Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families

Summary:

  • Three year (2008 - 2011) transformation programme to improve services for disabled children and young people.  

  • Hampshire County Council will receive £4.5million  revenue and £1.5 million capital funding.

Vision:

  • For all families with disabled children to have the support they need to live ordinary family lives, as a matter of course through improving:

    • Access and empowerment

    • Responsive services and timely support

    • ·Improving quality and capacity

The Programme:

  • ·A Core Offer ( Information, Transparency, Participation, Assessment, Feedback )

  • ·New National Indicator on services for disabled children

  • ·A Full Service Offer.

In Hampshire:

Hampshire County Council Children's Services Dept launched its Aiming High for Disabled Children Commissioning Strategy at an Family Fun Event for Parents, Carers, Children  and Young People on 22nd November 2008. Four main features of the  Commisioning Strategy:

1. Improving Disabled Children and Young People’s access to universal services.

2. Supporting parents and carers by developing Information and Participation networks.

3. A Targeted Short-break offer for those attending special schools and those claiming higher rate care and /or higher rate mobility Disability Living Allowance. This offer comprises of making available 5 day per year holiday play-scheme, and one session every other week at evening or week end activity.

4. To support those with complex needs improvements will be made to overnight short-breaks, and care supports within the home ( and out of) including through use of direct payments.

More details about Hampshire’s programme will be published in 2009.

Upcoming Events and News

Department of Health - new Continuing Care Framework for  Children and Young People: national consultation ( 2nd October to 31st December 2008) http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_088829
Hampshire`s Consultation on Children and Young People`s Plan 2009-12

For information or enquiries about Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, please contact Aiming High project office, Children and Families Branch, Children's Services Department, Hampshire County Council, Ashburton Court East (1st Floor), The Castle, Winchester, Hants, SO23 8UG or email: john.dunning@hants.gov.uk, 01962 846399

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