We believe that each client is unique, and their care systems should support this. Read more
Understanding our services – How our 24-hour nursing care can enhance your loved one’s life.
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Understanding the different types of MS – how to choose the right care for your loved one
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, leaving your loved one with difficulties that require the highest quality of care. Read more
Supporting a loved one with a spinal injury: rehabilitation and care
Rehabilitation and care for spinal injuries can often become frustrating to navigate if you are unsure of what the best care for your loved one is. Read more
A guide to caring for those with Epidermolysis Bullosa
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disorder which makes the skin very fragile to touch, leaving it vulnerable to blister and wound. Read more
Understanding Huntington’s disease and what your next steps should be
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, you might be concerned about what this really means.
Helping school leavers with SEND take their next steps
Young people with special educational needs and disabilities often need more support, especially when it comes to transitioning between life stages.
Leaving school is a big change for every young adult, and taking the next step can be daunting.
Knowing their options can ensure you and your child can make the right choice for them.
Preparation at school
The support system in place for children with SEND places importance on preparing them for adulthood.
Schools legally must provide career advice from Year 8 onwards, and for children with SEND, this must be specifically tailored.
Teachers and staff are recommended to work with employers, housing agencies, and disability organisations to help children understand what options are available for the future.
Some children with complex needs also have an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan. This plan must focus on preparing for adulthood from Year 9 onwards, helping your child put plans in place to achieve the future they want.
Becoming a young person
Under the SEND system, a child is classed as a young person from the final Friday in June after they turn 16.
As a young person, they gain rights separate from their parents. This means they can:
- Request an EHC needs assessment
- Make decisions about their current EHC plan
- Ask for a personal budget
This means that whilst you can still guide your child, as a young adult they gain more control over their education.
Post 16 education
In the UK, young people must stay in education until they are 18.
Whilst they can leave school at 16, education or training must continue, even if combined with paid or voluntary work.
There are a few different paths that your child can choose.
Progressing to sixth form
Staying at school offers young people familiarity, which is ideal for young people and children not ready to move to a different type of setting.
SEND support is also continued into sixth form by many schools. This means that your child can get extra support whilst completing their GCSEs, BTECs and A Levels.
Colleges
Mainstream and Specialist Further Education colleges provide a range of courses your child might prefer. They offer a wider range of subjects than most sixth forms, giving your child a chance to pursue something they are more interested in.
They offer a different environment to schools, but it is often a stepping stone to more independence.
Many mainstream colleges also offer SEND support. This can come in the form of:
- Accessible information
- Mentoring
- Specialist tuition
- Assistive technology
- One-to-one and small-group learning
- Therapy
Alternative training options
Classroom-based education does not work for everyone and often can be difficult for children and young people with SEND.
Training options such as apprenticeships, traineeships, and supported internships offer young people a chance to both learn in a new setting and experience the workplace environment.
These options allow young people to work whilst remaining in education and receiving qualifications.
Taking the time to talk to your child about the future is important.
Our trained staff can offer support for children and young adults with SEND, as well as their families.
Get in touch today for help and support for your child.
Supporting a loved one’s transition from hospital to home
Being discharged from the hospital can be daunting for those with complex needs.
To ease anxieties and ensure a smooth transition, it is important to set up a care plan so your loved one has the right support when they move home.
Supporting parents of children with challenging behaviour
For many, being a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. However, it can also be the most challenging.
This is particularly true for parents of children with complex needs or behavioural issues.
Whilst the care of the child is always a priority, it is also important for parents to take care of themselves.
What is challenging behaviour?
Challenging behaviour isn’t exclusive to children with complex needs. It is common for children and teenagers to lash out when they are experiencing big or new emotions.
However, sometimes challenging behaviour is a more frequent occurrence and becomes difficult to deal with.
Some examples of challenging behaviour are:
- Tantrums or angry outbursts
- Regularly shouting, swearing, or being violent
- Damaging items in the home
- Refusing boundaries and routines
- Impulsive and risky behaviour
- Bullying or unkind behaviour towards others
- Refusing to engage in conversation
Understanding your child
Unlike adults who can recognise, process, and communicate their emotions, children often struggle to understand how they are feeling.
It is important to remember that whilst your child is acting out, they are just expressing how they feel in the only way they know how. Remembering this information in the moment can be tough, but ultimately helps you to rationalise and understand their behaviour.
Getting to the root of how your child is feeling can help improve their behaviour.
Whilst getting to the root cause of challenging behaviour can be tough, there is plenty of support available.
Don’t go through it alone
When you have a child with complex needs, it is important that you both have the support that you need.
Collaborating with other adults helps to build a support system. This can be educators, healthcare professionals, therapists, and other caregivers who are all able to contribute to your child’s care and wellbeing.
At Almond Care Children’s Services, we can provide any additional support that you need.
Our trained team works with you and your child to create a tailored care plan, suitable for the whole family’s needs.
If your child needs support, get in touch with our team today.
How to know what type of care is best for you
Whether you are searching for care services for yourself or your loved ones, it is important to ensure that you get the appropriate care for your needs.
Having the right care in place can be life-changing for those with complex needs.
How can therapy benefit children with complex needs?
Children with complex needs often need more help and support. Sometimes, this comes in the form of therapy or counselling.
At Almond House, we have an in-house psychotherapist who can provide bespoke therapy tailored to every child’s needs. Therapy provides children with an opportunity to explore and talk about their emotions in a safe environment and works towards helping children understand and process their feelings.
Different types of therapy
Therapy is different for every individual child. However, there are many recognised therapy frameworks that are offered by counsellors and therapists. They include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): focuses on children understanding their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT): focuses on understanding the relationships that children have with their peers, parents, or carers.
- General counselling or psychotherapy: this is usually tailored to the individual child and their specific needs.
- Art, music, drama, and play therapies: help children explore and express their feelings in a safe way.
Each form of therapy can be beneficial to individual children. Our psychotherapist can help identify the most effective form of therapy for each individual child, ensuring that they are getting the help and support that they need.
How therapy helps
There are many ways in which therapy can help a child. Broadly, therapy aims to improve the general emotional well-being of the recipient. That can be by improving or stabilising their moods and encouraging self-care practices.
For children with complex needs, therapy can also help with socialisation. This can be as simple as aiding them with making friends, or as complex as dealing with difficult behaviours. Our highly trained psychotherapist can help individual children with their struggles.
Therapists can also help children overcome any educational issues that they are facing. They can help advise strategies to be put in place to help children learn in a way that works for them.
With International Stress Week coming up, now is the time to start thinking about therapy. Working with a psychotherapist may sound stressful, but it can help reduce the anxiety and stress of children with complex needs.
Accessing therapy can also help to reduce stress for parents, carers, and families of children with complex needs. Therapists can help provide support to parents and carers of their patients, helping them gain a deeper understanding of their child’s needs.
If you are interested in learning more about our therapy services, get in touch today.
