If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, you might be concerned about what this really means.
Understanding Huntington’s disease and what your next steps should be
Complex Care
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.
What dangers do vulnerable people face in winter?
At this time of year, the risk of illness increases for everyone, but it can be particularly harmful to people who are clinically vulnerable.
From the drop in temperature to the increased pressure on the NHS, it is important to be prepared for the difficulties of winter.
Who is classed as vulnerable?
The NHS states that people who are vulnerable in winter include:
- People aged 65 and over
- Children under 5 years old
- People with a low income
- People with long-term health conditions
- People who are disabled
- Pregnant people
- People who have mental illnesses
Increased risk of illnesses
In winter, we see an increase in illnesses. The common cold, flu and COVID-19 can all prove to be serious for people who are vulnerable.
If you are classed as clinically vulnerable, you may be invited by your GP to receive both a flu jab and a COVID-19 booster vaccination. These vaccinations will not make you immune, but they will reduce the risk of serious illness.
Keeping warm
One of the most dangerous elements of winter is the temperature. It is advised that you should aim to heat your house to a temperature of at least 18C, particularly in the rooms you are using most.
Being cold can lead to the common cold or cases of flu becoming more serious.
There are grants, benefits, and advice available to help make your home more efficient, improve your heating, or help with bills.
For more information, you can call the Government helpline on 0800 444 202 or go to the Government website here.
NHS pressure
Due to all the above, the NHS faces increased pressure at this time of year. The influx of patients means that wait times increase and services become less accessible.
If you are feeling unwell, it is important that you get the help you need.
Pharmacies can offer advice on medications and whether you should visit your GP surgery.
If you need to visit your GP, please still do so. You can also contact NHS 111, either online or by phone in a non-emergency medical situation. Having the right care in place can help to avoid these situations.
Help and support
The dangers of winter mean that many people need more support. Whilst friends and relatives can provide help with small gestures, such as buying groceries and collecting prescriptions, many clinically vulnerable people need more at-home care.
Our highly trained carers can provide nursing care and support for those with complex needs. From hospital discharge services to live-in care, we provide different levels of care for those who need it.
If you or a loved one needs specialised care this winter, get in touch to find out more about our services.
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