What does SS offer pre-schoolers with SN?

[cktwo]

We had a initial assessment for DD1 last week by a SW from the Disabled Childrens Team. I rang her up today as a follow-up to find out what help can be offered. Basically we can get naff all. If my DD was 8 or older there's loads of things, but basically I on my own.

Is this the way all SS operate? I'm new to all this SS side of things as it seems we should have been refered to the DCT kast year but CDU never bothered.

Hi

Don't worry -- you'll get loads of help and support from other parent!
Can I ask what your daughter's disability is? Maybe someone else can jump in with specific advice.
My son was under the early intervention team from 14 mos. We saw portage (not much cop to be honest - learned much more from mums, books and the internet!)

j
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P.S what's DCT and CDU

Soory. CDU is the Child Development Unit at the hospital. Thats where we had DD assessed. They spat us out of there as soon as we got a Statement of SEN. Nobody told us about that either.
DCT is the Disabled Childrens Team at SS that I mentioned. I didn't even know these people existed until two weeks ago.

DD1 has no diagnosis, just developmental delays, she's non-verbal and has deafness due to glue ear. She also has low muscle tone.

The SW said they could help with toilet training and challenging behaviour at the visit but when I spoke to her today she didn't offer me anything to help with that. I don't understand how this all works

Do you ahve an idea what you want?

IME therapies etc will be provided by referall to all the various professionals.

SS will look at your family needs & help with things like respite etc.
You need to be clear & specific aout what you need & be pushy.

Every carer has the right to carers assessment, this may be agood place to start. Rather than just looking at your DD they will assess the areas you need support in.
So if for example your dd requires much more help & care & it means you are struggling with things like housework or its having an effect on your other children (if you ahve others) you may qualify for respite or a LINK support person. also if you are assessed as qualifying for respite lokk at direct payments (there are people on here with experience of dp)

Whatever you do don't tidy up before they visit, you don't want to give the impression you can juggle all the balls at once & don't need an extra pair of hands occasionaly.

cktwo

were waiting for assessment to from the disabled child team and like you was not told anything by the CDU tea either and much same thing was given dx and left to get on with it

we have dx of GDD,MLD

All I want is somewhere for DD1 to go in the summer holidays. The stupid SW started telling me about all the wonderful places we could access if she was over 8. Thats not much bloody use when she's 4.

She's also rung up today to suggest we take her to a couple of soft play centre over the summer. Well thats a fat lot of help - we already go there and I have to go too

yeah same here , theres nothing here designed for sn kids other than when they hit 5 they can go to a whizz kids club once a week

i figured that anything my ds is going want to do in future i am going have togo to as his carer

TBH there is nothing around here for NT kids of that age without parents supervision so wouldn't expect it for my sn ds.
You may be better trying to get some direct payments & using them toemploy someone to accompany her.

We had no help at all from SS until my ds reached school age. Not what you want to hear but it does seem to be the case. We were told, 'closing your case, try again when your ds is 7yrs old'. Not likely. I badgered and badgered and wrote letters and pushed our case until - et voila - two years later, we finally got some respite care.

If you want respite care, you will have to push hard for it. You will not be offered anything.

It's a fight to the finish. Good luck.

You know what, we're just going to sort something out ourself. DD1's pre-school chuts for summer so we're going to see if we can start a holiday club - maybe a couple of morning a week in the hols for SN and NT children.
If you want something doing, do it yourself........