Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)

What is the EHCP casework team?

We are the team within Gloucestershire County Council who are responsible for ensuring the statutory duties around Education Health and Care needs assessments are met in line with the requirements of the SEND regulations (2014) and the Children’s and Families Act (2014). This includes EHC needs assessments and the ongoing review of EHC plans in order to determine whether they should be maintained, ceased, or amended from their existing format.

Who do the EHCP casework team work with?

The EHCP casework team works in partnership with teams from Schools, Colleges and professionals within Gloucestershire County Council SEND Services, such as Educational Psychology, Advisory Teaching Services, Health and Social Care Services to enable a thorough understanding of your child’s needs. The Service will keep you and your child at the heart of this work and ensure that your views inform the EHC assessment and planning. This is what is described as co-production.

What is the role of an EHCP case co-ordinator?

EHCP case co-ordinators work in the EHCP casework team at Gloucestershire County Council. They are the point of contact for families and young people. They work with children, young people, and their families alongside a wide variety of professionals to improve outcomes through the development and review of Education Health and Care plans.

What is the best way to contact the EHCP casework team?

If your child is going through a EHC needs assessment on receipt of this request, a EHCP case coordinator will be allocated, and you will be in close contact with them throughout the process and these contact details will be shared. Under the EHC needs assessment pathway that is in place you will have the opportunity to meet with the allocated case coordinator to discuss any questions or queries you may have.

• For general enquiries regarding EHC plans please email sengenenq@gloucestershire.gov.uk
• If your email is to request a new Statutory EHC needs assessment, please send this to npr@gloucestershire.gov.uk
• If your email is to share a report related to a child’s EHC needs assessment, please send this to senreports@gloucestershire.gov.uk
• Your case co-ordinator will contact you with specific details on how to contact them and their locality team.

How do I contact my EHCP case co-ordinator? And what do I do if my Co-ordinator is unavailable?

Your case co-ordinator will contact you with specific details on how to contact them and their locality team. If your case coordinator is unavailable, they will provide you with information via email of who to contact within their automatic reply, email signature or out of office.

What can I do if I am unhappy with the response from my case worker?

The EHCP casework team is an exceptionally busy team with a very high level of demand on the service. As a result of this, the team are not always able to respond to family’s questions/ contact as quickly as you or we would sometimes like. If you do have any concerns regarding your EHC plan case work, in the first instance we would hope you raise this within the team in order to allow us the opportunity to resolve any outstanding issues. Should you remain concerned, details of the lead case coordinator for your child’s school are available and are included in your EHCP case coordinator’s automatic reply, email signature or out of office.

My child has an EHCP, and I am concerned about issues with my child at school, what should I do?

In the first instance it is important that you address these issues with the school. In most instances, good early communication with the school will enable these issues to be resolved before they become more significant. If you have ongoing concerns or feel you require more support, SENDIASS is a valuable source of support for parents and can offer advice and guidance on how an issue can be resolved. They can also offer support in attending any meetings at school with you.

How do I contact SENDIASS?

SENDIASS Gloucestershire, provides free, confidential, and impartial information, advice and support related to SEND. Get in touch via their freephone telephone helpline 0800 158 3603 or via their website: SENDIASS.

If my child has SEN, will they need a EHC needs assessment?

No, in the majority of cases the child or young person’s needs can be met within the school setting and an EHC needs assessment will not be required. Children supported within school settings with SEN support should achieve good outcomes. Within Gloucestershire most school settings use a My Plan or My Plan + template to support a child where they may require some special education provision to be made for them. All schools have a dedicated SEN notional budget in order to support children who have additional needs. The school have a duty to assess the needs of children with SEN, plan accordingly and put in place provision. In most cases, children with SEN needs will be met within this support and they will not require a EHC needs assessment.

What is the graduated pathway?

In Gloucestershire, we are committed to working together and in partnership across all agencies providing services to children, young people (CYP) and their families at the earliest opportunity, as soon as needs emerge.

The Graduated Pathway of Early Help and Targeted Support is Gloucestershire’s approach to understanding and meeting the needs of all CYP and families. The Early Help assessment and planning process provides an integrated and holistic framework to support practitioners working with CYP and families. This approach considers the whole range of needs including:

• Learning and development
• Social, emotional, health and /or disability
• Wider family and environmental

My child has health needs that require attention during school time e.g. administering medication.  How do I ensure this support is available?

Children with medical needs do not need an EHC Plan unless they have SEN or a disability that means they require significant additional support in their learning environment.  Children with health needs should have an individual health care plan (IHCP).  

Individual Health Care Plans are developed in partnership between the school, parents, pupils, and the relevant healthcare professional who can advise on a child's case. The aim is to ensure that schools know how to support your child effectively and to provide clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom.

More information on IHCPs is available on: What is an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP)? (educare.co.uk)

When should we be considering a EHC needs assessment?

If your child, is not making sufficient progress despite the school having taken purposeful and relevant action, it may be appropriate to consider an EHC needs assessment.

It is important that you work with your child’s school to follow the graduated pathway and this includes ensuring specialist professionals have been involved in supporting the school to address your child’s identified needs.

An EHC needs assessment should not be considered the first step of addressing any underlying difficulties your child may have.

Who can request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment?
As detailed above, it is important that your child’s needs are addressed by the school or education setting at an early stage and the graduated pathway is followed to address any issues your child may be experiencing. Typically, a request for an EHC needs assessment will be made as a result of close working between parents and the education setting, with the setting submitting the necessary paperwork including all relevant information available to them.

Parent carers do have the right to request an EHC needs assessment themselves, however we would encourage you to liaise with your child’s school / education setting before taking this action, in order to identify whether all relevant actions have been taken.

Any Parents Carers can make a request to assess by using the new digital EHC Portal. If you do not have access online, requests can be made in writing and sent to the EHCP service at the address below: 

EHCP Service
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester GL1 2TG

Tel: 01452 426922

Email for general enquiries:sengenenq@gloucestershire.gov.uk

How is the decision made regarding the request to complete an EHC needs assessment?

The decision about whether or not a child requires an EHC needs assessment will be made by a multi-agency Panel made up of representatives from education, health and social care. This is in order to ensure evidence is considered in a holistic manner.

Panel considers the statutory test for assessment which is found in section 36 (8) of the Children and Families Act:

The Local Authority must secure an EHC needs assessment for the child or young person if, after having regard to any views expressed and evidence submitted under subsection (7), the authority is of the opinion that—

(a)the child or young person has or may have special educational needs, and

(b)it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person in accordance with an EHC plan.

In considering if an EHC Needs assessment is necessary the Local Authority is also guided by the SEND Code of Practice which advises that the Local Authority (LA) should considers whether there is evidence that despite the education provider having taken purposeful action to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of the young person, the young person has not made expected progress.  The LA considers:

• The child or young persons academic attainment and progress
• Information about the extent and nature of the child or young person’s SEN
• Evidence of the action already taken throughout the graduated pathway including My Plans and My Plan+
• Evidence of the child or young persons physical, emotional and social development and health needs, drawing on relevant evidence from clinicians and other health professionals and what has been done to meet these needs by other agencies.
• Where a Young Person  is aged 18 or over the LA considers whether the young person requires additional time, in comparison to the majority of others of the same age , who do not have SEN, to complete their education and training.

Where it is determined that an EHC needs assessment is not required, further advice and information will be given as to the next steps that could be taken and other services that are well placed to effectively support your child’s needs.

How long is an EHC needs assessment?

The entire EHC needs assessment process can take up to 20 weeks. The Local Authority must notify you within 6 weeks as to whether a EHC needs assessment will be completed and if an assessment is completed, by week 16 the Local Authority must notify you if an EHC Plan will be issued.

If the decision is made to issue an EHC Plan, you will receive a draft copy of this Plan before it is finalised.

Working with children, young people and families during the process 

The needs of the young person or child sit at the heart of the assessment process. The LA always seeks the views, wishes and feelings of the child, child’s parent or young person, their aspirations, the outcomes they wish to seek and the support they need to achieve them.  These views are gathered via the Request for Assessment Form (completed with your child’s education setting) and the Family Contribution Form.  Child or young person’s views are gathered via the My Profile. 

When a Request for Assessment is received a Case Co-ordinator from the EHCP Service is allocated.  The Case Co-ordinator will contact you to introduce themselves, explain how to make contact with them and the Service and explain what will happen during the process. 

The Case Co-ordinator will also ensure that you are able to express your views as part of the Request for Assessment and as part of the needs assessment if this is necessary.   You can contact your Case Co-ordinator at any time, but we will also contact you once the assessment is complete and the LA has made the decision on whether it is appropriate to issue an EHCP and prior to finalising the Plan

Will an EHC plan be issued once my child has undergone an EHC needs assessment?

Once all evidence has been received as part of a EHC needs assessment, the decision will be taken whether or not your child requires an EHC plan to be issued. Not all assessments demonstrate the need for an EHC plan to be issued and the information gathered as part of the assessment can be used by schools to continue to support your child within the SEN support level of the graduated pathway.

In some cases, the assessment demonstrates the need for additional provision to be put in place that is above what is available through the delegated SEN resources in a school setting and in these cases an EHC plan will be agreed.

The decision whether or not to issue an EHC plan is made by a multi-agency panel, considering all the evidence gathered.

If a draft plan is issued for my child and I would like some changes, how would I do this?

If you have any queries regarding the content of the EHC plan, we encourage you to discuss these with your case coordinator. In the majority of cases, we are able to work with parents to make requested changes and ensure the final plan issued is one that accurately reflects your child.

If you remain unsatisfied regarding any of the content in your child’s EHC plan, you will be given the opportunity to discuss these concerns with the local authority in a meeting that is chaired by an independent mediator. You do not have to attend mediation, however it is often a positive and effective pathway to resolve concerns.

You maintain the right to appeal to SENDIST tribunal. Information on how to appeal will be on the decision letter from the local authority, and there is more information about this process on GOV.UK: Appeal an Education, health and care (EHC) plan. If you need advice or support with this process you can contact the SEND information advice and support service - SENDIASS Gloucestershire.

How often will the EHC plan be reviewed?

The plan will be reviewed yearly, and the school/SENCO should arrange the review date in conjunction with pupils, parents/carers and other professionals involved. The SENCO is responsible for submitting the annual review paperwork to the local authority.

Professionals involved should review the progress of your child and consider any further adjustments which can be made to facilitate progress. It is important to ensure that updated professional advice is obtained and the interim review meeting has gone ahead as the EHCP service are unable to make changes to funding or placement without updated professional advice and the AR paperwork.

Any Parents Carers can make a request to assess by using the new digital EHC Portal. Details of how to do this can be found under the heading “EHC Digital Portal for Parents”.  If you do not have access online, requests can be made in writing and sent to the EHCP service at the address below: 

EHCP Service
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester    GL1 2TG

Tel: 01452 426922

Email for general enquiries:sengenenq@gloucestershire.gov.uk

What are the EHCP portals and why are we using them?

The EHC Portals seek to administer and manage EHC cases through one central place. It provides an “at a glance” view of where a case is at any one time across the 4 stages of Request to Assess, Assessment, Plan and Review, as well as allowing for information from contributing professionals to be requested and logged into one central place. Overall, the portal promotes transparency about the EHC process, and a reduction in the amount of places that information about a case may be stored.  This will make it much easier for parents and carers, and professionals, to have sight and ownership of what information is held about a case.

There are two portals – a professional’s portal and a citizen’s portal (for parents and carers).  They contain the same information about a child but have different entry points depending on whether you are a professional or a parent / carer.  The only difference is that citizen’s portal has some additional fields with useful information.

Parents / carers can register for the portal using the following link for the Gloucestershire County Council Family Portal

You can access a guide on how to use the family portal, should you need any guidance.

We have compiled a list of the questions that we have been asked during the process of setting the portals up.

Read the EHCP Portal Frequently Asked Question's Page for more details

Our EHCP statutory Service has three decision making panels. These are:

• The Request to Assess Panel (RTA Panel)
• Tier C Panel Issue, Resource and Placement Panel
• Tier D High Cost Panel

What the Panels are:

Our SEND Panels are groups that will consider your request for any of the following:

• Request for a needs assessment to consider if an EHC Plan is needed
• Whether to issue an EHC plan
• A change of educational placement or agree funding for cases that require a high level of support

When the SEND Panels take place:

Each panel takes place once a week. 

Who attends the SEND Panel meetings:

The people who attend the RTA panel are from the following services:

• Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team; they act as the meeting chair
• Educational Psychology (EP) Service
• Specialist Teaching and Advice Service
• Local mainstream schools
• Early Help and social care representative
• Health representative
• Early Years Service

The people who attend Tier C panel Issue, Resource and Placement Panel meetings are from:

• Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team; they act as the meeting chair
• Educational Psychology Service
• Local special school providers
• Local mainstream schools
• Lead Case Co-ordinator
• Case Co-ordinator

These panels must have someone from the Educational Psychology Team and the EHCP Service leadership team attend.

The people who attend the Tier D high-cost panel are:

• The Head of SEND Service
• The EHCP Service Manager or Deputy Service Manager
• The Specialist Commissioning Team Manager
• Case Co-ordinator

A range of other professionals can attend panel meetings if they want to.

What happens at SEND Panel meetings:

We share information with members of the Panel one week before the meeting. This is so that they can read through everything and prepare for the meeting. 

The information considered by the panel will vary depending on the request, but can include:

• Information from the parent or carer
• Views of the child or young person
• Attendance Data
• the Request for Assessment
• Professional advice
• The EHC Plan
• The review of an EHC Plan
• Information about the cost of placement

Panel considers every request on an individual basis. It makes decisions based on the evidence provided and against the criteria set out in the Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice and The SEND regulations 2014.

Notes are taken to record points of discussion and any decisions made. These notes provide the feedback given to you following the panel meeting. 

How you can share your views as a child, young person or family:

Parents, children and young people don't attend the SEND Panel meetings, but you are an important part of our decision making. 

You can provide your views:

• As part of completing the Request to Assess form
• During a needs assessment
• As part of the EHC Plan annual review process
• By contacting the EHCP Service at any time to share information you want to be considered by the Panel

What happens after the Panel meeting:

After the Panel meeting, the Chair of the meeting sends the panel notes and decisions to a member of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for their approval.

How you find out the Panel decision:

Once the SLT has approved or declined our decision we will contact you by phone or email within 3 working days.

If the Panel can't make a decision:

Panels are not always able to make a decision. This can be because they don't have all the information they need. If this happens your Case Co-ordinator will inform you of the next steps and ensure the information required is gathered without delay.

Contact the EHCP Service if you would like to see terms of reference for panels.

Can I request a specific school for my child to attend?

Yes, a parent can request a specific school for their child to attend. The local authority must name this school unless it is unsuitable for your child’s needs, would not represent an efficient use of local authority resources or would not be compatible with the efficient education of other children who attend that school.

If the school you have requested is not the closest, most suitable school, you will be asked to ensure that you can transport your child to your chosen school before naming it in an EHC plan as transport costs will not be covered.

Can I request a special school for my child?

In the majority of cases a child’s needs can be successfully met in a mainstream school, the SEN code of practice makes it clear the importance of children with EHC plans having access to good mainstream school education. You should not feel that a specialist school place is required in order to meet your child’s needs.

In some cases, a parent may feel a special school placement is more appropriate for their child’s needs.

Due to the high demand for special school places, the local authority carefully considers all requests for placement. Supporting evidence from professionals e.g., an Educational Psychologist, will be considered at a multi-agency panel which includes a special school head teacher, and a decision will be made to whether a special school will be suitable.

What is Phase Transfer?

Phase transfer covers the key transition points between schools. The most common phase transfer points are:

• early years to primary school
• primary to secondary and
• secondary school to post-16.

When will families and schools know what placements our children and young people have been allocated at phase transfer?

The Special Educational Needs & Disability Code of Practice is clear, Local Authorities must have issued final amended plans for phase transfer pupils no later than 15th February in the year of transfer for primary to secondary provision and no later than 31st March in the year of transfer for those young people moving from year 11 into post 16 provisions.

How we will work with you and your child to prepare for the next stage in their education.

Moving on to the next stage of education is an exciting time for young people and their families. However it can also be a worrying time. If your child has an EHCP, you may be wondering which schools might be suitable and what additional support will be available.

Most children and young people with EHCPs go to their nearest mainstream school along with their friends. However children and young people with EHCPs follow a different admissions process to ensure that the new school can provide the right support for their additional needs.

How does the admission process for children with EHCPs work?

At the Annual Review in Year 5, you will be asked to name a school as your parental preference for secondary school. The Annual Review meeting will also review your child’s progress towards the outcomes in their plan and check if there need to be any changes to the description of your child’s needs or the provision that they require.   Following the Annual Review meeting the Annual Review paperwork will be sent to the EHCP Casework team, along with the name of your preferred school.

Consultation with schools

The amended EHCP and key reports will then be sent to your preferred school, and also to your nearest mainstream school. We may also send the information to other schools we feel might be suitable.

To decide which education provider is best for a child or young person, we will take the following into consideration (this list is not exhaustive):

• the views of parents, carers and the young person themselves, and their school preference
• the child or young person’s SEN and the support required to meet those needs
• the child or young person’s current educational attainment and progress
• responses from education providers we consult with

By law we must name the education provider preferred by parents, carers and the young person themselves, unless:

• the education provider is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs of the child or young person
• the attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient education of others – and there are no reasonable steps the council can take to avoid this – or the efficient use of council resources (paragraph 9.79, SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years)

When will you know your child’s secondary school?

We must send you the Amended Final EHCP naming the school by February 15th of Year 6 at the latest. The Amended Final EHCP takes the place of the Secondary Transfer Allocation letter which informs children, without an EHCP, about the secondary school they have been allocated and are sent out on March 1st of Year 6.

If the school is not your nearest school, it is likely you will have to provide transport to and from school.

Why do I have to choose a school so early?

Knowing your preferred school early means that the Local Authority has time to follow the admissions process set out in the SEND Code of Practice and to make sure the right support is in place ready for when your child starts at Secondary School.

Will the support my child currently receives continue into secondary school?

Your child’s EHCP will usually transfer to secondary school with them. However support for children with additional needs at secondary school is usually provided in a different way to support at primary school. Research shows that, as children get older, 1:1 support is often not the most effective way of helping them learn and develop independence.

As they progress through secondary school, many young people say they prefer to receive their support in small groups or as and when they need it.

If your child is currently receiving their additional help through 1:1 TA support, it may be helpful to discuss this at the Year 5 Annual Review and consider how best to vary the way support is provided at primary school, to help prepare your child to be more independent at secondary school.

How do I know which is the right school?

The Local Authority is not able to advise you on specific schools because all of our schools are inclusive learning environments that can adapt to meet a range of learning styles and needs. Most schools run open days in September (when your child begins Year 5) and it will be helpful for you and your child to arrange a visit to look around the school and chat with the SENCo.

Attending their local mainstream school, alongside their friends is the right choice for most children, including those with special educational needs. Mainstream secondary schools are well equipped to provide support for children with additional neds and you child will remain a part of their local community.

Make sure you say your child has an EHCP when you arrange to visit. You may want to take a copy of the EHCP with you to show the school but remember that a school cannot make a decision about admission without liaising with the EHCP casework team.

What if a school says they ‘cannot offer my child a place’?

A school can only refuse your child a place in certain circumstances. Where a parent or young person wants mainstream education and it would not be incompatible with the efficient education of others, the local authority has a duty to secure that provision. The EHCP Casework team will consider the replies from schools as part of the consultation process. If a school has a concern about whether they can provide the right support for your child, we will contact you and the school to discuss the concerns.

What if I change my mind or have questions?

If you wish to change your preferred school, or have any questions or concerns please let the EHCP casework team know as soon as possible.

What if I don’t get the school I wanted?

If the LA does not name the school preferred by parents your caseworker will outline the reasons for that decision, whether it is because:

• the education provider is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs of the child or young person

or

• the attendance of the child or young person would be incompatible with the efficient education of others – and there are no reasonable steps the council can take to avoid this – or the efficient use of council resources (paragraph 9.79, SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years)

We will do everything we can to reach agreement with you on a suitable school.  If we cannot reach agreement, the Amended Final EHCP naming a school the Local Authority feel is appropriate will contain details of how to access mediation and provide details of your right to appeal to the SENDIST tribunal.

Timeline from Year 5 to the start of secondary school in Year 7

Year 5 September – January: You and your child consider what will be your preferred school for Year 7.

This is helped by you and your child visiting secondary school open days.

Year 5 February – March: Annual Review of EHCP, when your child’s EHCP is reviewed and updated ready for consultation with secondary schools. The current primary school sends the Annual Review paper work to the Local Authority together with your preferred school for Year 7.

Year 5 April – July: The Local Authority amends your child’s EHCP and sends it to you for your comments. At this point, the secondary school is not named.

Year 5 June – Year 6 December: The Local Authority uses the amended EHCP to consult with your preferred school, local mainstream school and any other appropriate schools.

Year 6 No later then February 15th: The Local Authority names the secondary school for Year 7 on Amended Final EHCP

Year 6 March– July: Transition visits to and from new school arranged by your child’s school

Year 7 September: Beginning of your child’s secondary phase of education

If you would like further information or support please contact;

• Your child’s current primary school SENCO
• The EHCP Casework team: Tel: 01452 426922
• SENDIASS offer free, confidential and impartial advice to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their parent carers

Tel. 0800 158 3603

or 01452 427566

Website: https://sendiassglos.org.uk

The SEN Travel Enablement Team deal with transport assistance requests. Please follow this link for more information: Transport assistance for SEN pupils - Gloucestershire County Council.

The annual review is the statutory process of monitoring children and young people’s progress towards their outcomes and longer-term aspirations.  Annual reviews must be completed in partnership with the child or young person and their parents. Understanding what an EHC plan should contain will help parents to prepare for an annual review. 

The first review of the EHC plan must be held within 12 months of the EHC plan being finalised. Subsequent reviews must be held within 12 months of the previous review.

The following steps must take place in an annual review:

The LA must consult with the parent of the child or young person (and with the school or institution being attended if there is one) about the EHC plan, and take account of their views, wishes and feelings.

An annual review meeting must take place to discuss the EHC plan.

Information must be gathered from parents and young people and from professionals about the EHC plan and then circulated two weeks before the meeting.

After the meeting a report of what happened must be prepared and circulated to everyone who attended or submitted information to be discussed.

After the meeting the LA reviews the EHC plan.

The LA must notify the parent of the child or young person of their decision of whether to maintain, amend or cease the EHC plan within four weeks of the meeting.

All of these steps – not just the meeting – must be followed in order for an annual review to be completed.

EHCP Annual/Interim Review template

EHCP Annual/Interim Review guidance notes

Consideration of an EHCP assessment checklist

EHCP printable template

Family Contribution form

Guidance for SENCOs

SENDIASS Gloucestershire provides information, advice and support on matters relating to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The service is offered to parents and carers of children and young people aged between 0 and 25 years old. Young people aged 16 - 25 can also contact the service directly.

SENDIASS Gloucestershire provides free, confidential and impartial advice to parents and young people between the ages of 16 and 25. They can help parents play an active and informed role in their child / young person’s education.

SENDIASS Advisers can:

• Provide information and advice on the telephone
• Meet you in person to discuss your concerns
• Help you to prepare for meetings, appeals and tribunals
• Support you to attend meetings
• Help you to prepare for transport, exclusion and admissions appeals
• Support you to attend transport, exclusion and admission appeal hearings
• Help to explain reports written by professionals
• Explain the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment process
• Provide a range of written literature
• Provide advice on matters such as SEN support, starting or changing schools, attendance, bullying, home to school transport, exclusions
• Help you to prepare for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunals
• With parents' permission liaise with schools and other agencies
• Signpost to other sources of help

Who to contact

Contact Name Britt Fox, Contact Position - Manager & Senior Adviser. Telephone 0800 158 3603

01452 427566
01452 427567

E-mail sendiass@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Website SENDIASS
Notes

Facebook: SENDIASS Gloucestershire

Twitter: @sendiassglos

Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum

Join other Parent Carers for regular meet ups (online and in person), a friendly Facebook support group, free training, and opportunities to share your experiences to influence decision makers.

The Parent Carer Forum is a voice for those with lived experience of being a Parent Carer (This means parents and/or carers of children with any disability, condition, impairment or additional need).

ABOUT US

The forum is led by a committee of parent carer volunteers who will work to ensure parent participation is supported and facilitated across services in the county.  If you would like to support the forum by joining our committee please get in touch via email.  The committee will generally meet once a month to plan the forum’s next projects and reflect on current work.  We are hosted and supported by local charity, Active Impact CIO.  The forum does not share Parent Carer details with Active Impact, you will only be contacted by the forum using the details you provide when you register.

Who to contact

Telephone 07494 704564. E-mail info@glosparentcarerforum.org.uk

Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum Website - Website

ADHD

ADHD Support Group in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire Parents & Carers of children with ADHD are running peer support groups in Stroud & social meet-ups county-wide.

This is a new peer support group for adults with or without ADHD who care for children with ADHD, either pre or post diagnosis, who are looking for support from others who understand.

Contact Sara - stroudadhd@gmail.com or check out their facebook page @Gloucestershire Parents and Carers of Children with ADHD - Support Group

Gloucestershire Carers Hub

Who is a Carer?

A carer is someone of any age who provides unpaid support to family or friends who could not manage without this help. This could be caring for a relative, partner, a child or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age. Caring may be sudden and unexpected or could be developed over a period of time.  A caring role may last a few months or years but for some it may last for the rest of their lives.

A range of services are offered including:

• Information, advice and guidance
• Carers assessment and support planning
• Carers Emergency Scheme
• Carers Breaks
• Hospital Liaison
• Carer's Voice
• Positive Caring Education and Training
• Carers Emotional Support and Counselling
• Peer Support and Support Groups

Once your child turns 18 then you will become a “carer” rather than a “parent carer”. Gloucestershire Carers Hub provides information and support for Gloucestershire’s unpaid carers.

How are You?  Join us for a weekly online video chat with other carers who understand the ups and downs of caring.  Email for details.

See downloads for our monthly What's On. 

The majority of our sessions are held virtually on zoom, those that are held face to face are marked clearly on the timetable. They are free to all registered Carers, this includes Carers who are supporting someone out of county.
We are also holding Carers Cafes at a variety of locations throughout the County feel free to drop in.
Individuals supported by the Carer can also attend sessions with the Carer.

Buddy Up

Feeling alone or isolated in your caring role?

Do you feel like you would like to speak with another carer?

Join our Buddy Up scheme which endeavours to match carers based on their interests, area or caring situation.

You can ring each other for a friendly ear at the end of the telephone or meet for a monthly cuppa!

 “We are a strong happy family who are always there for each other!”

Fill in our Buddy Up profile form and Consent form return to carers@peopleplus.co.uk or contact us on 0300 111 9000 if you need any support to fill this in. 

Who to contact

Contact Name Gloucestershire Carers Hub Telephone 0300 111 9000

E-mail Carers@peopleplus.co.ukWebsite www.gloucestershirecarershub.co.uk
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