General Support Information
Sunderland Short Break Statement - The Children Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to provide breaks from caring for carers of disabled children to support them to continue to care for their children at home and to allow them to do so more effectively. The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 give more detail on how local authorities must fulfil their duty to provide breaks from caring, including a requirement to produce a Short Breaks Statement outlining the range of short break services available, who they can be accessed by and how.
Short breaks give disabled children and young people the opportunity to participate in enjoyable leisure activities while also giving their parents/carers a break from their caring role. Short breaks can take place after school, at the weekend and in the holidays, and includes overnight breaks. Download a full copy of Sunderland's Short Break Statement.
 Sunderland Support Guide - An information directory which helps parents/carers of disabled children and young people to easily find and access information, support or services in Sunderland has been developed and printed.
You can obtain a copy of this useful new document in a number of ways:
- Download a copy - N.B. this is a fairly long document
- Complete the Feedback form to request a hard copy
- Telephone Services for Disabled Children to request a hard copy on Telephone (0191) 566 2190
We are currently updating this document as some contact details have recently changed. An updated version will be available here shortly.
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Emergency Planning - parents often worry about what would happen if they had to go into hospital or are called away to care for another family member who has had a crisis. Emergency planning helps parents to think about who would provide cover when the carer experiences an emergency that stops them from being able to carry out their caring role. For more information download a copy of the Emergency Planning leaflet.
When completing an emergency plan, it is suggested that more detailed information is kept on a 'This is Me' booklet. You can download a copy of the booklet here. There is an editable Word version or an electronic PDF version.
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Sunderland Families Information Service - The Families Information Service (FIS) is for mothers, fathers and carers. It is for all families; whether you are expecting your first child or a parent of a teenager. It can provide information about all aspects of family life and also offer help, advice or signposting to other organisations. |
The range of information on offer includes:
- Childcare and help available to pay for it
- Schools and education
- Health services
- Sport and leisure activities
- Family support
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In addition the service can provide further support with:
- Filling in application forms to make a preference for a primary or secondary school place
- Finding childcare when there are particular difficulties finding suitable childcare
- Finding organisations and services for families.
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| The service can be contacted by telephone 0191 520 5505, by e-mail fis@sunderland.gov.uk. Alternatively visit www.familiesinfoservice.com |
Direct Gov - Offers comprehensive support and guidance on a wide range of issues, specifically for disabled people. Visit the dedicated sections in the website to find the information you are looking for.
Radar Disabled Toilets - Some disabled toilets are kept locked by providers in order to stop vandalism or abuse. For more information on the Radar toilet scheme in Sunderland please click here.
Wet Room at the Metro Centre - The Metro Centre has a wet room complete with hoist, bed, shower etc. They do not supply slings but the hoist has fittings for both clip and strap slings. It is located in the red quadrant near the toilets and disabled toilet. To access the room the carer needs to register at the Customer Services Desk outside Debenhams with two forms of ID and they will be given a unique number to be able to get into the room.
Bullying - if you or your child are worried about bullying the Anti Bullying Alliance has a really useful website that offers useful support and guidance. Their overall aim is to stop and prevent bullying. Visit their website at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org
Strategy for transformation - The Sunderland Strategy for Children and Young People with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LDD) sets out the priorities of the Children’s Trust from 2010-2025 for around 12,000 Sunderland children, young people and their families. The strategy has been based on extensive consultation with parents/carers and practitioners from agencies across Sunderland.
The strategy aims to improve outcomes for children and young people with LDD by setting out the strategic imperatives and identifying governance arrangements in order to transform services.
Download a copy of the strategy or to obtain a hard copy of the document contact the Children's Disability Service on 0191 566 2190 or email child.disability.org.uk |
Parent Partnership Service - The Parent Partnership Service offers support to parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs. You can talk to them in confidence about your concerns, they can help by explaining educational procedures, helping you to fill in forms, attending meetings with you, and helping you to put your views across. Information can also be provided about local and national groups which offer support to parents whose children have Special Educational Needs.
Parents should contact the Parent Partnership Officer direct at the address below, or a professional can do it on their behalf, with their consent.
For more information contact:
Parent Partnership Co-ordinator, Sandhill Centre, Grindon Lane, Sunderland, SR3 3EN.
Tel: 0191 561 5643 E-mail: ros.watt@sunderland.gov.uk or visit www.sunderlandpps.org.uk |
Young Carers Card Scheme - A young carer is a person aged between 4 - 18 years who helps to look after someone in the family at home because they are disabled, have been ill for a long time, have a mental health problem or a problem with alcohol or drugs. They may care alone or as part of a family.
The young carer's card scheme is a partnership between Children's Services and Sunderland Carers' Centre and aims to make school life a little easier for young carers. Young carers are issued with a card they carry with them at school and show the card to teachers when they are having problems. This could be that they may be late for school, unable to attend detention at short notice, or may need to keep their mobile phone switched on.
The card is issued for a fixed time period and is authorised by the Headteacher. Information leaflets, which include an application form, are available within schools or by contacting Sunderland Carers' Centre on 0191 549 3768.
Early Years
0-5 Years - Early years generally describes the period from when a child is born until they start attending full time education. In Sunderland there are a range of organisations and services specifically for children up to the age of 5 years and their families. Some of the services are for all young children, while some are specifically for children and families who have additional needs, including disabled children.
Sunderland Children’s Centres provide a wide range of services designed to give young children the best possible start in life, offering parents and carers an integrated approach to care, education, health and family support services, as well as advice on training and work issues.
The majority of Children’s Centre services are open access however, some services offering specific and individual support require a referral. |
Early Support -The Early Support Programme is a Government led initiative that supports the development of effective, well co-ordinate multi-agency support services for young disabled children and their families. This enables families to be partners and to have a say in how services are delivered.
Families of young children who live within the Sunderland area can ask any professional involved with their child, or staff at their local Children’s Centre, if they wish to have a Family Service Plan meeting. At the meeting, we will develop a support plan, which will outline the professionals who can help to meet the family’s needs.
Often the meeting is offered to the family by their health visitor. At the meeting, a Lead Professional is usually chosen by the family to be a single point of contact.
Early Support also produced a range of parent information materials, including information about certain conditions as well as information about education, social care and health.
The materials are free of charge and are available from family health visitors, Sunderland Children’s Centres, or directly from the Early Support website.
Find your local Children's Centre or for more information about Children's Centres visit their website - www.sunderlandchildrenscentres.co.uk |
Portage - Portage is a home visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional needs and their families. The aim of Portage is to support the development of a young child’s play, communication and relationships in day-to-day life. The Portage home visitors come from a wide range of professional backgrounds including teachers and nursery nurses and are based in a variety of community settings including Sunningdale School, Children’s Centres and Health Centres.
Any parent or professional working with the family can make a referral via a CAF (Common Assessment Framework). All referrals are discussed by the multi-agency Portage Panel, which meets monthly.
For more information contact Sunningdale School, Shaftoe Road, Sunderland SR3 4HA. Telephone: 0191 553 5716, Fax: 0191 553 5882.
There is a national Portage website. Click here to visit the Portage website |
Sunderland Children's Centres - There are 17 Children's Centres which provide support and help for disabled children and children with special educational needs as well as more specialist services such as Early Support and Portage as apporpriate.
Your child can make friends and learn as they play, whilst you can get professional advice on health, family matters and learn about training and job opportunities. You can also meet other parents, carers, grandparents and childminders in a safe and relaxed environment. To find out where your nearest Children's Centre is visit their website.
Children's Centres website www.sunderlandchildrenscentres.co.uk provides information for families with young children about the services and activities offered by Sunderland Children’s Centres. There is also information for volunteers, health staff working in childcare, as well as employment and volunteering opportunities too. |
Toy Libraries - Sunderland Children’s Centres include toy libraries where families can borrow toys, books and other equipment for children up to the age of 14 years. Toy libraries also sell a variery of arts and cratfs materials.
Toy libraries give your child the chance to play and interace with other children while you get to spend quality time with your child in a fun and friendly environment.
Children’s Centre toy libraries now have a range of toys and equipment suitable for disabled children.
For more information, or to find out the toy library in your area telephone 0191 520 5505 or call into your local Children’s Centre. |
B2b+ Project - The B2b+ project (bump to baby+) is specifically for young mothers, young fathers and parents-to-be, and offers a range of support and advice services across the city.
Qualified staff at B2b+ are committed to providing a high quality, caring environment that promotes appropriate play and learning opportunities for children of young parents accessing education, learning and support groups, offering information and advice on health, parenting, housing and finances.
All young parents under the age of 20 years can access the project. Professionals can also make a referral, and referral forms are available from the Project Manager at: B2b+ Project, The Place, Hendon Health Centre, Meaburn Terrace, Hendon, Sunderland, SR1 2LR.
Tel: 0191 553 2381
Childcare
Commissioned Childcare Service (CCS): This is free childcare for families assessed as meeting the criteria. It provides childcare and transition support for children aged 0-3 years who are subject of a child protection plan or have an active Social Work case. The places are long term until the child accesses nursery education.
For more details or to discuss a referral contact your Health Visitor or other professional involved with your family.
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Free part time nursery places for 3 and 4 year olds: In Sunderland all children aged 3 and 4 are entitled to 15 hours per week free early learning for 38 weeks per year. Some nurseries are able to offer the 15 hours flexibly for example over a minimum of three days or between the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. The 15 hours could also be delivered by more than one nursery.
A document called 'Early Learning in Sunderland' gives more information or alternatively contact Sunderland Families Information Service on 0191 520 5505. |
Support to access childcare: Funding is available to support disabled children and children with additional needs aged 0-18 years to access mainstream childcare. Funding includes bursary funding to provide additional staffing, training, provide duplicate specialist equipment for use in childcare provision or transport. . For more details contact Children's Services Childcare Development Lead, Hetton Centre, Welfare Road, Hetton Le Hole, DH5 9NE Telephone 0191 561 5641 or email liz.clarke@sunderland.gov.uk |
Extended Two year old pathfinder project: The Government have provided funding for the most disadvantaged 2 year olds to have 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year. Parents must be in receipt of workless benefits and meet one of a set of additional criteria, for example, mental health issues of either parent, domestic violence, or a parent with a disability. Places are allocated via a CAF referral. Children are eligible to access the pathfinder the term after they turn 2 years of age and the service ends when the child accesses nursery education.
For more details contact Sue Southern, Childcare Placement Officer on 0191 561 5652 or Wendy Fitzgerald, Project Worker 0191 561 6668. |
Short term childcare: is available for children aged 0-3. The children and families would have additional needs and the childcare would be to support crisis e.g. bereavement, hospitalisation or appointments etc for up to 6 weeks.
Supported childcare: Support is available for families of disabled children up to 3 years old to access childcare for up to 12 week
For more information or to find out what support might be available to you, please contact your Health Visitor or the Children's Services Childcare Development Lead, Hetton Centre, Welfare Road, Hetton le Hole DH5 9NE Telephone: 0191 561 5638, Email: pamela.nield@sunderland.gov.uk
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Families Information Service - Sunderland FIS provides information and guidance around childcare options and support available to help pay for it. For more information visit their website www.familiesinfoservice.com
Support for parents
Sunderland Carers’ Centre – Sunderland Carers’ Centre provides confidential information, advice and support to carers, including parents and carers looking after ill or disabled children. The Centre also offers:
- support to carers at meetings with health, social services and other agencies
- carers support groups, including a group for parent carers
- courses on carer-related subjects
- social activities
- newsletter and monthly parent carer information bulletin
- opportunities for carers to influence service development
- support and activities for young carers (children and young people looking after an ill or disabled brother or sister)
For more information or to join the mailing list to receive the free newsletter and parent carer information bulletin contact Sunderland Carers’ Centre, Thompson Park, Thompson Road, Sunderland SR5 1SF. Tel: (0191) 549 3768
Email: info@sunderlandcarers.co.uk or visit the website www.sunderlandcarers.co.uk |
| Autism In Mind (AIM) -
AIM provides support and information to parents, carers, young people and families living with autistic spectrum disorder. For more information about the group and when it meets contact: Carole & Terry Rutherford at: info@autism-in-mind.co.uk or
Telephone 07557 374206 |
Sunderland Washington & Coalfield Parent Carer Council - Sunderland Washington & Coalfield Parent Carer Council are parents and carers working together to create change, so all their children and young people can learn, make friends, have a voice and be part of everyday community and school life. Find out more from their website. |
Sunderland ADHD Group - Sunderland ADHD (Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder) are a group of parents who meet every forthight to offer advice and support to other parents who have a child with ADHD. Contact Mandy Coleman on 0191 519 2461 or email mandy.coleman2@ntlworld.com |
Columbia Grange Family & Friends - holds a very informal coffee morning once a fortnight during term time, Friday 10am-12noon. All parent carers, guardians, grandparents of children with special needs are welcome. Current members care for children with ASD, Williams Syndrome, Epilepsy and Downs Syndrome amongst others. The group is not just for pupils of Columbia Grange School. Occasional guest speakers will be invited. For more information contact Columbia Grange School, Washington Telephone 0191 2193860 |
Contact a Family - is a national charity aimed at helping families who care for children and young people with any disability or special need. The regional office in the North East offers a range of services including signposting to services and local/national support groups, providing information about specific conditions and producing a wide range of publications and fact sheets on a variety of issues affecting families including free regional newsletters and email bulletins which advertise details of local events and services, leisure opportunites and national news items.
For more information locally contact CAF, Dene Centre, Castle Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle NE3 1PH. Telephone 0191 213 6300 or email northeast.office@cafamily.org.uk |
Disability North - provides free, confidential and independent information on a wide range of disability issues to disabled and older people.
The Disability North Service Team provides advice and guidance on benefits, equipment and disability legislation.
For more information contact Disability North, Dene Centre, Castle Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle NE3 1PH. Telephone 0191 284 0480, or email reception@disabilitynorth.org.uk or visit their website at www.disabilitynorth.org.uk |
Sensory/Communication Difficulites
Sensory Support - The Sensory Support Team provides a range of rehabilitation and reablement support services to people who have a visual or hearing impairment. Specialist workers have knowledge of visual and hearing impairments and following a comprehensive consultation (assessment of need) will offer support, advice and possible provision of equipment all aimed at promoting the independence of the individual.
For more information about help that can be offered by this team contact: Sensory Support Team, Reablement Services, Independent Living Centre, Claymere Road, Leechmere Industrial Estate, Sunderland, SR2 9TS
Telephone: 0191 520 5555
 A brand new Family Sign Language Website - has been launched by the National Deaf Children's Society. The website has been designed to help your family learn British Sign Language (BSL) in a fun an friendly way.
Visit the new site and try it out for yourself.
Listen When I Talk - A good practice guidance document to help schools, nurseries and educational provisions to meet the needs of children with severe communication difficulties who may need to use a Voice Output Communication Aid has been produced as the result of a joint initiative between City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust (CHS) and Sunderland Children’s Services. Further information can be obtained from Sue Fox, Speech and Language Therapy Department. The Lodge, Children's Centre, Durham Road, Sunderland. SR3 4A. Telephone 0191 5699122
Download a copy of the guidance here or request a hard copy from Mike Stansfield, Specialist Support team for Children with Physical and Medical Needs, Oxclose Community School, Dilston Close, Washington, Tyne and Wear NE38 0LN
Telephone 0191 4195127.
Parent involvement
Sunderland City Council is committed to parent participation and takes every opportunity to listen to parents views. Parents have been able to contribute to consultations around changes to services and service developments. For example a group of parents were involved with the redevelopment of the Silksworth Wellness Centre and some of the provision of short break activities.
The Council also works very closely with a number of parents groups including the Sunderland, Washington and Coalfield Parent Carer Council and the Sunderland Carers Centre. More information is available from the following sites:
Dads
Flexible working -
Did you know 91% of new dads take time off around the birth of their child? You may also be able to ask for flexible working. Find out more .....
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Dads have an equally important part to play in the raising of their children and also need help and support. Netmums website has a page dedicated to Dads - it will hopefully give you the help and advice you need, or at least point you in the right direction. |
Complaints
Children’s Services aims to provide quality services to all customers at all times. Most people who use our services are happy with them, however, if you are unhappy with the service you get and wish to make a complaint, they have a complaints procedure to help you do this. Whatever the reason for your concern, they want to hear about the problem so that they can go about putting it right as quickly as possible.
They are pleased to hear from anyone who has any comments or complaints about their services as these help to plan and improve services. However, not all issues raised will be dealt with in exactly the same way. Some may be dealt with under other procedures. For more information visit the Council's Customer Service section of their website or access an electronic Children's Services Statutory Complaints form..
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Local Sunderland Information
