St Helens Carers Centre

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	Carer Information Resource Children's Services
	St Helens Family Information Service (FIS) 0800 9529523 - email fis@sthelens.gov.uk St Helens FIS offers a whole range of free information on childcare, and activities and services for children, families and young people aged 0-20 years. Services include: Information on nurseries and parent and toddler groups activities and services such as parenting classes and family support extended services in schools, such as before and after school courses and care clubs information about childcare centres in the borough MATCH - (Men and their Children) encourages dads, granddads and male Carers to become more involved in their child's life. They do this by providing support, training and events Children with Disabilities Team The Bridge Centre, Lansbury Avenue 01744 673900 - Team work with disabled children aged 0 - 18 years and their families across the Borough. If you wish to request a referral for this service you can do so via the Contact Centre Advisors for Adult Social Care and Health who are on duty from 8.45 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. they can be contacted by telephone on (01744) 456600, e-mail to contactcentre@sthelens.gov.uk or personal visit to the Contact Centre, Wesley house, Corporation Street, St. Helens WA10 1HF. The team aims to support children and their families by offering a lead professional, coordinating support services, providing practical and emotional support and information. Each family's support plan is based on an assessment of the child and carers needs undertaken at the commencement of involvement with the service. The team comprises of social workers, a specialist nurse, family support workers, and a transitions worker. Short break services for disabled children and young people. Following assessment of the child and carer's needs, some families of disabled children will access short breaks/respite. These include: A small (4 bedded) residential short break service (Abbeyford) providing planned and emergency breaks for disabled children aged 7 - 18 years Short breaks scheme providing breaks for children aged 0 - 18 years with approved short break carers. Supported play/leisure opportunities (Barnardo's Catalyst project) Home based support (through a number of voluntary agencies) Direct payments in lieu of Council provided short break services enabling parent carers to directly purchase a break or employ support staff for this purpose Active Engagement Team - 01744 677990 - Alexandra House, Borough Road. Work with children 8 - 13 years of age who are at risk of being involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, and who are willing to take part in the scheme. Service currently under review, you will contact the Youth Offending Team for updates when you ring the AET telephone number St Helens Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (5 Boroughs service) - 01744 454368 - The Elms, 50 Cowley Hill Lane, St Helens, WA10 2AW. Work with children up to age 16 who have severe, complex and persisting mental health issues, and their families. Referrals can be made by GP, Health Visitor, School or other professional top of page OTHER SERVICES ALDER HEY INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS - www.alderhey.com - booklet available to download, contains information about transport, accommodation, services and support ASSOCIATION OF WHEELCHAIR CHILDREN - 0844 544 1050 - Aims to enable children who use wheelchairs to reach their full potential by providing practical wheelchair skills, training, assessment and support, to both the children and their families. They also work to raise awareness of disability issues. www.wheelchairchildren.org.uk AUTISM/ASPERGERS - please see service specific section BARNARDOES - 01744 27129 - Local offices located within the YWCA, Nunn Street, Parr. Also run a break scheme at the Catalyst Centre, Rainhill 0151 426 9115. CEREBRA PARENT SUPPORT - 0800 328 1159 - Cerebra provide information and support for under 16's, and their families, with brain injuries, neurological disorders, mental disabilities and developmental problems. Have grants available for equipment and a range of information about benefits and services www.cerebra.org.uk CLIC SARGENT - 0800 197 0068 - Charity caring for children with cancer and leukaemia and their families. Factsheets available on website. Provide emotional and practical support and signpost to other services. Have care grants and holidays available to eligible families. www.clicsargent.org.uk CONNEXIONS - 673057 - Based at the Beacon Centre, College Street. Connexions provide information, advice and guidance for 13 - 19 year olds, and those up to 25 years if there is an identified learning difficulty (with or without SEN) CONNECT - 0753 188 7758 - St Helens based charity working with families of disabled children. Run by volunteers, currently no premises. Organise services for parents of children up to age of 19. Plan therapy sessions for parent carers at various venues. Have a caravan in Wales, which parents can book. Have a Toy Library. Parents can blog on the website - www.connectparents.org.uk top of page CONTACT A FAMILY - UK wide charity providing advice, support and information for parent carers. Provide newsletters, information sheets and have an online medical directory to obtain details of specific conditions. Put families in contact with one another if they wish. Ruth Card is the local representativeTel:01942 721323 www.cafamily.org.uk/northwest THE FAMILY FUND - National Charity funded by the Government, open to all families with children age 15 and under who have severe disability or serious illness. Families can apply for grants for services and equipment for the children. Cannot usually consider grants for families whose gross income from employment is over £ 23,000/year www.familyfundtrust.org.uk FLEDGLINGS - 0845 458 1124 - National organisation that offers free product searches for toys, clothing, developmental aids and other items which may stimulate a child, or give relief to a Carer www.fledglings.org.uk KIDZ UP NORTH - Annual exhibition held at the Reebok stadium, Bolton. Dedicated to disabled children. Stands provide information about mobility equipment, communication needs, education, access issues and much more. There are also discussion groups and seminars for parents and professionals. Go to www.kidzupnorth.co.uk for details of next exhibition top of page LIVING MADE EASY - Launched by the Disabled Living Foundation, this site was created by an Occupational Therapist and has information on products for children and young people with disabilities. It includes a star rating system for suppliers, and a forum for parents and children to review and discuss products www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/children NORTHWEST TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM - 01254 306850 - Organisation that provide training forums for Parent Carers of Disabled Children who wish to become more active in policy making and development of services. Also have information on planning for the future, forums of parent Carers, events and training for Parent Carers and their Cared For - see website. www.nwtdt.com ONE PARENT FAMILIES - Advice for lone parents of children with disabilities is available by telephoning the One Parent Family Telephone advice service - 0800 018 5026 Mon - Fri 9.00am to 5.00pm www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk/disabledchild PARENTS AND CARERS UNITE (PACU) - 0785 7991 718 - Support group for parents and Carers based at Children's Centre, Thatto Heath. Organise days out and fundraising events to support local residents. Contact Vicky McQuellan for further details PSS YOUNG CARERS - 454802 - Support child carers, both in school and with after school activities SOCIAL EVENINGS - A parent has arranged social evenings for 14 - 25 year olds and their parents. They take place at Travers Farm, Travers Entry, New Bold. There is no charge for the Young Person, and £ 3.50 for any accompanying adult (there must be an adult attending. click here for latest flyer ST HELENS PARENT PARTNERSHIP - 677368. Located at the Bridge Children's Centre, Lansbury Avenue. Offer support and information to parents. Provide social opportunities and befriending. Run a support group on the first Wednesday of each month 7-9pm for parents of children with all types of learning difficulty - click here for flyer. Also offer training for parents and professionals covering communication, children's disorders and dealing with challenging behaviour. Can also contact by email - sheilahenshall@sthelens.gov.uk SURE START CENTRAL LINK - 25868 - Westfield Street, by Asda roundabout - range of services for parents and grandparents, including drop in sessions where other agencies are available such as jobcentre plus, fitness programmes including walks with prams, stop smoking advice, advice on nurseries, preparing for school and learning through play SHOUT project - 608686 - free counselling for children from 4 who have suffered trauma due to domestic violence, bullying or other forms of abuse, Children's 1:1 Therapy for any child who has suffered the effects of Domestic Violence, and a Mother and Child support group. Both run by St Helens District Women's Aid WEEKEND ACTIVITY SCHEME - 01744 675574 - Youth Only Zone, Beacon Building, College Street, Saturday evenings 7pm to 9pm. Run by the Council's Youth Service for young people aged between 13 and 19 and up to 25 for those with special needs. It offers various sports, gym provision, accredited and recorded awards etc. it encourages young people to become more healthy, to enjoy and achieve and have fun. They are an equal opportunity service, fully accessible, the building is wheelchair friendly with a lift to the first floor rooms. If an individual has any additional needs the staff would assess suitability. They can bring a carer or support with them. Activities would be tailored to their abilities, however their staff are youth workers and not trained as care workers. There are no signers. YOUNG MINDS - This website has been created by and for young people with mental health problems, including anxiety, self harm, conduct disorder, depression, ADHD and eating disorders. www.youngminds.org.uk/my-head-hurts top of page Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information provided to Carers, St.Helens Carers Centre do not undertake any liability for any error or omission. The products and services listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by St.Helens Carers Centre