhc.keele.ac.uk/wttk/

 

 

The Mentally Healthy Schools Project is run by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.

  • This is a resource to promote good mental health and wellbeing in schools.
  • The activities and resources are intended to support children to develop life skills and coping strategies and are not intended to be a replacement for therapeutic support. They may not be suitable for all children, so your discretion is advised.
  • There is information and advice about behaviours that challenge.

 

The Department for Education

 

MindEd provide free e-learning resources to support families and professionals.

  • It is not compulsory, but the best way to use MindEd is by creating a learning account. This will allow you to track your learning, as you complete different courses.
  • You can browse the catalogue of available courses here: https://www.minded.org.uk/catalogue/FolderView
    • In the catalogue (folder view), expand all for the folder “Child Health (PWP)”
      • Information on positive parenting and parenting issues, children with additional needs and health promotion
  • Type the following terms in the search bar to find these relevant courses:
    • Tier 1 and 2 Supporting Adults (Learning Disability) at Risk of Behaviours that Challenge – covers what is meant by ‘challenging behaviour’, reasons as to why challenging behaviours
 

occur, and what ‘positive behavioural support’ is and how you can use functional analysis to work out the reason for the behaviour.

  • Person to Person – communication skills and building a relationship with a disabled child or young person

oBehavioural management in Special Education Needs

  • Responding Positively When Behaviours are Seen as Challenging – This session introduces positive behaviour support (PBS), an evidence-based approach to meeting the needs of people whose behaviours are seen by others as challenging.
  • BACD Disability Matters e-learning (Basic) – This learning course is for those who regularly work with disabled children and young people. Topics covered include tips on building relationships between professionals and families and working together in a person-centred way, taking into account different languages and cultures, environmental challenges, advocacy and deaf communication.
  • Disability Matters for Schools, Further and Higher Education Settings (Basic) – The sessions can be helpful for people working or volunteering in education settings. They provide a starting point for individuals to develop their understanding about disability, build their confidence and improve their communication skills when engaging with disabled children and young people.
  • Building Relationships Matters – This session helps us understand that a disabled child or young person needs what all children and young people need: a stable background, continuity of care, a listening ear, opportunity and encouragement.

 

United Response provide care for people with learning disabilities.

 

 

 

Books Beyond Words: This organisation has created resources to help people with communication and/or learning disabilities make sense of what is happening to, for and with them in an easy, accessible manner.

 

Young Minds – Transition Tips for Pupils With Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): A guide to ensure children with SEND feel safe and have appropriate people and places to go to if they need help is essential.

Nasen – SEN Support and The Graduated Approach: Inclusive Practice