Our Local Healthwatch SERVICES

Our local Healthwatch services are here to engage and involve members of the public in the commissioning of Health and social care services. Through extensive community engagement and continuous consultation with local people, health services and the local authority. Our Healthwatch members of staff and volunteers speak to local people about their experiences of health and social care services.

NHS Advocacy 

The Complaints Advocacy Service in Lewisham is there to provide independent support to people who want to make a complaint about the NHS. Support ranges from receiving a self-help pack to support from an advocate, depending on the needs of the individual. Complaints can be made against any NHS service including GPs, hospitals, dentists, opticians or any service that is funded by the NHS. Please click here to view and download the Advocacy Information pack. For further enquiries please contact us.

Carers Services

Carers Lewisham became a wholly owned subsidiary of YVHSC on the 1st October 2019. Carers Lewisham provide a range of services including specialist support for parent carers, carers of people with dementia, supporting carers into employment, older carers and carers who are caring for someone nearing the end of their life.

Carers Lewisham are pioneers in innovative support and care for carers and with YVHSC will continue to work together to further develop carers support across London.

Ealing Carers provide practical and emotional support to unpaid carers, empowering them to actively manage the challenges they face and thrive.  Ealing Carers welcome carers of all ages and from every faith, culture and background.

• Our adult service provides information, advice and support for anyone aged 18 or over who cares for an adult who lives in the London Borough of Ealing.

• We support young carers aged 5-18 years, in partnership with Brentford FC Community Trust.

• We support Parent Carers looking after children under 18 years with learning disabilities, in partnership with Ealing Mencap.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The London Borough of Bromley and NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) have commissioned YVHSC to actively involve parent carers of children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014.

The The Bromley Parent Engagement SEND Service (BPESS) is underpinned by the Bromley engagement framework ‘Better Together’ which outlines our commitment to engage with parent carers as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice 2015 and Bromley SEND Strategic Vision and Priorities 2019-22.

The BPESS is a parent participation and engagement service, giving parents/carers a voice to improve and shape education, health and care services.

Parent/carer participation and engagement enables parents to be involved in service planning and decision making so that service provision meets the needs of families and carers of children & young people with SEND and resources are not wasted on services, which parents and families do not take up.

Enabling engagement in this way helps parents understand the complexity involved and the challenges faced by the professionals who have to bring about that change. Working together and sharing knowledge enables parent/carers and professionals to find solutions that work.

The H&F SENDIASS service offers free, confidential, accurate and impartial advice and support to families living in H&F 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.

Our Ealing SENDIASS service provides 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.