Welcome Julie! 

This October we welcomed Julie as the newest member of the IASS team! Her role will be supporting our families and young people as a secondment Caseworker. 

"I'm very happy to have joined such a wonderful team and excited to progress with my legal training to ensure I can offer the best support to Wolverhampton families." 

Sensory Park Wildlife Sanctuary

On Monday 22 November Sensory Park Autism Centre in collaboration with the Wolverhampton IASS welcomes families to attend their Tiny Tots (0- 5 years) 11.00am session for FREE! 

Meet the IASS Information Officer Lauren for support in all your queries whilst exploring the amazing SEND specific wildlife sanctuary. Book your place at: Tiny Tots (Mondays) | Dino Digs Sensory Parc (sumup.link)

The city care farm located in Pendeford, Wolverhampton opened in April 2021 to specifically support people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through animal therapy, farming and gardening. 

The wildlife sanctuary offers 1:1 sessions, keeper for a day and family experiences for children and adults with mild to severe complex autism and non-verbal ASD to explore the outdoors and its creatures. 

Access is by appointment only and reservations can be placed on their website: 
Secret Garden (autismcentre.org.uk)

Tell us what you think
about our website

We are always looking for ways to improve and provide the best support for local children, young people and families. With this, we are looking to improve our website and we need your help! 

Have your say on our current website https://wolvesiass.org/ detail what you visit our site for and what you would like to see. Please take a few minutes to complete our website feedback form: 

https://forms.office.com/r/FrPeHJ5wMA

Have your say on Children’s
Speech and Language
Therapy (SLT) Services

The Wolverhampton NHS Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service wants to find out your views on the best way to run its Children’s SLT Service.

If you are a child, young person or parent/carer and would like to share your views you can do so via a Microsoft Teams meeting on Tuesday, 9th November between 1 and 2 pm.

Please contact Phoebe Kent Head of Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Services by emailing phoebe.kent@nhs.net if you wish to join the meeting.

Alternatively you can complete the survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/V9LNFNJ

New app launch to help parents

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has released a new free app to support parents and carers of children from birth to 5 years old. 

The app gives tips, support and signposting for a range of topics including: 

• Common illnesses, first aid and keeping your baby safe
• Breastfeeding, bottle feeding and introducing solids
• Sleep and safer sleeping
• Teething and dental health 
• Looking after your emotional health and wellbeing

You can also find out more about your Health Visiting team and other local NHS children’s services, plus advice on what to do if your child is unwell. 

The app features also include trackers to record your baby’s sleeps and feeds.

Download the app today from the apple or android app store.

Online support for young people struggling with mental health

Kooth provide free, safe and anonymous digital mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people aged 11-18 (up to age 25 for Care Leavers) across Wolverhampton. Alongside self-help and moderated peer to peer support, young people have access to free online counselling and wellbeing support from the online Kooth team, 365 days a year. 

Through their social media presence, regular magazine, help articles, journals, self help tools, discussion boards and free counselling, Kooth will virtually support children who are waiting to see a counsellor and also divert those who don’t need a face to face appointment – freeing up places for more crucial cases.

To find out more about how they work and to join their online community visit:
Digital Mental Health Care - Kooth plc

Black Country Services
for 18- 25's 

The Black Country NHS Foundation Trust are looking for the support of professionals, parents, carers, adults within the community and young people. 

Have your say and share ideas on improvements for local services
for 18 to 25's within the Black Country region. 

Please click on the following link to complete their feedback survey: 
What could we do to improve the lives of young people, aged around 18-25? Survey (surveymonkey.co.uk)

There are also a number of events for participants to join.
Please click on the relevant link to book onto the event: 

9th November 2.00 - 4.00pm:
Professionals and Adults within the community virtual 
Young people - how can we improve their lives? Professionals/communities Tickets, Tue 9 Nov 2021 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

15th November 6.00- 7.40pm: 
Young People's virtual Zoom event 
Young people - how can we improve your life? Virtual event. Tickets, Mon 15 Nov 2021 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

22nd November 5.30 - 7.00pm: 
Young People's In- Person event at City Centre venue 
Young people - how can we improve your life? Wolverhampton event. Tickets, Mon 22 Nov 2021 at 17:30 | Eventbrite

29th November 1.30- 3.00pm: 
Parents and Carers Virtual 
Young people - how can we improve their lives? Families and carers. Tickets, Mon 29 Nov 2021 at 13:30 | Eventbrite

WV Social Prescribing Service

The Wolverhampton Social Prescribing Service has expanded their support to 13-17 year olds. They provide a non-medical approach to improve their health and wellbeing by finding out what’s important and linking you with organisations and activities that might be helpful for you.

These could include:

• Social activities or groups
• Learning a new skill or finding a new hobby
• Finding advice with practical problems such as housing, benefits or finances
• Exploring volunteering or employment options
• Linking with support services such as befriending 
• Trying out activities that make you feel healthier such as walking or swimming
• Help to cope with long-term conditions by getting involved with community activities

To request support contact 01902 328987 or email SPInfo@wolverhamptonvsc.org.uk

Wolves IASS Survey

The views of our parents, carers and young people is of paramount importance to us. It lets us know what is working as well as highlighting areas for improvement. 

The survey takes approximately five minutes and we would be so grateful if you could complete it.

You can access the survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/83S8PNJ

Share Your News 

We aim to share uplifting stories and good news events from around our wonderful Wolverhampton area! 

If you run services or activities for children with a Special Educational Need or Disability or support their families, we would love to hear from you! 

Also, if you have a happy news story or wish to celebrate the great work of an organisation, please email lauren.kirkpatrick@wolverhampton.gov.uk. Please attach a photo or videos and a short blurb to feature. 

We send out the e-bulletin monthly around the first Monday of the month, so we would appreciate this being sent to us by the middle of the previous week.

Our next e-bulletin will be shared on 1st December so please send any inserts by 26th November.