The Families Information Service intends this page to provide you with information about local services available to you (see Family Services Directory in Related Links) and also links to other useful websites and helplines.
There are a range of services provided by Wakefield Council for disabled children, young people and their families, these include:-
Kids WeSail - The WeSail (Wakefield Early Support and Information Liaison) is a support service for all families caring for a disabled child or one with additional needs. Kids have been commissioned by Wakefield Council and NHS Wakefield District to deliver the service in the Wakefield area. WeSail offers information, specialist support and guidance. They also have a designated Key Worker Service for children up to the age of 8 years and a small Multi Agency Team which includes a Connexions PA, and a children and Families Worker.
WeSail has an advice line available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm on 01924 379015.
Children with Complex Care Needs Team - This team offers support to disabled children, young people and their families. All referrals to the Children with Complex Care Needs Team are via Social Care Direct 0845 8 503 503.
Short Break Service - The aim of the Short Break Service is to give parents the opportunity to do other things, spend time together, or with their other children. It also gives the disabled child/young person the opportunity to experience new things and have fun. A range of short break services are on offer in the Wakefield district. This can be either through overnight breaks at a residential unit or via outreach services. In the first instance contact WeSail on 01924 379015.
Access Guidance - This guidance describes the support, services and short breaks that are available in the Wakefield District for families caring for a disabled child. It outlines the services and support you can access without an assessment and those for which you will need an assessment. For more information see the Access Guidance document in Related Downloads.
Get Started (Barnardo's) - The Get Started project is funded by Wakefield Council and is for disabled children and young people aged 5-19. The aim of the project is to support children and young people to access mainstream leisure activities. Get Started workers can:
- Search for activities in the area a person lives
- Support organisations within the local community to understand disability issues and provide an inclusive environment
- Provide short term support to young people to access a leisure activity or club
Children and young people can refer themselves to Get Started as can parents, carers and professionals. For more information about Get Started, or to make a referral contact Get Started on 01924 239250.
Awake Mentoring Service - Awake recruit and train volunteers who have experience of disability to mentor anyone aged 14 years plus who has a disability, learning difficulty or long term health condition to achieve their personal goals. This could be anything from building confidence, accessing services, new hobbies or interested in training, voluntary work or employment. For more information contact the Awake Mentoring Service on 01924 334579.
Direct Payments - Direct Payments are a payment from Wakefield Council to buy the services you need and are an alternative to services provided by Family Services. You can employ your own personal assistant to provide care or use a care agency rather than be an employer yourself. A person will first need to be assessed to find out if they are eligible for Direct Payments. For more information on Direct Payments contact your social worker or if you don’t have a social worker contact Social Care Direct on: 0845 8 503 503.
Home Based Break Service - The Home Based Break Service offers support to disabled children and young people and their families. It provides short breaks which take place in either a child’s own home, or the local community. Children and young people with a significant disability between the ages of 0 -18 can be considered for the service. The service is not available to children and young people who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties but no other disability. For further information see Related Downloads.
The services offered by Home Based Break Service include:-
Family Link Service - Family Link provides care and support in a child’s/young person’s own home, this can be alongside or independent of parents/carers. Alternatively, carers are available to support families to go out ‘as a family’. For more information on Family Link Service contact the Family Link co-ordinator on 01924 302106.
Leisure Link - Leisure Link is for disabled children/young people over the age of 8. The service can provide support to access:-
- Mainstream Leisure Pursuits
- Activities with their local friends or siblings
- Be involved in group activities
The support takes place in the community and the nature of the support varies depending on the needs of individual children/young people. For more information on Leisure link contact the Leisure Link Co-ordinator on 01924 304151
Sitting Service - This service is open to any family caring for a child/young person aged 0-18, who has significant disabilities. This service is limited to a sitting service and children/young people will not be taken out for leisure actives. You may be eligible for this service if you are receiving higher or middle rate Disability Living Allowance. Families receive vouchers for a maximum 24 hours of support from April-March. The support can be used in sessions for a minimum 3 hours and maximum 8 hours. For more information on the Sitting Service contact the Home Based Break office on 01924 302291.
Connect Placement - The Connect Service provides family based short breaks within carers own homes, day and overnight care is available. Children/young people between the ages of 0-18 with a significant disability will be considered for the service. The number or length of short breaks offered is dependent on an assessment of need completed by a social worker or health professional. For more information on Connect Placement contact the Connect Social Workers on 01924 302105 or 01924 302291.
Overnight Residential Short Break - Wakefield Council and Wakefield District NHS offer overnight short breaks to children/young people and their families living in the Wakefield District at:-
Rainbow House - Offers overnight short-breaks for children and young people aged 5 -19 who have a learning disability, challenging behaviour and additional health needs.
Rose Garth - Offers overnight short-breaks for children and young people aged 0-19 with learning disabilities and complex health needs.
Wasdale Children’s Resource Centre - Offers overnight short-breaks for children and young people aged 5-18 with learning disability and/or a physical disability or sensory impairment.
To access overnight short breaks an assessment will be carried out by your social worker. If you do not have a social worker contact WeSail on 01924 379015 or Social Care Direct 0845 8 503 503 to ask for a referral to be made for an assessment.
Starting Point - This is a Resource Directory for Parents/Carers & Disabled Children, and it aims to provide information about services that are available for disabled children and young people and their families in the Wakefield District. The directory can be viewed in Related Downloads.
DIAL Wakefield - A free, independent, Community Legal Service quality marked advice and information service for disabled people living within the boundary of Wakefield Council. Disabled people, their carers and families can contact DIAL for anything directly related to disability and or caring, on 01977 723933/34.
Wakefield Parent Partnership Service - Are an independent advice, information and support service for parents/carers of children with special educational needs. The Parent Partnership Service can be contacted on 0800 587 8042 or visit their website (see Related Links).
Useful Documents
The 'Listening to Parents and Disabled Children - You Said, We Did' document (see Related Downloads) lists the key issues raised by parents, shows how these are being addressed and details the future commitment from Wakefield Council and NHS Wakefield District.
Newsletters
Below are a number of newsletters which can be viewed in Related Downloads on the right.
The West Yorkshire ADHD Support Group Newsletter.
The Wakefield & District Down's Syndrome Support Group have just published their August 2010 newsletter.
Issue 4 of News and Views the newsletter to help keep parents and carers of disabled children or those with an additional need updated with local and national news.
Forthcoming Events
Disabled Children's Access To Childcare (DCATCH)
The DCATCH service is being launched on 28th September, 10am - 12 noon at the Wakefield Wildcats Belle Vue Stadium. So if you are the parent of a disabled child aged 3 - 14 years and are looking for work, already working, attending training or an educational course, or thinking about any of these, then come along to the launch event to see how DCATCH can help you access appropriate childcare. For further information please contact Siobhan O'Connor on 01924 379015.
Parents Reference Group (Carers Wakefield & District)
The Parents Reference Group meet every 6 weeks to steer the way we involve parents in service monitoring and development and to discuss the issues that are important as a parent / carer of a disabled child / young person in the Wakefield District. Please come along and share your thoughts and ideas.
In an attempt to reach more parents / carers and encourage participation the next four meetings has a roving venue and a theme of ‘Professionals You Might Meet and their Roles.’ Professionals from Social Work, Nursing, Therapy and Child Mental Health have been invited to give a short overview of services in relation to disabled children.
The meetings are to be held 10am – 12pm and lunch will be provided at 12.
Your experiences, thoughts and ideas are really important, so please try to come along. If you would like support with childcare or transport to any of the meetings please call 07776163508 or 07881637534 or 0776901713 to discuss your needs. We would welcome other venue suggestions and topics for speakers for future meetings.
- 22nd July - Agbrigg Belle Vue Community Centre, Agbrigg.
- 23rd September - St George's Community Centre, Lupset.
Aiming High for Disabled Children
Wakefield Council will be funding Aiming High grants and a Family Activities Scheme for parents caring for a disabled child. This will be administered by KIDS through Wakefield Early Support Advice Information and Liaison Service.
Aiming High Grants - Local support groups and voluntary organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to organise and fund outings or activities for groups of disabled children and young people or for family group events. This money must be used for disabled children and young people and their families who live in the Wakefield District. Detailed criteria for these grants are being developed and again will be overseen by KIDS. There is no intention to stipulate that families who take part in these activities should be charged to do so, given that this would complicate the administration of the scheme
Family Activities Scheme - Parents can apply for a grant of £150 (or £200 where a child is of secondary school age). Grants can be used for family outings or payment for registered childcare/holiday schemes or support from registered domiciliary care agencies. Parents must reside in the Wakefield District and care for either:
A child or young person in receipt of the higher level care/mobility element of DLA or
A child or young person in receipt of medium level care/mobility AND having three significant needs – to be detailed in application or
More than one child on any level of DLA.
Priority will be given to families who do not get other services.
Funds are limited and the Aiming High grants and Family Activities Scheme will only be available until March 2011.
For more information and an application form, please contact: WeSail on 01924 379015.