Christmas is coming... and Special People North is supporting the

local community!

During the weekend of 26th- 28th November the Alderley Edge Methodist Church, as part of its church spire appeal, is providing the venue for local organisations to display a Christmas tree decorated with their own unique themes. Local schools, buisnesses, the Scouts, Guides and Brownies are already going to be there along with the British Legion and many, many more. This will be the first time Special People North has participated, so if you have a free hour or so try and pop along.

The Church is organising during the weekend a musical extravaganza, and I’ve attached their flyer so you can see everything that’s going on, and not forgetting the event is being opened by none other than our celebrity local author Alan Garner. Hope to see you there… and watch out for photos on my December blog!

http://www.alderleyedgemethodistchurch.com/

Christmas is coming… and special people need extra special support... and for one family this will be with the help of their lucky balloon!

In my last blog I told you all about the balloon race that was held in Sandbach as part of the Cheshire Voice family day, back in September. I have just received an e-mail to say a label has been found, and I am waiting with anticipation for the post to arrive so that I can share the good news with the winning ticket holder!  Meanwhile here's a glimpse of our stand, our pink tree, our flyers and our Special People North balloons (and that's me there too...)

I also wanted to share with you the editorial that went into the Cheshire Independent newspaper this month on page 36. This paper is distributed free via supermarkets, libraries and all sorts of public venues and is full of GOOD news, leaving the bad and sad for all the other publications!

SPECIAL PEOPLE DESERVE SPECIAL SUPPORT OVER FESTIVE SEASON
One glance at the shops and you would think that Christmas was next week! It won’t be long Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night are both a distant memory and the focus for a lot of people will be the festive season. With this in mind Special People North will ensure there is support for those families with a special needs child or adult in the family during this busy time.

Special People North founder Joy says “At this time of year we know there is so much more to do, whether it’s writing to Santa or writing Christmas cards, shopping for the kids or shopping for a new party dress, going to visit Santa or going to visit grandma. Our Special People North support workers are there for exactly these times. Which means that the family has greater personal choice – including the opportunity and freedom to spend precious time exactly how they want to. Due to our flexible approach support can be either with the rest of the family or on a one-to-one basis”.

Special People North prides itself on maintaining the flexibility to provide support workers when they are wanted and for as long as they are wanted, during the day or night, week-days, week-ends and bank holidays entirely dependent on the family’s requirements.
Special People North provides support workers, personal assistants and buddies for children and adults with special needs including physical difficulties, learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders.

Our support workers are carefully selected to meet specific needs, and are always introduced to the family in advance, ensuring the highest quality dependable domiciliary service.
For further information including our extensive range of available services visit the Special People North website: www.specialpeople.org.uk or call Joy on 07774 230168 or e-mail joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Family fun day in Sandbach, Cheshire on Sunday 26th September 2010... including a Special People North Balloon Race!

This is an amazing opportunity to come to a free event that has been organised by Cheshire East Parents and Carers Voice and supported by other organisations, for families that have or care for a child or young person with special needs. There are loads of activities being organised for the children, indoors and outdoors so bad weather won't stop the fun!

I am organising a balloon race, and so I have been busy this week getting lots of lovely Special People North balloons printed! If you come along on the day and buy a ticket, then release your balloon into the Cheshire sky, you have the opportunity to win at least several hours of respite care absolutely free.

Also on my table will be information about SPACE, the East Cheshire ASC Parents Support Group,  and SPACE for KIDS - a new and exciting club for children between 5 and 19 years.

Sharon Tarbard, a specialist autism teacher will also be represented, and there will be lots of information about her work and examples of her methods available to look through.

Find out more about Special People North, SPACE and Sharon Tarbard by coming along from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you there!

See you all on Sunday - more information including the venue address below!

BBC Radio Manchester debut for Joy Daglish on the Heather Stott coffee club show!


Earlier in the summer I was contacted by one of the BBC’s broadcast journalists about appearing on the Coffee Club show. Well that’ll be a first I thought – and it’ll be great to be able to tell people about Special People North.

So this is how it was that on Wednesday 18th August I found myself driving very nervously to BBC Manchester’s studio, and along with two other members of the public was live on the radio for the best part of an hour. I was the new girl – the other two had done this before – but Heather and the production team put me completely at ease.


I had the opportunity to speak at some length about what Special People North can do for families that have children/young adults with special needs. Not sure my radio voice makes me a natural DJ so I don’t think there will be much moonlighting on the radio for me! But let me know what your think.


If you are interested in listening the link is below to the BBC iplayer site, it’ll be accessible until next Tuesday 24th August so don’t wait too long to listen.


If you'd like to receive email updates when we post articles, just let me know by emailing me at joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk and as ever if you need to call me please do so on 07774 230168


The link is below and the programme also has a heading of “Taekwondo Championship in Manchester” because during the show a reporter came in to talk about training with the team.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p009bw8b

Recent press releases in Cheshire publications

In case you have missed seeing the local press coverage about Special People North, I wanted to share with you some of the editorial that has gone into the local press.

The Cheshire Independent newspaper (distributed free of charge in Macclesfield, Tytherington, Bollington, Prestbury, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Handforth, Poynton and Bramhall) published the following article last month on page 12, and also had a lovely colourful promotional piece too.

"Time to meet some Special People"

Founder and owner Joy Daglish will be speaking about Special People North when Park Lane School holds a coffee morning on 9th July.

Park Lane School, Macclesfield is a Specialist School for Communication and Interaction, and is an appropriate venue to introduce Special People North and its wide range of services. Park Lane parents will be hearing in particular about what is available in the school holidays, as well as in term time before and after school.

Joy founded Special People North in 2009 in response to unfulfilled needs for specialist domiciliary support in the north-west. It expands on the success of Special People in London started over 12 years ago by Joy’s cousin Julie who has a child with special needs. She formed the organisation in response to her difficult experience in finding appropriate, high quality child care.

What differentiates Special People North from other services is the organisation’s flexible approach and attention to detail when meeting the needs of individual clients. Joy takes the time to discover what each family needs and when it’s needed, before deciding on the most appropriate action and appointing a suitable support worker.

Joy said “Special People North recognises that solutions to families’ needs can be extremely varied. Help may be needed before or after school, during holidays, or simply for babysitting. Parents and carers may need a break from round-the-clock care, so we can provide respite for anything from an evening or a night – we can even provide a support worker to accompany a family holiday.”

Special People North addresses the needs of a wide spectrum of families, including both private clients and those accessing direct payments. Joy said “We take the time to find out what an individual family needs and our support workers are always introduced to the family in advance. I shall be delighted to discuss anyone’s particular needs, or simply explain our range of services.”

For more information, please call Joy on 07774 230168 or visit www.specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Focusing on the school summer holidays that are about to start, Families in Cheshire magazine published in the July/August 2010 edition an article featuring how Special People North can help families.

"A special service for those with special needs"

Do you have a special needs child in the family and need some help during the school holidays? Are you undecided on summer holiday arrangements?

In response to demand from our clients, Special People North is launching its latest service in time for the lengthy annual summer school holidays.

From our extensive range of support workers Special People North can find the right person to accompany a family with special needs on holiday. Which means that the family has greater choices – including the opportunity and freedom to relax and spend precious time exactly how they want to. Special People North understands the how the dynamics of every family differ, just as every family wants something different from their holiday.

Excursions and days out can also be covered and supported. For example: a trip to a family event or a day at the seaside. Due to Special People North’s flexible approach this can be either with the rest of the family or on a one-to-one basis.

Special People North prides itself on maintaining the flexibility to provide our support workers when they are wanted and for as long as they are wanted, during the day or night, week-days and week-ends entirely dependent on the family’s requirements.

Special People North provides support workers and personal assistants for children and young adults with special needs including physical difficulties, learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders.

Our support workers are carefully selected to meet your specific needs, ensuring the highest quality dependable domiciliary service.

For further information including our extensive range of available services isit the NEW Special People North website: www.specialpeople.org.uk E:joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk T: 07774 230168.

 

Changing definitions… Autism and Aspergers

Listening to Radio 4’s regular programme “All in the Mind” on 8th June my attention was grabbed by the interview with Professor Terry Brewer from the University of Leicester, and Daniel Carlat, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine in America.

The discussion centred on the upcoming publication of the 5th edition of “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders” which is currently in consultation, planning and preparation, due for publication in some time in 2012 or 2013.

Of great significance is the recommendation of new categories for learning disorders and a single diagnostic category, “autism spectrum disorders” that will incorporate the current diagnoses of autistic disorders, Asperger’s Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder (not otherwise specified).


In other words, the current proposal is that Asperger’s Syndrome, which had only been introduced into the 4th edition of the DSM will no longer exist as a separate diagnosis.


Dr Michael First M.D., Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University added that the definition and diagnosis of Asperger’s “had gone a long way to overcoming the stigma of autism… now if this proposal goes through Asperger’s will evaporate and it will not be possible to differentiate mild from severe cases… ultimately the distinction of high functioning cases will go”.


Grasp, one of the largest Asperger’s support groups in America is following the controversy and debate on their website www.grasp.org including the issues of identity and stigma and lots more besides. I recommend you take a look.


On the radio, the debate continued. Professor Terry Brewer said “the reclassification could be unhelpful as the Asperger’s label opens doors…it could be difficult to see the dividing line between Asperger’s and Autism...the issue was one of a diagnosis being completely missed and that most adults with autism condition are unrecognised”.


Daniel Carlat added that the DSM 5th edition was still work in progress and no decisions have finally been taken as to which diagnoses will be in it and how they will be defined. Over the next year diagnostic criteria will be refined and field testing research will be undertaken.


So no conclusive decisions at this stage and if you are interested in following this issue directly, go to www.dsm5.org


So what do you think…. will this affect your family, your diagnosis?

If you'd like to receive email updates when we post articles, just let me know by emailing me at joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk and as ever if you need to call me please do so on 07774 230168
 
Resources:-

Broadcast of “All in the Mind” 8th June 2010, Radio 4

CRB rules may change under coalition government rethink of vetting and barring


With the theme of my last blog (about vetting and barring) in my mind, I wanted to share with you that the new coalition government is reconsidering the system that is due to be phased in from July 2010.


The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) says it has met with senior Government officials to discuss the issues recruiters face with CRB checks and the forthcoming Vetting and Barring Scheme. The scheme is being reviewed by the new Government.

The recently published coalition agreement states:
“We will review the criminal records and vetting and barring regime and scale it back to common sense levels.”


Commenting on potential changes, Anne Fairweather, Head of Public Policy at the REC, said:

"We are pressing home the point that the repeat CRB checking of temporary workers just leads to bureaucracy for agencies and expense to workers. We are fighting for the re-introduction of the portability service, which the CRB used to run, to improve this situation."


In the meantime at Special People North we will ensure that CRB checks are undertaken as normal and will wait eagerly for news about any changes to the new ISA procedures.

If you'd like to receive email updates when we post articles, just let me know by emailing me at joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk and as ever if you need to call me please do so on 07774 230168.

Resources:-
Workplace Law Network June 3rd 2010

Vetting and Barring – the background, new rules and changes to CRB disclosures, and loopholes


Current regulations
Anyone working for Special People North (and so with children or vulnerable adults), is required to have the enhanced level of CRB Disclosure.

But we have to realise that a CRB Disclosure is rather like an MOT certificate on a car. It is a ‘snapshot’, showing that nothing is known at that time. An MOT is not a guarantee that a car is roadworthy, and a Disclosure certificate is not a guarantee that an employee is not a potential abuser.

The major concern, the nightmare scenario, is the risk of employing a member of staff who is a danger to children or vulnerable adults, but who has not yet been caught.


The background
Many of us will remember the summer of 2002, when the whole nation shared the dashed hopes and anguish of the community of Soham in Cambridgeshire when the bodies of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were found. The subsequent arrest and trial of Ian Huntley brought to light weaknesses in the recruitment process which had been deployed when Huntley was appointed caretaker of Soham Village College. Huntley was living with Maxine Carr, who was employed as a teaching assistant at the primary school which Holly and Jessica attended; it was the girls’ acquaintance with Carr that led them to the disastrous encounter with Huntley.

The subsequent Bichard Inquiry resulted in a new scheme - The Vetting and Barring Scheme - and is central to a new framework which enables information sharing to support public protection.


The new scheme
The new Independent Safeguarding Authority will operate the Vetting and Barring Scheme. Once fully operational, the Vetting and Barring Scheme will require all those involved in working with children or vulnerable adults (which is now called “a regulated activity”) to register and have their registration status checked. Those who become registered will be provided with a unique reference number and we will verify a potential employee's membership before allowing them to start work.


When does it start?
From July 2010 all new employees and volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults can register for the new Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS). From November 2010 it will be illegal to start people who are not registered with the Scheme.


The differences
The crucial differences between the new system and the old are:
• Prospective staff are required to register with the ISA before they take up or move to a post where they will be working in a regulated activity.
• Not to do so will be a criminal offence.
• Special People North as an employer must check the registration of all of its new employees with the ISA. Failure to make the check will also be a criminal offence.
• If at any time a registered individual is suspected of involvement with inappropriate activities, we will have to inform the ISA, and the ISA will follow this up and may decide to bar the individual.

The benefits, therefore, are that:
• We may have a greater degree of confidence about employees, who will have had to commit themselves to being investigated before they start work in regulated activity (this would hopefully be a deterrent to potential abusers).
• The check made by the ISA will be more robust, as a result of better inter-agency intelligence; and
• As with all employers, Special People North would not need to re-check Disclosures every three years (as is currently best practice) because we would be notified automatically if an employee’s registration has been revoked.


MAJOR LOOPHOLE
The ISA has made it very clear that the Scheme does not extend to “personal and family relationships” including:
• Those employed (e.g. home tutors, personal assistants) by domestic employers (e.g. parents).
• The self-employed (e.g. sports coaches)
• People who receive direct payments from social services.

The ISA is also saying that a barred person must not work in regulated activities – but if a family doesn’t have to check the ISA register how will they know?

Therefore families deciding to employ a Personal Assistant themselves, will not have to check the ISA register and in our view this is a significant loophole that barred individuals or potential offenders will find.


How Special People North can help
By engaging with Special People North, where as the employer we will always check the ISA register, the risk of falling through the loophole is eliminated. Additionally we as employer will handle all the recruitment procedures, ensure compliance with discrimination legislation, process the payroll, report to and pay HMRC as and when necessary, and provide full employers and public liability insurance. Where required we can also handle direct payments via a managed bank account. All as a part of our service to provide appropriate high-quality dependable domiciliary respite care. Why would a family take a risk and do all this themselves when we at Special People North can do it all for you?


If you'd like to receive email updates when we post articles, just let me know by emailing joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk and as ever if you need to call please do so on 07774 230168.


Resources:-
Workplace Law Network
HM Government - The Vetting and Barring Scheme Guidance March 2010
ISA referral Guidance document
ISA website www.isa-gov.org.uk