Home / HPCI Parent Network Update – 19 November
A shorter update this week, which includes:
HCC update on improving Hertfordshire’s SEND services
Last week’s newsletter highlighted once more the worrying issues around Hertfordshire’s SEN Officer staffing and the EHCP process more generally. I said that we hoped to have some further communication from the local authority on this and, earlier this week, you may have seen that the Local Offer’s You Said, We Did page was updated to address families’ concerns about the lack of special school places and issues with communication in the Statutory SEND team. HPCI worked with the council on this webpage – if there are any other key questions that you would like answered on that page, do keep letting us know.
We understand that further communications will be coming to address concerns and we will share these with you as soon as we can.
Opportunity to improve SEND provision in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring
Do you have a child or children with SEN in a Dacorum school? Do you have ideas about how schools could better support children with SEN? DSPL 8 has two vacancies for parents or carers, one on their Autism sub group and another on the main DSPL 8 Board. These groups help plan how DSPL 8 provides support to schools and parents in the Hemel, Berkhamsted, and Tring area. The Autism sub group meets once a term on a Thursday morning. The DSPL 8 Board meets twice a term on a Wednesday morning. Full training from HCPI is provided and a small funding allowance can be claimed to cover your time and/or childcare. DSPL 8 Parent Representatives also meet once a term to support each other. For more information, contact Ruth Mason: masonr@kls.herts.sch.uk
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) – help in a crisis
HPCI reps regularly attend the CAMHS parent carer forum, to make sure that the service understands the experience of families in accessing their support. At a recent meeting, the forum discussed how to access help in an emergency.
If your child or young person is experiencing a mental health crisis, a specialist CAMHS crisis clinician is available on 0800 6444 101, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide advice to families and professionals and/or to arrange an assessment if required.
Full details of how to get support can be found here: Get Help Now (hpftcamhs.nhs.uk)
Last chance to sign up for a free webinar on Home Education
We’re very excited to be hosting Sarah-Jane Critchley next week for a free webinar on Home Education. Sarah-Jane has both personal and professional experience on the subject and by the end of the session, she will have covered topics such as:
There are a few places left – to book your spot, please click here: Tuesday 23 November (10:00 – 11:00)