Welcome to this edition of the SEND News Bulletin. This week includes information on
Speech and Language Therapy Service - Training
 The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy service in Luton and Bedfordshire provide training opportunities for ALL children of ALL ages. Training opportunities are varied and provide staff working in Early Years, Primary and Secondary the skills to work with children at a Universal, Targeted and Specialist level. We are passionate about upskilling the workforce to support ALL children with their Speech, Language and Communication skills. In addition, many of our workshops are available for parents/carers to attend.
Bedfordshire and Luton Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) Update – February 2023 half term update
Service development update:
In-Patient admission avoidance: We are delighted with the success of our admission avoidance pathways. We have increased the number of young people being supported within their home environments and diverted away from a hospital admission. This pathway continues to develop with the introduction of our crisis / sanctuary cafes which we are hoping to launch over the next 8 weeks – this will be a dedicated, confidential drop in space for young people presenting in emotional crisis, the aim is to de-escalate the immediate crisis and ensure safety plans are developed in partnership with the young person and the CAMHS crisis pathway.
We are also delighted to have extended our offer with CHUMS who will be providing a dedicated support structure to families and parents whose child / sibling is being nursed within a hospital setting – offering practical and emotional support using a whole family approach to ensure relationships and connections remain established throughout the admission.
Evergreen – in-patient unit in Luton: ELFT is working in partnership with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), which provides mental health services in Milton Keynes, and with Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board. Evergreen is an 8 bedded interim General Adolescent Unit, and will provide specialist, short-term care for Young People with severe or complex mental health difficulties. Partners are also developing a plan to provide a permanent and purpose-built inpatient unit consisting of 12 General Adolescent Unit beds and 6 Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit beds, as part of the Trust’s longer-term programme for modernising inpatient mental health services.
It is anticipated that Evergreen will be ready to start admitting patients from late February 2023. There have been minor delays to the opening of the unit, particularly due to challenges in recruiting into key posts, as well as the delivery of the unit’s external staircase to ensure compliance with Health, Safety and Fire regulations. However, 90% of the multidisciplinary team have now been appointed to, including the Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist/Associate Clinical Director, Service Manager, Matron, Ward Manager and Lead Social Worker. Further interviews are being held over the next few weeks. ELFT are also working closely with contractors to manage the delivery and installation of the staircase.
The Bed Management Team has also been established for Evergreen, and the service will undertake the gatekeeping function for Young People from Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. The team are now developing a repatriation plan for Young People who are currently in out of area Tier 4 placements. This involves working with external Tier 4 services, to agree plans on how to support young people currently admitted, with a view to bring care closer to home when safe to do so. This may also include a community support package to facilitate an early discharge.
Neuro-Developmental pathway: We are working in collaboration with our colleagues in Cambridgeshire Community Services to refresh our Neuro-Developmental pathway. We have increased the staffing resource and are currently out to advert for senior clinical posts, although are aware how challenging recruitment across the board is currently. We are also sub-contracting our Autism assessments to help address the current waiting list with the introduction of the online assessment with Healios. We anticipate clearing 50% of the current backlog by early summer.
Discovery College Spring Term prospectus launched: Our Beds and Luton Discovery College has done its first full circle and we are now ready for our Spring Term 2023. Each term we endeavour to reach new heights with new partnerships, workshops and venues.
The start to this New Year is very exciting, as we bring our DisCo work into schools and colleges across Bedfordshire. We kick off on Monday Feb 20th, so please share the prospectus far and wide.
People Participation update: We launched the latest CAMHSTalk podcast, which features a brilliantly insightful discussion between young people and staff from the LGBTQI+ community around safety and the importance of accessing safe spaces.
The People Participation Team is holding a workshop with young people from the Trans Community and setting up a support group/safe space across Bedfordshire and Luton.
Improving Mental Health for 16 to 25 year olds workshop
February Free Half Term Activities
More information and how to book can be found on the Local Offer
SNAP Parent Carer Forum Information Session
Please email admin@snappcf.org.uk to book a place on the below Information Session.
If you are interested in becoming a member of SNAP PCF then please complete a membership form
What's on Calendar
In response to feedback from the SNAP PCF Parent/Carer Survey we have updated our What's on Calendar on the Local Offer. Now you will be able to click on a date and a list of events that are happening that day will appear on the right hand side. Just click on the event that you are interested in to read more information about it. So check it out and let us know what you think by emailing local.offer@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Children's Centres SEND Support Coffee Mornings
Leighton Buzzard Mencap Opportunity Group
Thursdays 10 – 11:30 (Termtime only)
Casual chat & play session for parents, carers & their children who have additional needs. Support for parents, carers & their children who have additional needs.
Ring 0300 300 8880 to book on.
SEND Stay and Play
Every Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00 am
Dunstable Children’s Centre
If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8106/0300 300 8104
SEND Story Time at Stotfold Library every Thursday (starting 12 January)
9: 15 – 10:15 am
Shefford and Stotfold Children’s Centre in partnership with Stotfold Library
No booking required
SEND Support coffee afternoon every 4th Thursday of the month,
1:30 – 2:30 am
Flitwick Children’s Centre
If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8111
SEND Coffee morning, Stay and Play every first and third Friday of the month,
10:30 – 11:30 am
Houghton Regis Children’s Centre
If you would like to book a space please call 0300 300 8115
Stay and Play in your own way
Biggleswade Youth Centre - 1:30 – 2:30 pm: 21 February, 21 March
Sandy Children's Centre - 9.30 - 11.00 am: 7 February, 7 March
A fun group for Children with SEND and their parents and carers. Explore our wonderful Children's Centre while spending time with other parents/carers and young children who have additional needs.
No need to book. For more information contact Karen on 0300 300 6009 or email karen.burton@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Please visit the Local Offer for more information on activities, services, advice and support across Central Bedfordshire for children and young people with SEND or follow us on Facebook
We hope you have found the information in the bulletin helpful. We would love to hear your feedback and what you would like to see in future editions. Please let us know by emailing send.feedback@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Do you provide a service or run events for children and young people with SEND and their families?
We would like to offer providers the opportunity to advertise local SEND services and events in our fortnightly SEND news bulletin, on our local offer Facebook page and to be included in the local offer What's On page.
If you would like to be featured then please email details about your service and/or event to local.offer@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
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