Here are some links to services that might be useful to you and your family within the Nottinghamshire area. If there are any groups or services that you feel should be linked here contact us to make the suggestion. Also if you notice any errors or find any broken links, please let us know by using the contact form. Thank you!
AskUs Nottinghamshire provide a free, confidential advice, information and support service. They can help with issues across education, health and social care to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) living in the area. Children and young people with SEND can also use the service.
Website: Visit the website
The Carers Hub Service provides free and confidential support for unpaid Carers living in Nottinghamshire (or Nottingham). This includes advice about finances, information about short breaks, local support groups and training opportunities.
Website: Visit the website
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is the part of the NHS which helps children and young people who have problems with their thoughts or feelings. CAMHS Services are for people up to 18 years old.
- If you are aged between 12 and 18 years old and have a Nottinghamshire GP, you can self-refer (this means directly approach the team) to ask for help.
- If you are the parent or carer for a young person aged 0 – 18 years old with a Nottinghamshire GP, you can contact CAMHS on their behalf.
Website: Visit the website
Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (CFA) places duties on local authorities and
other services in relation to both disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs (SEN), although not all the sections of the Act apply to both groups). It also contains the law governing Education, Health
and Care Plans (EHCPs).
The CFA is supplemented by the SEND Code of Practice, which provides further detail about the process.
- The Council for Disabled Children have created a briefing about the CFA
- Here is a link to the Children and Families Act 2014
- and a link to the SEN Code of Practice
Children’s Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Service (NHS)These services provide treatment and assessment for children and young people with disabilities or long-term health conditions affecting their movement, coordination, or ability to engage in activities of daily living.
A referral to the service must come through a paediatrician or consultant. For any help with this speak to your GP or health visitor.
More information: Visit the Local Offer page
Contact- for Families with Disabled Children are a UK-wide charity that provide support to parents of disabled children. They have a useful website with lots of useful information and advice. They produce a range of email newsletters and parent guides available to download or order and they run a free advice and information helpline for parents and carers with a disabled child aged 0- 25, living in any part of the UK.
If you are needing emotional support, you can book an appointment with their Listening Ear telephone support service.
Website: Visit the website
The Council for Disabled Children is part of an umbrella body for the disabled children’s sector with a membership of over 300 voluntary and community organisations and an active network of practitioners that spans education, health and social care. They provide a collective voice that champions the rights of children, young people and their families and challenges barriers to inclusion.
As a collective they believe:
- that the views of disabled children and young people are vital to the development of an inclusive society and that they have the right to be heard and actively participate in decisions that affect them.
- that every child and young person should enjoy the same rights and opportunities and that every aspect of society should be fully inclusive to disabled children and young people.
They are involved in bringing about change by challenging and influencing policy development.
Website: Visit the website
The Early Help Unit acts as a signposting and referral point for Early Help Services but does not directly deliver them.
Specific elements of this service include local Children’s Centres and the Family Service
The service is open: 9am to 4.30pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesday
People can contact the Early Help Unit by:
- Phone: 0115 804 1248
- Email: early.help@nottscc.gov.uk
Family Fund are a UK wide grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income. They give grants to eligible families for items such as family breaks, digital equipment, white goods, clothing, bedding, furniture and play equipment.
They also offer wider support, including information and resources on where to go for help with money and benefits, budget planning, their children’s education, mental health and wellbeing, digital training and creative workshops.
Website: Visit the website
Family Hubs are being developed across Nottinghamshire. Their aim is to make a positive difference to the community of parents, carers and their children by providing non-judgmental information, advice and support in one place.
Family hubs offer support from pregnancy, through a child’s early years and into young adulthood, up to the age of 19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).
Healthwatch Nottingham & Nottinghamshire are there to hold local health and care leaders to account for providing excellent care by making sure they communicate and engage with local people, clearly and meaningfully and that they are transparent in their decision making.
They gather and represent the views of those who use health and social care services, particularly those whose voice is not often listened to, and use this information to make recommendations to those who have the power to make change happen.
They are not part of the NHS or the local authority, but do work closely with them so that they can help influence local health and care services improvements.
Website: Visit the website
IPSEA are a national charity which offers free and independent legally-based information, advice and support to help families get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
- Provide pre-booked appointments on their Advice Line and Tribunal Helpline.
- Give training on the SEND legal framework.
- Influence policy at both a local and national level.
Website: Visit the website
The MASH is the county’s first point of contact for new safeguarding concerns.
For referrals about a child that are not urgent, submit an online form, which will be read on the working day of receipt. Do also consider whether support from the Family Service would be more appropriate.
If it is urgent:
Telephone: 0300 500 80 90
If you require an urgent response outside of working hours (08:30-17:00), contact the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0300 456 4546. In an emergency call 999.
Website: Visit the website
The National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) is the independent national voice of parent carer forums and was created in 2011, becoming a Community Interest Company in 2019. They are a representative organisation, consisting of up to 153 local parent carer forums at any time across England. Nottinghamshire Parent Carer Forum is one of those forums.
Website: Visit the website
NottAlone is a website with local mental health advice and help for young people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, all in one place. If you are aged under 25, are a parent or carer, or a professional that supports young people, you can find information, advice and where to go to get help locally.
Website: Visit the website
Nottinghamshire County Council
To find out more about services available from the Local Authority, contact Nottinghamshire County Council‘s Customer Service Centre (CSC) to be provided with information on appropriate services:
Tel: 0300 500 80 80
or
If you have hearing or speech difficulties and prefer to communicate via text, the number to call is: 18001 0115 9774050
(Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
Nottinghamshire Local Offer
The Local Offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. It is maintained and operated by Nottinghamshire County Council.
The website is designed to provide useful information and help
people find services that are available. This includes:
• Education information
• Health and social care information
• Short Breaks
Website: Visit the website
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) is a term used to cover the transition from childhood to adulthood for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is an ongoing process from early years but there is a particular focus from aged 14 to 25 years. Transition from children’s to adult services is a crucial stage and influences long-term education, employment, health, and social outcomes.
The Children’s and Families Act Code of Practice defines four areas as:
- Education/employment
- Independent and supported living
- Being part of your local community
- Supporting good health
Nottinghamshire has recently published a guidance document Nottinghamshire Preparing for Adulthood and it includes information on legal and statutory duties, along with practical advice that may help support young people and their families through this important transition.
Access and download the guide here : LINK
Information is also available on Nottinghamshire County Council’s Preparing for Adulthood webpage
Schools and Families Specialist Services
These are a team of specialist teachers and teaching assistants with additional qualifications and experience.
The service comprises of four teams:
The Early Years Team (supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities from 0 – 7 years to the end of Key Stage 1).
The Communication and Interaction Team (supporting children and young people aged 8 – 19 years (Key Stages 2-5))
The Cognition and Learning Team (supporting children and young people aged 8 – 19 years (Key Stages 2-5))
The Hearing and Vision Specialist Team (supporting children and young people who have hearing and/or visual impairments aged 0 – 19 years)
More information: Visit the Local Offer page
Special Needs Jungle was started in 2008 and became a not-for-profit organisation in 2014. Their mission is that children and young people achieve better outcomes because their parents will have been able successfully to navigate the SEND system.
It has a website with useful information about special educational needs and disability (SEND) issues, including personal stories from parents, articles from those providing useful resources, and information on the current SEND situation.
Website: Visit the website
Young Carers Notts is a free and confidential service that helps young carers aged 5-17 to take a break and get information, advice and support about caring.
They hold regular events where young carers across the county can meet, make new friends and learn new skills – and try fun activities.
Website: Visit the website