Face to face meetings about new approach to supporting young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)

Parent carers of young people with additional needs can help inform the development of a new service to help prepare and support young people with SEND, and their parent carers, for moving from children's to adult services.

The Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC), in partnership with Wiltshire Council and Carer Support Wiltshire is facilitating a number of face sessions to explore and discuss the proposal for the new service.

The Moving on Service will work with people who are aged 18 to 25, who are eligible for support from social care. The Children and Young People's Disability Team currently works with individuals up to the age of 25. The new service and approach reflects feedback from young people and parent carers who helped create a guide which is shared with everyone with information on who to contact and where to go for support and options available post 18.

Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said: "We know it can be challenging for both young people and their families to navigate adult support compared to that for a child. Our teams already provide that bridging information, however this new service will ensure a much more seamless service designed to ensure people feel comfortable and not overwhelmed by what's to come. Young people have told us they want to go out, find employment, have options and feel the world is their oyster and why shouldn't they? Our service is there to harness and not dampen that enthusiasm, picking up any support they need to explore their independence. Moving from being a child to an adult does not need to be daunting and we believe this new service will fully bridge that gap and help prepare our young people with learning disabilities for the adventure ahead."

Stuart Hall, Strategic Director of the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC) said: "Parent carers have told us that the transition process for young people from children's services into adult services is daunting for both young people with SEND, and their parent carers. Parent carers tell us that there isn't enough known about what to expect and information about what is available is often lacking. Young people and their parent carers are not prepared and supported early enough for this significant change in their lives. We are encouraged that this feedback has been recognised proactively and we encourage parent carers to take this opportunity to help shape and inform this new service. We have more information about the aspirations for this new service on our website."

Joanna Hiller-Culley, Parent Carer Worker at Carer Support Wiltshire said: "We have spoken to parent carers and conducted an online survey last year to capture opinions and establish where the gaps in support have been. Carers told us that they would value more support to allow young adults with support needs to live independently, and we know that access to the right information at the right time is critical for those who are caring for someone.

"We're pleased that this service addresses those needs and look forward to hosting speakers from the service at our regular parent carer groups and working with Wiltshire Council and the WPCC to better support young people and their carers during the important transition from child to adult services."

The face to face meetings will be taking place on:

• Tuesday 9 May 2023 11am-1pm in Salisbury
• Friday 12 May 2023 11am- 1pm in Devizes
• Monday 15 May 2023 11am-1pm in Chippenham
• Monday 15 May 2023 6pm-8pm - Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Join online (opens new window)

Meeting ID: 322 354 836 205

Passcode: sD7qgw

Download Teams (opens new window) | Join on the web (opens new window)

Any parent carer wishing to attend must book a place through the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council (WPCC), by visiting their website, emailing reception@wiltspcc.co.uk (opens new window), or telephoning them on 01225 764647.

Anyone who would like further information about the sessions can contact the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council on 01225 764 647 or Carer Support Wiltshire on 01380 871 690.