Friday 15 December 2023
 Dear Special Guardians
As Winter approaches, we are keen to share our latest newsletter included with important updates and reminders.
I would like to remind you that our monthly support groups provide a space for shared experiences and connections. We encourage all carers to join us, as your involvement contributes to a strong and supportive Special Guardian community. Monthly Support Group dates in each locality are listed in the Newsletter below.
We recognise that Christmas can be challenging for some young people, so we extend an invitation for those needing extra support to attend our upcoming support groups.
Starting January 2024, Devon County Council will be changing the way we calculate Special Guardianship allowances. Devon County Council will start to calculate all Special Guardianship allowances using the Government calculator and guidance. A letter has already been sent out, and everyone should have received this. This change aims to enhance fairness and transparency in our Financial Reviews.
Your participation is important. If you have been sent your review paperwork, please send back your review forms and supporting evidence to ensure there are no disruptions to your allowances.
Best Wishes,
Team Manager, Rachel Miller
Family decorating a Christmas Tree together
Special Guardianship Order Allowance Information
The Special Guardianship allowance plays a crucial role in supporting Special Guardianship families. We will be reviewing all allowances in line with the government calculator, all allowances from January 2024 will have the financial review using this method. Your review date will remain the same as it has been.
We need to review all allowances by the 31st December 2023, in order to implement in January 2024. Whilst this is an exceptional review, the month your circumstances are normally reviewed will remain the same.
We appreciate your patience and co-operation during this transition period, and we look forward to working together to ensure a smooth and successful implementation of the government calculator.
Piggy Bank Money Pot
Devon County Council are changing the way SGO allowances are calculated.
The Special Guardianship allowance plays a crucial role in supporting Special Guardianship families. We will be reviewing all allowances in line with the government calculator, all allowances from January 2024 will have the financial review using this method. Your review date will remain the same as it has been.
We need to review all allowances by the 31st December 2023, in order to implement in January 2024. Whilst this is an exceptional review, the month your circumstances are normally reviewed will remain the same.
We appreciate your patience and co-operation during this transition period, and we look forward to working together to ensure a smooth and successful implementation of the government calculator.
Most of you should have had your new finance reviews completed by now, but if you would like to know more about this, please sign up to one of the SGO Allowance Information Sessions below.
Friday 15th December 2023 at 11:30am
Click the button below to sign up now!
Thursday 21st December 2023 at 11:30am
Click the button below to sign up now!
Special Guardianship Order Support Group
 A person drinking a hot drink and another person working on a computer
These sessions will take place at Community Centre, Exeter from 10:00 - 12:00 on the following dates:
- Thursday 18th January 2024
- Thursday 22nd February 2024
- Thursday 21st March 2024
- Thursday 25th April 2024
If you would like to attend any of these sessions, please contact childsc.specialguardianshipevents-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Please see dates below for SGO Support Sessions in West, East and Mid Devon.
Okehampton Casual Cuppa:
- Monday 8th January 2024
- Monday 4th March 2024
Exmouth Casual Cuppa:
- Monday 11th December 2023
- Monday 5th February 2024
Tiverton Casual Cuppa:
- Tuesday 12th December 2023
- Tuesday 16th January 2024
- Tuesday 6th February 2024
- Tuesday 12th March 2024
Virtual Support Group:
- Wednesday 13th December 2023
- Wednesday 17th January 2024
- Wednesday 13th March 2024
If you have any queries about any of the above support sessions, please feel free to contact childsc.specialguardianshipevents-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Come and join our Monthly Support Group Now!
The Group will be held on the second Tuesday of the month at 11:15am.
- Tuesday 9th January 2024
- Tuesday 13th February 2024
- Tuesday 12th March 2024
If you would like more information regarding this support group, please contact Kath Bond via email at kath.bond@devon.gov.uk
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School Nursing Services for children aged 11 - 19
 Group of friends at a skatepark together
Did you know that if you are aged 11-19 and live in Devon, you can contact your school nurse for confidential advice and support via text on 07520631722?
It’s quick and easy, anonymous, and non-judgemental and a school nurse will respond within 24 hours (between the hours of Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm, excluding bank holidays).
Get help with all kinds of things like...
- Healthy Eating
- Relationships
- Smoking
- Emotional Health
- Mental Health
- Bullying
- Self Harm
- Alcohol & Drugs
- Anxiety
- Sleep
- Puberty
You can find lots of information about different subjects and health needs and where you can get support if you need it via our website.
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Parents and Carers can also contact the Public Health Nursing Team (Health Visitors and School Nurses) for information and advice on 07520631721.
We also have a website that’s split into a kids zone, and a parent’s zone, with information about a range of health and wellbeing needs and sources of support if you need it.
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Children with Additional Needs – But Not Meeting the Threshold for the Children’s Disability Team
News from the Team Manager of the children’s disability team;
Here are two community resource links and an advice line open to all whether or not under their service. Click the buttons below to access the websites.
For advice and guidance call 01392 385276
Autism and Us - Spring 2024
Devon’s popular Autism and Us free programme for parent-carers returns in the new year, with a combination of four-week courses and one-off workshops.
The Autism and Us programme offers support for families of children and young people who have an Autism diagnosis or who are waiting for one. It is designed for parent/carers of primary and secondary school age children in Devon.
It gives families an opportunity to develop their understanding of Autism, and a look into practical solutions to manage and support children and young people’s needs.
Click below to find out more.
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The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting audiobook by Sarah Naish is available on Spotify for Premium Spotify users. Spotify Premium also has similar podcasts and audiobooks available for you to listen to.
Therapeutic Parenting is a nurturing parenting style that is effective for supporting children and young people who have experienced Childhood Trauma and attachment difficulties.
The A-Z of therapeutic Parenting aims to support caregivers with advice around triggers and how to respond effectively.
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RIO is a youth group in Exeter for young people aged between 13 to 17 years old, who are living with a special guardian or who are adopted. It runs every second Wednesday during term time from 4pm-6pm.
RIO provides a warm accepting space for young people to come together to have fun, cook, eat, talk, play pool, try table tennis or basketball, make music, play games, get crafty and learn life skills or just chill out and relax.
Snacks, drinks, and an evening meal are available and young people with an interest in cooking are always welcome to practice their skills in the kitchen.
This is a space where young people can say what they really think and most importantly, it is up to them what happens at the group.
The venue has indoor and outdoor space and a park nearby that means there is the option to get out and let off some steam or just enjoy being outdoors (weather permitting).
The group always runs with a minimum of 4 staff members and a new youth worker who has recently been employed to invigorate and enthuse the group.
If your child is interested in attending or for more information, please email either:
Young people are more than welcome to come along to a session to see what it’s all about, it is fully funded and there is no pressure to come every session.
Teenagers Playing a Card Game Together
Special Guardianship Carer Introductions!
There are many Special Guardians in and out of Devon, all working through similar difficulties and small successes, which can be harder for people who aren’t Special Guardians, to understand.
I would like to gather interest to see if anyone would like to be introduced to another Special Guardian.
If you are interested and would like to know more, please send your name, child’s age and your location via email, with the subject ‘SG Introductions’ to esther.clarke@devon.gov.uk
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes, Esther Clarke
SGO Support Team
Was your Special Guardianship Order from a different local authority?
If you were subject to a Special Guardianship Order in a different local authority, you should contact the local authority that granted your previous Care Order as Regulation 22 of the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005 provides that the relevant local authority is the one that last looked after the child.
Ourselves or a personal advisor from the permanency and transition team can help you with this.
VIVup Lifestyle Savings Platform
Special Guardians can now access the new VIVup platform where they can get lifestyle savings. Please see how to register on Inside Devon here.
We have a number of bookable monthly appointments available with an Educational Psychologist.
These are available from our offices located in Barnstaple, Exeter and Totnes.
If you would like to book an appointment please email sgoevents@devon.gov.uk
Alternatively, call the duty worker on 01392 383000. Select option 5 for Special Guardianship.
The Kinship Charity - Providing a free Kinship Care advice service and an array of webinars to support with you on your kinship journey.
The Kinship Care Charity Logo
https://kinship.org.uk/
Sometimes it can feel like you don’t know where to start. But if you have the right information, you can feel better about making decisions that may change your life. There are things you might want to know to support you on your kinship carer journey. Questions like:
- How do you know what benefits you can access?
- What is Kinship Care?
- What are your choices?
- What is a Special Guardianship Order?
- What are my rights?
- How do I manage contact?
- What can we do for you in your caring role?
At Kinship we’ve created online information workshops for kinship carers across England which you’ll be able to access for free. The workshops are on topics which kinship carers told us would really be useful and are created specially for and with kinship carers.
There are a range of workshops on offer, so have a look below to see which ones work for you. More dates and topics will be added so keep an eye on this page.
You can sign-up for as many workshops as you’d like.
How can I access the free workshops?
All our workshops will be delivered virtually. We use Zoom, which is secure and easy to use.
You can access Zoom through a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or even your phone. Although the best experience will be through a computer or laptop.
You will need to sign-up for a free Zoom account to access and register for the workshop. Click the button below to sign up.
The Kinship Charity also offers monthly virtual groups on Zoom for the South West area. Times are 7pm to 8pm.
Please click on link below for further information
DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support)
DiAS Logo
DiAS (Devon Information Advice and Support) provides information, advice and support on special educational needs and disability (SEND). Many Special Guardians ask for their advice and guidance regarding EHCPs (Education and health care plans)
Beacon House
Beacon House Logo
Beacon House is passionate about developing freely available resources so that knowledge about the repair of trauma and adversity is in the hands of those who need it.
The resources cover so many important subjects applicable to families, children and young adults. Click below to access the Beacon House Resource Page.
Virtual School - Deryn Dewing
Virtual School Logo
Deryn Dewing is The Virtual Schools Education Advisor for Previously Looked-After and Adopted Children, (which includes those who are in SGO families).
Some of you might have worked with Deryn’s colleague, Andrew Squire, who previously had this as part of his role - however, he only had one day per week for this work, whereas I have three, so there is now more capacity to support your children with any educational issues that arise.
Essentially, I can offer support by:
- Providing information, advice, and guidance on supporting the education of your children.
- Providing strategic support to schools for their education, including support with transitions, admissions, relational support planning, and other interventions at schools, where appropriate.
- Signposting appropriate services; and signposting and providing training opportunities and events.
Please feel free to contact Deryn via email at Deryn.Dewing@devon.gov.uk
YOUR FEEDBACK AND EXPERIENCES ARE IMPORTANT!
We appreciate your ongoing support and collaboration as Special Guardians.
Your feedback is important in ensuring we are providing a good service and letting us know if there are other things we could be offering. We invite you to share your thoughts on your experiences with our SGO team. Whether you've had a positive interaction with a member of staff or if you have suggestions about offering other services, we want to hear from you. To streamline the feedback process, simply scan the QR code below using your smartphone's camera or click the links and let us know what's on your mind.
Your insights will help us understand our strengths and identify other opportunities. Thank you for being an essential part of our commitment to delivering the best service for our families.
Special Guardianship Facebook Page
If you would like access to the DCC Special Guardianship Facebook page, please email us.
We will send you Terms and Conditions to sign and invite you onto the page.
It is a Closed group to Special Guardians.
Email: childsc.specialguardianshipsupport-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
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