Whatever happened to Haslemere?
- By Brian Leveson
- •
- 13 Jan, 2021
- •
After multiple consultations, this much needed respite resource has been covertly taken away from disabled children and their families
Summary
Closed in 2017, the Haselmere Road centre
was a respite centre for children with disabilities. Since it’s closure, the
SEND department have misled SEND families into thinking that the centre may
open at some point in the future when a new provider is found. They have been misled through questionnaires,
focus groups, site visits, interviewing potential providers, newsletter reports
and the current Haringey local offer website that all indicate that overnight
provision will be available at some point in the future (Covid
permitting).
Haselmere is a resource that has been taken from SEND families and it’s current use is as a pilot residential assessment centre for children in care with a history of living away from Haringey and experiencing placement instability (Haringey cabinet papers 14th July 2020).
Haselmere is a resource that has been taken from SEND families and it’s current use is as a pilot residential assessment centre for children in care with a history of living away from Haringey and experiencing placement instability (Haringey cabinet papers 14th July 2020).
Timeline
Early 2017:
The project officer sent a questionnaire to parents who
used Haslemere and hosted focus groups;
Summer 2017: Parents of children with complex needs were invited to Haslemere on a site visit for a morning
20th November 2017 parents give up a whole day to help interview of potential providers
April & June 2018 SEND newsletters say Haringey has an overnight respite care provision called Haslemere Road which is currently closed, but there are discussions with two providers of over night care for people with learning disabilities, in the evening and at the weekend. If families would like to know more they were to email to the SEN department with any questions.
Local Offer Review page on the Haringey website states that in 2019 / 2020 We know we need to find more providers of after school activities by Dec 2019, and also for over night stays by December 2020. (Last updated 23rd December 2020)
Haringey Children
and Young People’s Service OFSTED Action Plan Update Report to cabinet 14th July 2020
Haselmere a pilot residential assessment centre for children in
care with a history of living away from Haringey and experiencing placement
instability
What they Local Offer websire now says: Haringey Short Breaks and Respite webpage -
The Haslemere Centre: Please note this centre is currently closed as the overnight service provision is under review (Last updated 22nd September 2020)
What they Local Offer websire now says: Haringey Short Breaks and Respite webpage -
The Haslemere Centre: Please note this centre is currently closed as the overnight service provision is under review (Last updated 22nd September 2020)
If you thought SEND was bad - the NHS is seemingly prepared to throw away money to private companies
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At 3pm today I received some barefaced lies from Haringey Council Adult Social Care in response to a photograph I published online yesterday and the media interest it generated
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Is the argument for and against exemptions for disabled people in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods really a case of GOOD versus EVIL?
