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Latest Issue: August 2024

Improving the lives of children with special educational needs and disabilities in the Dudley borough.

Keeping stakeholders, parents and carers informed about Dudley’s
SEND Improvement Programme.

Sal Thirlway, Service Director of Education, SEND & Family Solutions Welcome to our latest Stakeholder SEND Bulletin. Let me start by saying all three of our Delivering Better Value (DBV) workstreams are progressing well. During the summer period, while schools have been on break, our internal work has continued to progress key initiatives. As part of Workstream One (Redesigning our CIPS Advisory Service - Communication & Interaction, Physical & Sensory) we are on track for our September launch, and significant progress has been made across the various service areas. The development of our co-produced referral pathway is being refined to ensure its user-friendly and accessible for schools and parent/carers of children with SEND. We are also exploring the possibility of developing a cloud-based referral portal to streamline access to the service. The Ordinarily Available Inclusive Framework is on track to be rolled out in September and we are excited about the upcoming launch. We look forward to its positive impact on our schools and settings. The framework will be introduced through SENCO network meetings and shared with all our settings.  It will also play a key role in our ongoing work on the EHCP annual review processes. For Workstream Two (Developing and Delivering our SEND & AP Sufficiency Strategy) throughout August we have focused on refining our implementation plan. Significant progress has been made in understanding the needs within the Social, Emotional, and Mental Health cohort (SEMH), ensuring our delivery plan provides balanced support across all age groups. We are also developing a clear project timeline for the upcoming initiatives to help us define our next steps. Market engagement is underway, and in September we will be sharing our draft SEND & AP Sufficiency strategy with all stakeholders for feedback. Overall, we are moving steadily towards finalising the details.

SEND NEWS

Delivering Better Value Programme – Update

All DBV workstreams are progressing as expected. 

See March’s bulletin , April's bulletin and June bulletin for previous updates on workstreams. 

Details of latest update is in Saladin's August message above.

EVENTS

After school club in Dudley open for SEND referral.  Kids Orchard Afterschool Clubs is currently taking new referrals for their Tuesday and Wednesday After School clubs from September. This opportunity is for parents/carers who live in Dudley with children with Special Educational Need and/or Disability, and aged 9 to 15

Brand new sensory playroom at Brierley Hill babybank Come play and test out the new fun items in the fabulous air conditioned sensory and soft playroom. Available for age 0-4.

Family Saturday Party Kids Black Country invites children and their parents to the launch of their new Saturday Group. Time is 12-4pm. Date is 7 September 2024 Venue is at Kids Orchard House 29-31, Lye-Bye-Pass, Lye, Stourbridge, DY9 8HA Activities on offer include indoors and outdoors: Inside we will have a selection of craft activities including making your own party hats, edible treat making including monster marshmallows and decorating doughnuts. We will also have a ball pit and some softs play for the younger ones and carnival games for those a little older. Outside will be our giant disco bouncy castle, messy play, giant jenga and water play stations. We wont be providing lunch but you are welcome to bring your own lunch along if you want to stay with us for the whole afternoon. Free to attend. No bookings required, just come along and meet the team and have some family fun.

All-age autism framework stakeholder meetings Black Country Mental, Learning Disabilities and Autism group has released the schedule for its online stakeholder meetings. Sign up via bchft.autismroadmap@nhs.net

Final session on ASD diagnosis gathering Please join us for this third and final information gathering session where Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will be asking for your feedback on: 1. What was your experience of your child being referred for an ASD assessment 2. What was the assessment process like in terms of waiting times, communication and information shared? 3. Were you supported at different stages of the assessment/diagnosis process or were you signposted to where you could gain support? 4. Any other comments relating to the ASD diagnosis process? No booking is needed, just turn up and share you views. ASD diagnosis journey schedule: ASD DIAGNOSIS PATHWAY TUESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2024 10AM-12:00 NOON DY1, STAFFORD STREET, DUDLEY, DY1 1RT TEA/COFFEE PROVIDED

SEND News & Events for Education Settings

The elephant in the room – an autism event with a difference User-led charitable organisation Dudley Voices for Choice and the council’s  Dudley Disability Service have teamed up to host an all age autism event on Thursday 12 September 12 – 5pm. People, their parents, carers and people who provide support are invited to attend the event being held at DY1 Community Centre, Stafford Street, Dudley, Dy1 1RT. Part of the Dudley Autism Strategy attendees will hear from others about their experiences and what has gone well and not so well in the last year and about what plans there are for the next 12 month to improve the lives of autistic children, young people and adults. They and will also have a chance to talk about their lived experience.

Disabled Living Allowance renewal

Contact For Families with Disabled Children is informing parents whose children’s DLA care element has been increased to high rates to inform universal credit so that their disabled child element is also increased.

See renewal details here

For more info on DLA, see details here

Crafting memories for carers - 2nd Wednesday of each month, 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Queens Cross Carers Hub, Queens Cross Network, Wellington Road, Dudley, DY1 1RB

A monthly gathering designed for individuals navigating the challenges of loss or caregiving. The sessions offer:

• An ambience for creative expression, where you can craft your own idea or choose from our inspirations; each creation will be a unique symbol of your caring journey.
• A welcoming safe place which allows you to express yourself freely, by shaping stories, listening to others, or simply enjoying companionship.
• A chance to connect with other carers whilst crafting memories.

Please call Dudley Carers Hub 01384 818723 or email dudleycarershub@dudley.gov.uk  for more information or to book

Household support fund – help with the cost of living

The Government announced that the Household Support Fund (HSF) would be extended for a further six months, from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024, with a further £421m of funding. The fund has been made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to support those most in need. The Household Support fund gives priority to supporting people with Food and Fuel, however other household essentials can be considered.

Dudley Carers Hub and Wellbeing Service have a small allocation of funding to support unpaid carers who may be experiencing financial difficulties due to the cost of living and their caring situation. Carers may apply (subject to eligibility) for a one off Household Support Fund payment which will be provided as a supermarket voucher (i.e. Asda or Tesco)

Please contact Dudley Carers Hub and Wellbeing Service for more information on 01384 818723 or email dudleycarershub@dudley.gov.uk

Other News

📢 👪FREE Five to thrive sessions for parents, carers and grandparents

Brain development in babies and children relies on good relationships with others, especially parents, carers and grandparents.

FREE interactive 'Five to Thrive' sessions are being held online on Mon 9 Sept 11am – 1pm and Tues 8 Oct 6 -8pm.

The sessions will focus on the five parts of five to thrive - Talk, Play, Relax, Engage and Respond. You can watch this video to find out more

Dudley people panel

Come and join our Dudley People Panel, hosted by Dudley Health and Care Partnership is  hosting a cuppa themed, ‘Let’s Get Digital’ taking place on Monday 16 September, from 10.30am to 1.30pm at Bank Street Methodist Church in Brierley Hill.

Sessions will be centred on:

·       barriers to people embracing technology

·       views on how to better support people in embracing technology

·       networking with different services and other stakeholders on accessing support and using digital devices

Find out more, or book your space, by emailing Jessica.colley@nhs.net or call Jess on 07854 845052.

Share your view in the future of primary care

People in the Black Country are being given the chance to share their views on areas in the strategy, as well as their own experiences and ideas to help transform primary care. The public conversation is now open and will close on Tuesday 20 September. Local people can have their say in a number of ways, including:

·       filling in a survey available on the NHS Black Country ICB website

·       by calling 0121 612 1447 to receive help filling in the survey

·       by speaking to your local Healthwatch (local contact details can be found here).

A number of People Panel meetings will also be taking place throughout September, where people can speak to primary care staff from the NHS Black Country ICB and get help filling out the survey. They will take place at the following locations:

·       Walsall – To be confirmed

·       Sandwell – Wednesday 11 September, Jubilee Park Community Centre, Glebefields Estate, DY4 0RJ, 5pm-7.30pm

·       Dudley – Monday 16 September, Brierley Hill Methodist Church, Bank Street, DY5 3DA, 10.30am-1.30pm

·       Wolverhampton – Wednesday 18 September, Graiseley Family Hub, Pool Steet WV2 4NE, 5pm-7.30pm.

To sign up for a People Panel please visit the NHS Black Country ICB events page.

Online safety for children

This holiday, have a conversation with your child about staying safe online. Not sure where to begin? Have a look at Think U Know: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/

More information:

Visit the Local Offer website to learn more about the services available in the borough. To find out more about the SEND Improvement Programme, please visit Dudley's Health and Wellbeing Board. 

Useful contacts:

• Head of SEND –Sue Powell susan.powell@dudley.gov.uk
• Service Manager CDT – Andrew Hyde andrew.hyde@dudley.gov.uk
• SEND Manager - Samantha Edwards samantha.edwards@dudley.gov.uk
• Designated Clinical Officer for SEND - Sarah George s.george9@nhs.net