Caring in a time of Covid
Lockdown was an opportunity for Haringey to demonstrate that promises of better behaviour and communication would finally come into fruition - but sadly, and unsurprisingly, this was not an opportunity that Haringey SEND department chose to seize.
A look at the papers for the February 2021 Schools Forum meeting of professionals, the professionals who attend made some remarkable and disturbing observations in their last meeting.
Remarkable note, by professionals "It was noted that some schools create a hostile environment so that families with SEND children do not feel that they are welcome".
Where clinically extremely vulnerable children abandoned in Haringey during the lockdown?
Following intervention from HealthWatch Haringey after our blog about how difficult it was to get a covid-19 vaccine for our clinically extremely vulnerable child there has been a review of the system; however other aspects of support during the pandemic have been sorely missing, leaving us feeling that children with disabilities and their families were abandoned in Haringey in the pandemic.
Read more in out two blogs. The initial blog appealing for help to get the vaccine and the second blog following the vaccine.
The HOSTILE Environment?
Who in Haringey ignored the needs of SEND families - and how
Facebook was awash with rumours of a 'relaxation' of the policy around direct payments / personal budgets for short break. But there is no clear communication with the Haringey SEND community and parents are anxious to spend monies without clear guidance. And there is upset that some people have been told to spend on what you like - even food, whilst others repeated requests for clarity (mine) have not been responded to
A coproduction meeting with Assistant Director Paul Sutton, Head of SEND Nathan Jones and Commissioner Charlotte Pomery, 24th April 2020
We went to a very hastily coproduction meeting on the 24th April, it was only confirmed to be running 3 hours before the start of the meeting. Very quickly, before the meeting started, we sent an email and asked for
1. Direct Payments: Clarification of the 'increased flexibility' around the use of direct payments
2. SEN Travel Application Form: The Children's Service appropriately address the SEN Travel Annual Application form - properly, openly, honestly, without underhandedness and nastiness, to engage with parents* **This conversation still needs to be had and we will be blogging about this**
3. Going to A and E: Clarification of the processes and procedures when we go to hospital - will we separated from our very vulnerable children?
4. Support for 'unpaid carers' Better advice to 'unpaid carers' - the reality being that for some of us with children with very complex needs there is no plan B. (Haringey ARE aware of this, if they reflect carefully about WHICH children they have had to take into care and why)
5. Better communication.
What happens when you ask Twitter for spaghetti...
What happens when you tell twitter you have no spaghetti - don't even joke about it!
RUBBISH CLLR SEEMA!!!! - It's all about humanity
In lockdown, we've been generating more waste arising from our sons disability, so Cllr Seema, Veolia and Haringey helped us out with some 'grey' extra bins. They also helped lots of other families near where we live. But, we've not been out for a while, so this is how that all got distorted in my warped mind...
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on vulnerable children and young people
(From the guidance) Why are these children being prioritised?
We know that some families need more support than others and that education is an important protective factor for children receiving support from a social worker. We want to prioritise supporting those most in need at this difficult time.
We know that some families need more support than others and that education is an important protective factor for children receiving support from a social worker. We want to prioritise supporting those most in need at this difficult time.
