Growing Up

1
Growing Up Moving On
2
S E N and Disability Act 2001

• 2001 Code of Practice
• DfES SEN Toolkit
• Loads of words
• Section 10 Transition Planning
• Social services must be involved in case of
  children with disabilities
• After full time education at 19 like falling off
  the edge of a cliff

3
Principles for Transition

• Participative
• An holistic approach
• Supportive
• Evolving
• Inclusive
• Collaborative
• Does it mean anything ?

4
Housing ?

• DfES Toolkit framework integrates 18 factors one
  of which is housing
• Children living away from home opportunity at
  year 9 to think about supported living or housing
  and care
• Thats it

5
Average Parent Puzzle

• What really can you expect post 19 ?
• Move from a structured world to what ?
• Do we actually know what we want ?
• If we put aims in a plan who will do anything
  about it ? Who will help ?
• Have we got any rights ?
• How can you know what you want if you dont know
  whats possible ?

6
CSCI Growing Up Matters

• If I dont know where I am going by next year I
  am going to be worried.
• They should start sooner its a short time for
  someone with problems to adapt.
• I am his care manager, no one else has all his
  information in one place. We are learning on the
  job how to sort the madness out.(parent)
• Active planning with housing partners to ensure
  supported accommodation is available.

7
2003
8
Diary 2003

• Weekly border at local Autistic school
• Sleep, GP and Psychiatrist
• Behaviour gets worse
• Starting 3rd year post 16 education
• Review Jan 2004 decision time
• Umpteenth EP
• Connexions lady, our Psychiatrist
• Very nice social worker
• Parents views need a place to live
• at end of 2005
• Wrote to request Care Assessment

9
Leaving Home Theory

• Birds do it - children do it
• Part of growing up
• And becoming more independent
• Bit of a worry for parents
• What alternatives
• Better planned than as a forced move
• Staying at home cant last forever
• But more than half living with family
• Not getting any younger

10
Year of Living Dangerously
11
Diary 2004

• No reply to request for assessment
• Parents of 3 young people met and planned
• Help and encouragement from local Society
• Doorstep the Director Adult Services
• Options for property
• In principle agreement to care plans

12
2005 Looking at a far horizon

• Feb agreement to 4 care plans by 4 different
  social work teams
• Viewed property
• Bought by local housing association
• Exchanged in June but didnt complete till
  November
• Worked with staff in autumn
• Buying furniture at Xmas
• Moving in the New Year 6 months late

13
Last Gasps

• Day services
• Housing Benefit
• Bank accounts
• DLA appeals
• Ordinary residence rules
• FACs criteria
• Fairer Charging
• Withdrawal of IS and HB