Hounslow Parent Carers Forum

covid-19 resources & information

SUPPORT FROM HOUNSLOW PARENT CARERS FORUM

The Forum is in the process of contacting all the parent carers that we have a phone number for. It will take a few days to contact everyone but If you haven’t received a call and would like to talk to us please email us with your number. Although we cannot offer direct support e.g. provide items such as food etc. we can point you in the right direction. Even if you have no particular thing you want help with but just want to speak to another adult we will be happy to be a listening ear.

From the conversations we have had so far, by far the biggest thing you are having to deal with is anxiety. Not just you but your children and young people too. It is particulary difficult at this time for anyone with learning difficulties, autism etc. to understand the way the world is at the moment.

If you know another parent carer who may want to join us please, with their permission of course, let us know and we will put them on the list for newsletters etc.

For those of us who can do online activities there are so many resources the list is endless and it’s very easy to feel totally overwhelmed. We have listed lots of links to advice and ideas below.
The Parent Carer Forum are sending this information out to help support you during the Coronavirus lockdown. These are for information purposes and for you to assess whether relevant or not and not a recommendation from Hounslow Parent Carers Forum. Apologies if there is duplication but these items come from many different sources.

ANXIETY

POD CASTS TO HELP WITH ANXIETY
Paul McKenna Pod Casts
Paul McKenna has produced 3 pod casts which you can find on Heart.co.uk. The titles are:
Control Stress (13.30 mins),
Deep Sleep (9 mins) and
Happy Relationships (11 mins).

https://www.heart.co.uk/podcasts/paul-mckenna-positivity-coronavirus/

or a youtube video

A Happy Trance (24.40 mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIpmZez4WHw

There are more things that people can look up themselves from here.
https://www.heart.co.uk/podcasts/paul-mckenna-positivity-coronavirus/

FACEBOOK GROUP

Hounslow PCF Sharing & Caring Group

If you would like to keep in touch with other parent carers we have a facebook group called Hounslow PCF Sharing & Caring Group which any Hounslow Parent Carer can join.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hounslowpcfsharingandcaring/

HOME SCHOOLING & MANAGING BEHAVIOUR

Some really good advice from the London Regtion Parent Carers Forum.

Supporting your child at home during lockdown:
Ideas from the Educational Psychology Service

1. Go back to basics. If your child is unsettled and overwhelmed, focus on supporting with their sleep patterns, eating and drinking regularly, and having periods of activity and rest. Everything else can wait.

2. Filter through the internet noise. Lots of parents are posting about what they’re up to (but remember that they probably aren’t posting their bad days!). The live sessions, learning materials and helpful resources flying around are great but can feel overwhelming. Take what’s helpful to you, and leave the rest. If you need some time away from groups and social media, that’s ok too.

3. Learning is all around. Home schooling families don’t sit down at a table with workbooks for six hours a day, and you don’t have to either. You have always been your child’s main teacher, and your child won’t ‘fall behind’ if you focus on daily life and doing things you all enjoy.

4. Do what works for your family. What daily rhythms feel right? How much structure do you need? Structure doesn’t have to mean formal activities, although it can do, if that’s what your children need. There is no wrong way to do this.

5. Pace yourself- this is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t use up all your resources in the second week. Build some down time for yourself into each day- even if this means your child getting more screen time than you’d ideally like.

6. Ask for help when you need it. Many local and national organisations are still supporting families. These include National Autistic Society, local SENDIASS Services, Mencap and Young Minds.

Challenging Behaviour Foundation

The CBF has produced special guidance for families during the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/information/covid19information.html

ON-LINE RESOURCES

including advice about reducing anxiety
Health Matters
On-line activities

HOW TO GET HELP

If you are having difficulties getting help send us an email or call 07881 788483 and we will try for you.

HOW TO GET HELP

If you have received the Sheilding Letter titled

‘Important advice to keep you safe from coronavirus’

But nothing else

Or you think you or someone you live with (or are aware of) is extremely vulnerable and have not received a letter

If you have had a shielding letter – a letter which says that you are supposed to be isolating for 12 weeks and are very vulnerable.

You can register yourself or on behalf of someone else by putting in the following in the search engine

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

Hounslow Council are sending out regular updates with lots of information in a newsletter which you can subscribe to. This edition includes advice videos and exercise videos for children. The link is below:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHOUNSLOW/bulletins/2869366

CONTACT NEWSLETTER. See below link for the whole newsletter and to subscribe
Lots of good information including:
Guidance from Public Health England on supporting children and young people’s mental health
Tips to reduce anxiety
Activities and on-line resources.
The Contact website page to register for newsletter is on the link below

KEEPING HEALTHY

Also look under Hounslow Council Info
Skylarks (Activities)

EXERCISE FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS
Below is government guidance about exercise.
15. Can I exercise more than once a day if I need to due to a significant health condition?

You can leave your home for medical need. If you (or a person in your care) have a specific health condition that requires you to leave the home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area - then you can do so. This could, for example, include where individuals with learning disabilities or autism require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day - ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional.

Even in such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those exercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your local area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times.

K&DYoga

Kelly from Our Barn is on Facebook Live 10.30am weekdays with Yoga and chair yoga, suitable for young and old. Go to K&DYoga facebook page or their website kdyoga.

ACTIVITIES

From Fiona at SKYLARKS
I just thought you might like to know that Skylarks Charity have now got quite a few of our activities up and running online:
Drama Club with Cassie from Knots Arts - Story time videos on the website
Karate Club with Tony - Videos are now available to watch and join in via our website.
Yoga with Stefan and Melinda - videos are now available on our website for you and your children to take part in
We've also got 2 support groups you can join via Zoom:
"Time to Share - our Wednesday evening Zoom informal support group for parents at 8pm with Gabi
Phyz support group is meeting this evening at 8.30pm. Request to join by mailing info@phyzgroup.org.uk
Yoga for parents
Yoga Nidra podcast with Sona. - find a quiet space and listen here
Yoga session with Integral Harmony - help yourself to unwind by watching a video made specially for us by Stefan and Melinda
For more information on all our current activities and to book, please visit www.skylarks.charity
If you are not already a member, you need to register first at www.skylarks.charity/register
Everything is free of charge and open to families living in any borough.

https://www.skylarks.charity

futurelearn.com

More things to do!! I’m sure you’ve had enough of being told what to do but if you are looking for ideas this might spark your imagination, although I doubt any of you are going to be able to write a novel during lockdown, but you never know!!

https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/50-free-things-you-can-do-during-lockdown

For free home energy advice in response to Covid-19
click below

Click here for link

THE LAW AND SPECIAL NEEDS

LEGAL & PRACTICAL
Lots of great advice from Irwin Mitchell and free webinars on all sorts of legal matters relevant to the current situation. Also information around working from home and cybersecurity.
https://irwinmitchell-email.com/10X2-6TN0P-281G5GN6B5/cr.aspx?v=0

APOLOGIES FOR BEING TOO LATE FOR THIS ONE BUT YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO ON THEIR WEBSITE EARLY NEXT WEEK

FREE WEBINAR
Sinclairslaw.co.uk
COVID-19 Series – “The Special Needs Masterclass”
3pm on 17th April 2020.

For details on how to log in - go to sinclairslaw.co.uk
Speakers include:
Vivienne Clifford Educational Psychologist
Juanita Hurley Speech and Language Therapist
Melinda Eriksen Occuational Therapist.
David Lawson Barrister.
Charlotte Hadfield Barrister
Chris Barnet Senior Associate Solicitor

Topics

How to support our children whilst in isolation.
How to prepare them for transition back to school and transition generally during these times.
What remedial help may be needed for valuable time missed by the special needs pupil or young person.
How to prepare for tribunal during this crisis.
How can assessments be done?
How to evaluate sensory difficulties during this time?
What mental health issues to be alert to?
What are the benefits and burdens for children with special needs during these extraordinary times?
What can be done legally if emergency action is needed?

SURVEYS

We currently have one survey running which is on how the schools have looked after children and parent carers during the lockdown. This will run for a couple more weeks and can be found on the Local Offer - under "What's New" on the front page

Challenging Behaviour Survey

CLOSED - if you are interested in the results of this survey please email us on hounslowpcf@gmail.com

Hounslow PCF have been running a survey on challenging behaviour. If this is a problem for you, and you havn't filled it in previously, we would be grateful if you could spend 5-10 minutes to fill it in.

The link is below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddeqBghKLNPPfoVtOiQs93PXXxYlIXjvPfBqMo0TIo8xLqjw/viewform?usp=sf_link

SURVEY – SOCIAL CARE MONITORING
If you have had problems with social care since the outbreak of coronavirus you may want to fill in this survey being carried out by Inclusion London. Link is below.

https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/campaigns-and-policy/act-now/social-care-monitoring-form/

COURSES (fees apply)

PAID FOR COURSES
On-line course – Ollie and his super powers
Emotional Resilience Training £39
https://www.ollieandhissuperpowers.com/collections/training-courses

Online courses
The Girl with the Curley Hair offers lots of webinars and online resources. Particularly relevant to girls with autism but also suitable for boys. There is a cost to these and an annual subscription.
http://www.thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk/events

The information on this page is from the Hounslow Parent Carer's Newsletter. If you would like to receive future newsletters please email hounslowpcf@gmail.com stating whether you are a parent carer or from an organisation, charity etc.