Information and Support
There are organisations that can offer you support and information:
Advocacy
Advocacy for children and young people
About
Advocates are independent and offer support, protect a person’s rights and help them to speak out.
This may include:
-
Going to meetings with a young person where decisions are made
-
Writing letters on their behalf
-
Helping to get information a young person may need and help them understand what their rights are.
Children and young people will be offered the support of an advocate by Children’s Social Care.
Further information
Barnardo’s (Children and young people)
https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/protecting-children/childrens-rights-advocacy
Contact
Children’s Social Care
Council of the Isles of Scilly
Carn Gwaval
St. Mary’s
Isles of Scilly
TR21 0NA
Tel: 01720 424483
Email:
_pn.png)
The Advocacy People
About
The Advocacy People are an independent charity offering free and confidential Advocacy. This means they offer help and support to anybody to speak up about their rights and for people who can't speak up for themselves, have someone (an advocate) in their corner to speak for them.
Who can access the service:
The Advocacy People services are for adults over the age of 18.
The also provide a service if the Advocacy referral is a Care Act referral and for a 16/17 year old transition to adult services. They provide an advocacy service for children aged 13-18 detained under section on Sowenna Ward in Bodmin Hospital. In addition, a parent's (child protection) Advocacy referral can be made for a person who is in the Isles of Scilly or Cornwall area, has a disability or has an eligible health or social care need and is only for parents who have children within the Child Protection Process and who have been assessed as having an eligible social care need.
In Isles of Scilly they provide the following services:
Click on a service for more information:
NHS Complaints Advocacy
Supporting you if you have not had the service you expected from a service provided or paid for by the NHS
Mental Health Advocacy
For people who are under section in hospital or the community
Care & Support Advocacy
Making sure people have their say in how they are cared for and supported
Advocacy For People Who Lack Capacity
For people who have been assessed as lacking capacity to make certain decisions
Community, Peer & Citizen's Advocacy
General advocacy support in and from the community
Contact details
0330 440 9000
info@theadvocacypeople.org.uk
Further information
SENDIASS
About
Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice & Support Service, SENDIASS offer information, advice and support to:
-
Parents/carers of a child or young person (aged 0 – 25) with a special educational need or disability
-
Those age 25 years or under that have a special educational need or disability
-
Anyone working with children or young people aged 0 – 25 with a special educational need or disability.
This is a free and confidential service and aims to:
-
Empower children, young people and parents/carers of children with special educational needs or disability by ensuring they have the information, confidence and support needed to make informed decisions
-
Provide information and support
-
Encourage good working relationships between parent/carers, children, young people, education providers, the local authority and other agencies
-
To support schools and other agencies to continue to develop good working practices in relation to SEND.
Further information
To meet the team, view their working days and for direct telephone numbers click here.
https://www.cornwallsendiass.org.uk/
Contact
Tel: 01736 751921 Monday to Friday 10am - 3pm
Cornwall SENDIASS
Tolvaddon
Unit 3 East Pool
Tolvaddon Business Park
Redruth
Cornwall
TR14 0HX
Email: online contact form
Isles of Scilly Parent Carers
About
The Isles of Scilly Parent Carers Group was established in 2009 and is a pro-active, independent forum of parent carers, run by parent carers, who all have children or young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). As members of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums we support the development of parent carer participation, a process in which parents work together with professional to make improvements to local services. We act as a conduit for a wide variety of local professionals in their work with children and young people with SEND.
The Isles of Scilly Parent Carer's Group's purpose is to improve the services provided for our young people, aged 0 and 25 years.
We are a Parent Participation Forum enabling parent carers to participate in developing and influencing local services. We work with service providers, individuals and organisations to bring real-life perspective and experience to the planning and development of the services that our families use. We focus on helping to raise the standard of Social Care, Education and Health Services within and provided to the Isles of Scilly, to ensure that these services are provided in a way that meets the needs of all disabled children and their families locally.
The Isles of Scilly Parent Carer Group aim to meet regularly to use the unique shared experiences that they have gained in raising their own families to work in partnership with all agencies responsible for providing services to children with additional needs/disabilities in the Isles of Scilly, enjoy family fun days, have social evenings out and offer a peer support.
To become a member of the Isles of Scilly Parent Carers Group you must be a parent of a child or young person with SEND aged 0-25 and live in the Isles of Scilly. We welcome members from across our islands. Please email to make enquiries or to request a membership form.
The Isles of Scilly Parent Carers gathers information from parent carers to highlight common issues and have membership of all governing bodies:
-
SEND Programme Board, Chair
-
One Vision Partnership Board
-
Children's Trust Board
-
SEND Liaison Group
Contact
Email: iosparentcarers@gmail.com
Tel: Isles of Scilly Parent Carers Co-ordinator 077892 45187
Further Information
Contact are a charity that supports for families with disabled children, with guidance and information. They bring families together to support each other https://contact.org.uk/
National Network of Parent Carers Forums, NNPCF http://www.nnpcf.org.uk/
Independent Panel for Special Education Advice, IPSEA
About
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice, IPSEA offers independent legally based advice, support and training to help get the right education for children and young people with special education needs and disabilities, SEND.
The website has legal guides and resources for parents and carers, which can be downloaded and are complimented by a free Advice Line which provides legally based information and next step advice on any educational issue that is a result of a child’s SEND. There is also a Tribunal Helpline that gives advice on appeals and disability discrimination claims to the SEND Tribunal.
Contact
Tel: Advice and support line: 0800 018 4016 Tribunal Help Line: 0845 602 9579
Website: https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
Citizens Advice
About
Citizens Advice, offer free impartial information and advice on a wide range of topics for challenges that you may face.
This includes:
-
employment law
-
benefits
-
housing
-
debt
-
consumer rights
-
discrimination
-
family and personal
-
Immigration & nationality
-
SEND.
You can get advice from Citizens Advice online, over the phone, or in person at a Local Office. Citizens Advice, Cornwall, visit Scilly on the second Thursday of every month, May to December, at the Carn Gwaval Wellbeing Centre. For further information or to make an appointment please call Isles of Scilly Council Customer Hub on 01720 424405 or the Library on 01720 424499.
If you would like advice over the phone, you can ask for a call back by texting the word ADVICE for general queries or DEBT for debt related issues, to the number 78866. Please be aware if you do this we may leave a message to say that we have called. Telephone Access Centres operate Monday – Friday, 10.00am until 4.00pm. The number to dial is 03444 111 444. When you call your details will be taken and you will receive a Gateway Assessment interview, to help assess your situation and get you the advice you need.
Further information
Citizens Advice Cornwall https://www.citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk/
Getting advice https://www.citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk/getting-advice/
Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Citizens Advice also have a useful guides on how to make an NHS and Social Care complaint
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/nhs-and-social-care-complaints/
Patient Advice and Liaison Services – PALS
About
Patient Advice and Liaison Services, also known as PALS, are a free and confidential hospital service that are a point of contact for patients and their families.
PALS can help you with
-
Advice and information
-
Feedback – give comments, suggestions and thanks
-
Advice on how to make a formal complaint
Each NHS Trust has its own PALS service, you can find out which Trust your hospital is a part of by looking at your NHS appointment letter.
Contacts
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Patient and Family Experience Team
01872 252793
rcht.patientexperience@nhs.net
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Treliske
Truro
Cornwall
TR1 3LJ
For further information visit website: https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/get-in-touch/
Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
01208 834620
PALS Office
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Room 11
Banham House
Bodmin Hospital
PL31 2QT
For further information visit website: https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/patient-advice-and-liaison-service
University Hospitals Plymouth
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
01752 439884
Patient Advice & Liaison Service
Patient Services Office
Level 7, Derriford Hospital
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
For further information visit website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/pals
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Patient support and complaints team
Tel: 0117 342 1050
Email: PSCT@
Post: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundations Trust, Patient Support and Complaints team, A201, Welcome Centre, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol BS2 8HW
Great Ormond Street Hospital
The Pals Office is located in the main reception area.
Tel: 020 7829 7862
Email: pals@gosh.nhs.uk
Healthwatch Isles of Scilly
About
Healthwatch is an independent champion for people who use health and social care services their aim is to make sure that those running services, put people at the heart of care.
Local Healthwatch staff and volunteers identify what matters most to people by going out into the community and visiting services to get public feedback on their experiences. They work collaboratively with health and care partners to ensure their services are the best they can be.
Where possible, your Local Healthwatch will let you know when changes are planned to services in your community and help you have a say. They will also encourage those in charge of local care to involve you when changes are being planned to services.
You can also speak to your local Healthwatch to find information about health and social care services available locally.
Contact
Healthwatch Isles of Scilly
Unit 1, Gleaner House
Buzza Street
St. Mary’s
Isles of Scilly
TR21 0HW
contact@healthwatchislesofscilly.co.uk
01720 423037
https://www.healthwatchislesofscilly.co.uk/
Youtube video about Healthwatch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l_5RTgkpf4
Healthwatch Cornwall
https://www.healthwatchcornwall.co.uk/
Healthwatch England
Support for Parent Carers
There are many organisations and charities who offer information, advice and services. Please download our document for information or contact us and we will print out a copy for you.
Children and Family Services Tel: 01720 424490 Email:
Support for Parents and Families
There are many organisations and charities who offer information, advice and services to parents, parents-to-be and families. Please visit our Family Scilly website that has information about Support for Parents and Families, with links to online parenting courses, podcasts and much more.
If you are want help to look for information please contact us.
Children and Family Services Tel: 01720 424490 Email:
Siblings and Young Carers Group
About
The Siblings and Young Carers Group is for children and young people who help to care for someone in their family with an illness, additional need or disability and/or are a sibling.
The Sibling and Young Carers Group gives children and young people the opportunity to meet other young carers in an informal way, giving them a break and an opportunity to enjoy activities. It gives siblings and young carers a safe environment where they can talk about their feelings, if they want to, and explore their experiences and emotions, in a supportive setting away from the family.
Young carers are children and young people under the age of 18 who take on practical and/or emotional caring responsibilities to look after one of their parents or a brother or sister.
Siblings of children with additional needs or disabilities sometimes miss out on activities and parental attention due to the needs of their sibling.
Further Information
If you know a child or young person that you think may benefit from being part of the Siblings and Young Carers Group, please contact the Children’s Social Care team who will provide more information.
www.scilly.gov.uk/childrens-services/children’s-social-care
Contact
Children & Family Services
Council of the Isles of Scilly
Carn Gwaval
St. Mary’s
Isles of Scilly
TR21 0NA
Tel: 01720 424483
Email: childrenssocialcare@scilly.gov.uk
Home-Start
About
Home-Start offers free, confidential support, friendship and practical help to parents of children under five who are going through a difficult time. Being a parent can be tough and for some parents it can be particularly difficult because they are also having to cope with issues such as post-natal depression, their or their child’s illness or disability, isolation or multiple birth.
A carefully selected Home-Start volunteer who has parenting experience themselves regularly make contact with a family and offers emotional and practical support through difficult times for as long as it is helpful and needed.
With services moving online as a result of Covid parents from the Isles of Scilly can now access online groups and support.
Contact
Tel: 01209 214490
Email: info@homestartkernow.org.uk
Important Documents
Documents and links
Council of the Isles of Scilly SEND Strategy
Download the Council of the Isles of Scilly Making a Difference - SEND Strategy 2019-2022 here
Council of the Isles of Scilly Disability Register
A voluntary register for children and young people with a disability, additional need or impairment, aged 0-19 years and living in Scilly.
-
be kept informed and up to date about services and activities in Scilly for disabled children and young people and their families through our contact list
-
have the opportunity to share your views through consultation and surveys, to influence planning for the needs and demands for services in Scilly
-
The information you give us is important as it helps us to plan and monitor services.
Join the Council of the Isles of Scilly Disability Register
Council of the Isles of Scilly Family Services Complaints Policy
Download complaints policy here
Children and Families Act
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents/enacted
Young person’s guide to children’s and family Act 2014
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-persons-guide-to-the-children-and-families-act-2014
SEND Code of Practice: 0 – 25 Years
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-capacity-act-code-of-practice
Deprivation of liberty safeguards Code of Practice to supplement the main Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice
Council of the Isles of Scilly Young Persons Plan
www.scilly.gov.uk/childrens-services/children's-policies
One Vision
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/onevision
Turning the tide