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July 2019
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July Spotlight... Meet Andrew
Hi, my name is Andrew Oates and I am the Area Social Work Manager for the 0-25’s Disability Service at Medway Council.
I first started working for Medway Council in 2000 as a volunteer for a Children and Families Social Work Team. At that time, I also worked as a sessional respite carer, taking children and young people out to do activities.
In 2001, I was employed as a Family Support Worker in what was then called the Children with Disabilities Team (now 0-25’s Disability Service). Enjoying my work, I decided to study to become a social worker and, once qualified, stayed with that team until 2014 when I then moved into the Children’s Safeguarding Social Work Service. Eventually I became Practice Manager there, supervising a small team of social workers.
Within that team, the emphasis was always on supporting children and young people to remain in their families, and helping to ensure it was safe for them to do so. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible for some children and young people, so we worked hard to ensure they were then placed somewhere safe, having their needs met, and being supported to be happy to achieve as well as they could.
In February 2019, I moved back to the 0-25’s Disability Service, who provide support for a large number of children and young people with severe or profound disabilities and their families. We are a very busy team who are all extremely passionate about the work we do.
Although I am now in a senior role, I am still very much a Social Worker at heart. My focus has always been, and always will be, on trying to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children and young people we work with, and to assist them in being able to reach their full potential.
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Soft Play Sessions
Monkey Bizz, now in its 22nd year, provides a safe and exciting play experience for children up to 12 years. This includes a substantial multi-level play frame as well as a toddler area including a role-play supermarket, fire station, police station, and nursery and, due to open soon, a construction corner.
Having offered dedicated play sessions for a variety of special educational needs schools and organisations for a number of years, we are now expanding this offer to cater for all children with SEND.
Initially we are offering the sessions on the second Wednesday of the month from 5pm until 6.30pm.
As we rely on parents/carers to know their own children’s abilities, parents/carers are required to supervise their own children, albeit Monkey Bizz will have staff present to ensure the equipment is being used safely and all children’s needs are respected.
Siblings are welcome to participate so families can enjoy the time together.
If you require any further information, please phone the team at Monkey Bizz on 01634 717788 or email: admin@medwaybizz.co.uk.
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MCH Children's Team Nurses
In Medway, 50% of Looked After Children are currently receiving additional support to meet their SEN needs, of those, half have Educational, Health and Care Plans.
Hear for yourself Foster Carer, Claire's, experience of MCH Children’s Team nurses in this short video.
Find out more information about MCH’s Child Health Services
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From Arts to Objects
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is proud to offer a new, completely flexible and bespoke Arts Award programme for young people up to the age of 25, inclusive of different levels of educational and physical needs.
Through our Arts Award programme, participants will not only discover the history of the Dockyard but also learn new and exciting art skills. Small groups of up to 15 participants can book an Arts Award visit to The Dockyard and pick from a choice of creative outlets including, but not limited to, visual art, crafts, music and drama.
Recent groups have worked with local macramé artist Heather Orr and experimented with different knots to create their own wall hangings. These, alongside other finished artworks, were curated by the young people into a final exhibition in one of our public community spaces.
To find out more information and book a visit for your group, email Sophie at: swynne@chdt.org.uk.
Core Learning
The core learning programme provided by The Dockyard which is available for schools and home educators, can also offer bespoke days and guided visits.
The perfect itinerary can be made combining a programme of experiences and activities to meet the learning objectives and students’ needs, of the whole group.
Activities range from Key Stage 1: enjoying the opportunities to make their own skipping rope in the longest brick building in Europe, Key Stage 2: learning about the life aboard a sailing ship, Key Stage 3/4: getting the chance to develop their own accurate missiles in Rocket Squad physics plus so much more! For more details visit The Dockyard website.
100 Objects
The Dockyard is also delighted to announce that you can get closer to our collections via the 100 Objects web resource. If you’re unable to visit us, you can still access collections online, with more to be made available soon!
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Your passport to summer activities
With the summer holidays around corner, there are passes and discounts available to families with SEND.
Cinema pass You can apply for a CEA cinema card if you get a disability allowance or have a sight impairment. This card gives you one free cinema ticket for a carer or personal assistant.
Passport to leisure If you get a Disability Living Allowance and/or Personal Independence Payments you may be able to apply for a Passport to Leisure pass. This is a discount access scheme for sports and leisure activities. It offers reduced and free access to a number of the activities in Medway.
Blue Peter Badge
Did you know that if you have a Blue Peter Badge you get free entry into over 200 theme parks, castles and zoos across the UK?
To apply for a badge you must be aged between 6 and 15 years old. For details of how to get a Blue Peter badge visit the Blue Peter website.
Be part of The Local Offer
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Are you involved with an organisation or service that supports children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers? If the answer is yes then we would like to hear from you.
Our Local Offer website provides information and services for people in Medway associated with SEND. We are constantly developing and expanding our directory of services, activities and support groups. If you would like to be part of the Local Offer please email localoffer@medway.gov.uk.
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Please take a few minutes to browse the site and then take our feedback survey. Your feedback is so important to us as it will help us develop this key SEND resource.
Free impartial advice from Medway SENDIAS
Medway SENDIAS Service is a free confidential and impartial service for children and young people with Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) and their parents and carers.
We offer the information, advice and support parents need to make informed decisions and play an active role in their child’s education. We explain SEND processes and procedures in straightforward language so they know what to expect and what part they can play.
Our aim is to empower and support parents, working in partnership with schools and the local authority to ensure that children’s needs are met.
We can also offer information and advice to professionals.
We can be contacted on 01634 566303 or at medwaysendias@family-action.org.uk
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Become a ROCC Star!
Rivermead Outreach Community Challenge (ROCC) offers respite activities for children and young people during the school holidays.
Initially the programme supported children and young people aged 11-18 who were diagnosed with ASD. However, because of the success of the programme, and in response to feedback from families, they are now able to offer a primary provision too. ROCC Stars was born.
What’s on offer:
- A holiday club for children aged five to adult
- Six hour respite care for families during the school holidays
- A range of appropriately stimulating and diverse activities that will engage, challenge and support progress
- An opportunity for children and young people to take ownership of their own experiences through group planning and evaluation
As well as ASD, they are also now able to support children with significant and multiple learning difficulties and those with limited to no verbal communication.
For more information on ROCC (aged 11 to adult) email: rocc@rivermeadinclusivetrust.org and for ROCCstars (5-11 years) email: roccstars@rivermeadinclusivetrust.org
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Medway Parents and Carers Forum: Join Us
Medway Parents and Carers Forum is a pan disability group formed ten years ago to help bring together parents, families and carers of children and young people, (from 0-25) with a variety of disabilities and support needs, to have a voice within Medway. We accept families from any background and with any additional needs; and membership is free.
Throughout the last ten years, we have continued to do this, with a steadily growing membership, providing feedback and ensuring that the best outcomes possible for our children and young people are available, working in partnership with local support providers and partners.
We recently attained charity status, which will enable us in the future to help families in a wider range of ways than ever before, however to do this we need help. Everyone has something to offer, and training/ mentoring is provided to help improve skills and confidence. To find out more about our coffee mornings and events please check our Facebook page.
If you would like to join or would like more details about volunteering, please contact us at medwaypcf@googlemail.com
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Are you involved in advising or planning for an EHCP?
If you are a professional who is involved in the EHCP process Medway Council and CCG have set up the following multi-agency training sessions:
Tuesday, 24 September 2019 @ 10am-12.30pm
Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Chatham, Room 2
Tuesday, 17 December 2019 @ 10am-12.30pm
Medway CCG Offices, 50 Pembroke Court Chatham, Copperfield Room
Tuesday, 10 March 2020 @ 10am-12.30pm
Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Chatham, Civic Suite
Tuesday, 7 July 2020 @ 10am-12.30pm
Medway CCG Offices, 50 Pembroke Court Chatham, Copperfield Room
To book your place email: mscbtraining@medway.gov.uk
Child Health & Educational Professionals - Consultation Line
Medway Young People’s Wellbeing Service (YPWS) is offering a dedicated consultation line to professionals who are working with children and young people in Medway.
Call: 07976 742812
- On the Ist and 3rd Monday in each month
- Between 2pm and 4pm
- To speak to Medway mental health clinicians
Call this number if you:
- Have concerns about a child or young person’s mental health and want some non-urgent advice
- Are unsure whether to make a referral to us
- Would like a non-urgent consultation or advice on where to seek help
- Would like to discuss other services or self-help materials to support a child or young person you are concerned about.
Please note this is NOT a Single Point of Access (SPA) or Referral Line if you need to make a referral or seek urgent advice contact the SPA for Medway YPWS on: 0300 300 1981. Make sure you have consent to refer before contacting the SPA
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medway.gov.uk
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Have your say
What would you like to see in our newsletter?
Got some news or event you'd like to share withe Medway SEND community? Send your story to localoffer@medway.gov.uk
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