YVHSC successfully co-ordinates six LHW services in carrying out day to day functions ranging from seeking community views to carrying out independent research. This service delivery experience informs our understanding of the role and structure of Health and social care service provision, key service commissioners, providers and local community partners.
Our experience in each local borough is unique, with geographies and communities differing, local politics, sensitivities and understanding of the HW role varying and the different approaches to the HW, the Health and Wellbeing Board, scrutiny functions and ICS all offering a depth of experience that has only served to strengthen our expertise and experience in delivering LHW services since 2013. Establishment of our HW Directorate in 2019 has enabled the sharing of best practice, tools and techniques to greater effect.
YVHSC Central Services and additional Service Directorates – Carers, Advocacy, SENDIASS, Volunteering and Training, offer resilience, resources, and capacity which add value and provide a backdrop of specialist expertise for our LHW to tap into and benefit from when required.
We are in regular communication with HW England where we have strong and enduring relationships. We have worked to proactively develop closer ties over the past 3 years, benefitting from enhanced resources, training and guidance, whilst supporting and guiding development of the same. We are currently engaged in a HW England national research study, have been early adopters of the Quality Framework tool, benefitting from the full suite of advances and resources, and are supporting development of an enhanced local to national feedback system.
Our experience in community engagement has enabled us to produce a succession of in-depth studies resulting in London’s biggest COVID impact study in a single borough (over 3000 responses). Our strategic and local knowledge of the drivers and partners, as well our actual representatives and representation at Health and Wellbeing Board, scrutiny and more operational working groups is driving positive change in Health and Social Care forward and shaping changes on the ground for local people now and into the future. The organisations expertise and experience is recognised and valued across the network by commissioning and provider partners whom we are regularly approached by to deliver additional commissioned and independent pieces of engagement and research.
YVHSC Healthwatch Services
Healthwatch is your health and social care champion. If you use health services or need care, we want to hear about your experiences. We have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care.
Each local Healthwatch receives funding from their local authority and are social enterprises or organisations that work for the good of their community. Healthwatch is your health and social care champion. We make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care.
Healthwatch have a legal power to visit health and social care services and see them in action. This power to Enter and View services offers a way for Healthwatch to meet some of their statutory functions and allows them to identify what is working well with services and where they could be improved.
YVHSC SENDIASS Services
YVHSC SENDIASS offers free, confidential, accurate and impartial advice and support to families living in Ealing with a child up to the age of 25 who has special educational needs or a disability (SEND).
We provide easily accessible information, advice and support to children and young people up to the age of 25 with SEND. We also work with parents and carers to raise awareness of their rights and help families make informed decision about matters relating to SEND, including issues such as health and social care. We support families to develop and maintain good relationships with schools, colleges, the local authority and other professionals in order to secure the best outcomes for the person with SEND.
We aim to:
ensure parents and young people understand everything and can fully participate in the EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) process by explaining how the EHCP assessment process works.
promote positive outcomes between parents/carers, schools, colleges and Local Authority agencies.
ensure the views, needs and wishes of parents/carers, children and young people are included in the EHCP assessment.
We will support you on an impartial basis, which means that: we do not favour one side over another; we treat all parties involved respectfully and fairly. We do not have a stake in the outcome and are not involved in the Council’s decision-making process.
What does the service provide?
Individual appointments for parents/carers or young people at our office or in a school setting, an Early Years centre, college or youth centre (for young people with SEND).
Support for families via our telephone helpline, email, 1:1 meetings, school and college meetings and annual reviews. We would always aim to respond to enquiries at the first possibility (and up to 48 hrs).
Information and guidance on how to apply for statutory assessment; this includes relevant documents and evidence to be submitted.
Information and advice on SEND support in early years provision, mainstream schools and post-16 institutions.
Facilitate communication between families and schools/professionals and support in resolving disputes.
Guidance on local provision in mainstream, resourced mainstream and special schools.
Early disagreement resolution, including help with mediation and preparation for first-tier SEND Tribunal.
Support and assistance to draft letters and any other supporting paperwork.
Review EHC plans with parents/carers to ensure that objectives and outcomes of the special education provision meet the child/young person’s needs.
Advice and support through the process of transition from one school to another, including exclusion and complaints on matters related to SEN and Disability.
Access to clear information to parents/carers and young people about access to the Local Authority’s ‘Local Offer’, how it is used and its availability; Information on other organisations, groups or specialist services locally or nationally if further support is required.
Support families in special circumstances to apply for transport for their children with disabilities.
Sessions, talks and workshops for parents/carers and young people to understand relevant SEND procedures and legislation.
Information to Young people about apprenticeships and supported internships.
Your Voice in Health and Social Care (YVHSC) has three Directorates - Healthwatch, SENDIASS and Carers services. YVHSC has an excellent reputation for quality service delivery built up over 10 years. We work at the heart of local communities, consulting on satisfaction with local health and care services and providing advocacy and support.
The Carers Directorate oversees
Lewisham Carers Hub:
-adult information and advice
-health and wellbeing activities
-peer support groups (male cares, dementia and mental health carers)
-counselling (free for 12 weeks)
-bereavement support
-young carers/young adult carers services
Ealing Carers Hub:
-adult information and advice (including Contingency Planning)
-health and wellbeing
-peer support groups
-carers short break
-warm-hub a
-parent-carer service
We support carers, looking after people with disabilities, physical or mental health needs who could not manage without their support.
We know from our extensive work with carers, how challenging a role, caring can be and we provide the practical and emotional support to make life easier. Whether that is supporting with a Carers Assessment, Carer-related welfare benefits, hardship grants, blue-badge applications or offering confidential, non-judgemental, emotional support.
Our Carers Hubs are vibrant and welcoming places, where Carers can take part in peer support sessions; arts and crafts, exercise or relaxation sessions; develop IT skills; or enjoy complementary therapies. They tell us, “the Hub is a lifeline for me, somewhere to have a break, meet other carers and have someone make me a cup of tea for a change!”.