Presentation for Whittington Health: Estates and Services Task and Finish Panel 23rd February 2021

  • By Brian Leveson
  • 23 Feb, 2021

Whittington Health Consultation on moving  the Child Development Centre from St Ann’s

We are concerned about the consultation process as well as the relocation

Our concerns fall into two broad categories and are about the consultation and the relocation

Consultation

Thanks to a passing remark by Councillor Zena Brabazon (who happened to be doing some casework for us - YAY ZENA!!), we found out about this consultation.  Following that conversation we wrote our blog.  Our understanding is that after that blog was written, other parents were then invited to this meeting by happenchance. And again, it is Councillor Brabazon who felt that given our 16 years of experience of going to all three sites (St Ann's, Tynemouth Road and Bounds Green,), who thought it a good idea we attend this evening.

We are always very grateful to Councillor Brabazon for the help she gives to us.  Sometimes she has to tell us things that are hard to hear.  She once observed to me that she felt that I was in trauma.  I happened to have just read a paper on parents of children with cerebral palsy and post traumatic stress disorder.  The paper suggested that we did.  I was amazed at the timeliness of her observation. We have talked further and got to know each other better.  We have a very honest relationship and I am extremely grateful that she has persevered and worked so much with us and for us.

Reference : https://www.redbookmag.com/life/mom-kids/a13149944/parents-of-disabled-children-can-develop-ptsd/
https://themighty.com/2019/06/stress-ptsd-parents-kids-disabilities/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0883073820909617

Guidance

Please refer to the following organisations regarding good practice and legal requirements.

3.Department for Education Guidance in Home to School Travel Guidance link: https://consult.education.gov.uk/home-to-school-transport-and-admissions-team/home-to-school-travel-...

Not sure that the case for moving based in the need for less clinical space and the condition and position of the buildings has been made.  Statements have been made, that aren't backed up with facts, examples are given in the slide below

There has been limited engagement to users who used St Ann's last year (during lockdown) and users who will be impacted elsewhere have not been consulted

The questionnaires do not have any questions relating to disability and disabled users

Location

You could probably do with a checklist of infrastructure needed by disabled users such as enough disabled parking for all users and Changing Places standard toilets

Air pollution seems worse at Tynemouth Road - is this the sort of place vulnerable children should have to go to?

Getting there and standing traffic in an air known to have levels of high air pollution

More about facilities and different needs

Other users of all the sites also need to be involved.  Can you imagine someone new moving into your house and no one asking you if that ok with you?

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