Changes to family support
Families with a hearing impaired or visually impaired child can get support through the information, advice and support service (IAS) and there should be much closer working between this service and the sensory support service.
Information about how schools support children with special educational needs and disabilities is also available to parents and carers through the special educational needs information report which is published once a year by individual schools.
We propose that family support from the sensory support service is reduced from two full time staff to two part time staff; one for visual impairment and one for hearing impairment (equivalent of one full time member of staff). The sensory support service will focus on working with families who have young children or a recently diagnosed child or where a child’s needs have changed.
We propose that the parent engagement staff from IAS train the family support workers to use the Local Offer with families so that they are able to help families of children with sensory impairment find information about services and activities available in their area. We also propose that parents of children with sensory impairments are invited to join the IAS parent participation register and the parent carer forum (PACT) so they can influence the services in their area and decision making on services available.
Manchester also has a growing number of ‘parent champions’ who are trained and supported by IAS to promote the use of the Local Offer to other families. The range of knowledge the parent champions have would be increased by including parents of children with sensory needs – the service will also look into training for parents of children with a hearing or visual needs to become ‘expert parents’. This training will mean that they can support other families and be involved in training staff.
The consultation closed on Wednesday 8 February.