Social Services provides a wide range of services to the community, from children and their families, care leavers, to older people, and people with disabilities. It’s important to us that people can find out information about services that they may be entitled to. But Social Services aren’t the only source of help or information. There’s a thriving network of voluntary and private organisations, charitable groups and services in Conwy, and we’ve been looking at ways to improve how we can share this information, particularly in the areas of Autism Spectrum Disorder, universal services for family support and support for families with a child with a disability.
Team around the family (TAF)
Background
Team Around the Family (TAF) are the people to contact for information about activities, organisations, services or childcare. Children’s Services (Social Services) have been working closely with Team Around the Family (TAF) since they launched in March 2013. TAF acts as a one stop shop. Families can call one number (01492 577788) and get the advice and information they need.
What’s changed?
Children’s Services and TAF meet regularly to share information and ideas about how to develop the service to make sure that people are offered the right information that will make a difference to them. Occasionally, TAF may have concerns about safeguarding issues within a family, and they may make a referral to Children’s Service in those situations.
What difference has it made?
Since its launch Children’s Services has signposted 103 families to TAF. These are families who did not meet the threshold to get direct support from Social Services. In the past, this was always seen as a gap in services. But this gap is now being filled by TAF, who have provided support, signposting or arranged multi-agency meetings for 358 people in Conwy. 10 families have been referred to Children’s Services by TAF, due to safeguarding concerns.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategy
Background
Welsh Government had recognised that people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were often missing out, because of a lack of services, or because services weren’t always aware of their needs. Every local authority in Wales was asked to form a “stakeholder group” made up of staff from all agencies and parents. In 2010, the Conwy and Denbighshire groups merged together, and the current “steering group” meets four times per year and includes adults with ASD, parents, Councillors and working professionals.
What’s changed?
There is a valuable mix of people in the group now, and it’s really well attended, with a large email network for sharing information. Since the group began, these are some of the benefits we’ve seen:
- There are many social and leisure groups available now, such as the “Monkeys” climbing club for young people
- A social group for adults
- More training is now available
- We’ve seen greater engagement with the Welsh Government’s “Autism Aware” questionnaire
What difference has it made?
“Being a member of the steering group has widely increased my knowledge of ASD. By sharing good practice, I am able to cascade information to colleagues” – (Youth Services staff) “The money provided directly to groups where young people and children have autism has had a direct and positive effect on their ability to feel they have places to go and people who are interested. The money has also enabled new things to be tried, even if they have not proved successful – the point is that we have tried and without this money no-one else would have been willing to do this”. (Parent)
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Community and Mentoring Support Worker
Background
Many adults with ASD are socially isolated and/or vulnerable, yet may not meet the criteria to access services from the Local Authority. Without any help or support it’s likely that over time, their need for services would increase. Welsh Government funded a project to support these adults, and to collect useful information so that services can be planned for the future.
What’s changed?
The Community Mentoring and Support project provides;
- Advice
- Signposting – to social or support groups, and other services and organisations
- Short term support e.g. with implementing structure/routine, accessing community facilities, support with budgeting etc.
- Basic ASD Awareness raising sessions.
What difference has it made?
The support worker has worked with 64 individuals who have (or were seeking) a diagnosis of ASD. This has included supporting people through transition from school to university, enabling individuals to obtain a bus pass, establishing weekly routines, managing money and obtaining voluntary work. Signposting and information sharing with parents and carers has improved – there is a monthly calendar of events circulated across Conwy and Denbighshire. We’ve worked with local organisations, activity providers and social groups. Members of the Approved Landlord Team at CCBC have been trained to better support individuals with ASD
Conwy Disability Network
Background
The Disability Register, as it used to be known, was held by Barnardo’s on behalf of Conwy and Denbighshire up until 2010.
The register aimed to do two things. Firstly, to help Local Authorities and Health Services plan ahead and develop services according to the numbers of children with disabilities, their ages, and conditions. Secondly, to provide relevant information to children and their families.
During 2012 a commitment was made by Conwy to re-develop the register.
What’s changed?
A group of staff from BCUHB (Health), Conwy Social Services and the Education department have kick-started the project back into life, under a new name “Conwy Disability Network”.
Consent forms have been distributed to children and families with an explanation for the purpose of the register
Systems are now in place to hold the information securely.
A draft “information sharing protocol” has been prepared and will be signed by each partner in the summer 2014
Work has begun developing a web based Network for Children with disabilities and their families.
What difference has it made?
Conwy will have a clearer picture of the children with disabilities population and its needs. With the right information the Local Authority and BCUHB can target services more accurately.
The Network will provide information, service links and the opportunity for peer support, where both the children and their families will be able to connect through a secure web based message board.
The Network will also provide a co-ordination point for third sector services to be advertised so that families have a central point to find out what’s available, with close links to the Family Information Service database. Once the register/network is more established, it is possible in the future to extend membership to Denbighshire.