Leaflet/Booklet for Parents/Carers and Young People with Additional Support Needs

Resource Guide for Parents and Carers of

People with Additional Support Needs

2007 – 2008

1.Introduction

2.What are additional support needs?

3.How can Careers Scotland help young people and their parents/carers?

4.What options are open to young people?

4.1 Staying on at school

4.2 Further Education

4.3 Training

4.4 Employment

4.5 Higher Education

4.6 Other Options

5.Local Provision

5.1 Get Ready for Work

5.2 Further Education for Students with Additional Support Needs

6.Other sources of help

6.1 Employment Service

6.2 Social Work Services

6.3 Other Organisations

7. Finance

7.1 What are the main benefits which can be claimed by young people with additional support needs?

7.2 Financial Help While Studying

Appendix

Resource Guide for Parents and Carers of

People with Additional Support Needs

(2007 - 2008 Edition)

Evaluation Questionnaire

We hope you find this publication useful, and that the information is helpful for you and your family.

We would be very grateful if you could complete this evaluation form in order to improve future editions.

Please tick the appropriate box in answer to the following questions;

1. Did you find the information in the publication

Very UsefulSatisfactoryNot Useful

1. Did you find the layout of the publication
   Easy to followReasonable to followDifficult to follow
   

1. Is there information you would find useful which was not found in the publication?
   ______
   

1. Can you suggest any improvements to the publication?

______

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

Please return to your nearest Careers Scotland Centre

(see appendix for address)

Edinburgh and Lothians Parent/Carers Resource Guide2007 – 08 Edition

1.Introduction

For many parents and carers of young people with additional support needs, accurate and up to date information about post-school and post-college options is essential in order to help young people make informed choices. This publication has been produced by Careers Scotland to provide just such information and it focuses upon the opportunities which are available in your region. We hope that parents and carers will find this resource guide helps to address some of the concerns they may have about what lies ahead for their child as they approach the end of their period of compulsory education.

This publication will be updated and produced annually and we are very keen to hear your comments on the style, content and layout to ensure that it meets your needs. You will see that there is an Evaluation Form on the previous page which we would ask you to complete and return. We hope that you find this guide helpful in your efforts to research the options available.

It is often the case that having researched the options available there are many questions which then have to be answered to be sure that the right choice is made. It is always advisable to seek further information, advice and guidance from Careers Scotland or some of the other agencies who can help. Many of these agencies are listed in this publication.

2.What are additional support needs?

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act

The new Act came into effect in November 2005. The Act introduced a new framework built around the concept of additional support needs. The new concept applies to any child or young person who, for whatever reason, requires additional support, short term or long term, in order to learn and to work to their full potential. A child may require support for a variety of reasons. These may include those who are being bullied, are particularly gifted, have experienced a bereavement, or are not attending school regularly, as well as those who have behavioural or learning difficulties, or specific difficulties such as deafness or blindness.

Under the Act, education authorities have a duty to establish procedures for identifying and meeting the needs of every child for whose education they are responsible. Other agencies have a duty to help education authorities meet their duties.

The new framework includes arrangements for children and young people who have enduring, complex or multiple barriers to learning and require a range of support from different services outwith education. A new Coordinated Support Plan (CSP) will be drawn up for such children and young people.

For further information about the Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act: contact

Enquiry Helpline: 0845 123 2303

Textphone: 0131 222 2439

Email:

Copies of A Guide for Parents about the Act can be obtained from:

Enquire

Children in Scotland

5 Shandwick Place

Edinburgh

EH2 4RG

Tel: 0131 222 2425

Fax: 0131 228 9852

The guide can also be downloaded from their website

There are many circumstances where a person may require additional support to learn at one point or another during their time at school or college. Many school leavers and college students will require additional support to learn as they progress into employment, training, further or higher education.

It can be very confusing trying to work out what is the best course of action to take upon reaching the end of school or college. There seem to be so many options available and it is not always easy to understand what is on offer.

So who can help?

Careers Scotland aims to help all young people who want to get into education, training or employment.

Careers Scotland has staff with special skills that can help anyone with:

• a medical condition, physical or sensory impairment that may affect their career choice
• general learning difficulties
• specific learning difficulties
• behavioural problems
• social and emotional problems
• mental health problems
• communication difficulties

Careers Scotland can provide translating and interpreting support to help our customers better access our services and products. If an interpreter is needed for an interview with a member of Careers Scotland staff we will arrange this for you. Contact your local centre for more information (see Appendix).

3.How can Careers Scotland help young people and their parents/carers?

Our staff can assist individuals with additional support needs to -

• look at their own interests, skills and strengths
• understand the range of options open to them
• develop realistic and achievable career plans
• develop job seeking skills if appropriate
• make applications for college and university courses
• apply for current job or training vacancies
• link with other helpful organisations and agencies

Within Careers Scotland’s South East Region a Key Worker Service is also provided. This service offers intensive key worker support to some of the most vulnerable young people who have additional support needs that may disadvantage them in progressing into employment, training or further education. Key workers are part of multi-disciplinary teams based in Careers Scotland Centres.

For more information on Careers Scotland, including information on a wide range of careers, courses and training options, visit our website: Research shows that parents and carers are the most important influence on their child’s career aspirations and choices. The website contains a Parents Centre, ‘Helping Your Children to Develop Their Career’. It has a range of articles and activities that may help you to support the careers choices your son or daughter will make, e.g Parents Activities; Researching Careers; Choosing Subjects; Making Careers Decisions; Developing Skills for Work, Additional Support Needs. There are also programmes on the website to help stimulate job ideas, e.g Careersmatch. There is also a link to the Education and Training section which includes information on Additional Support for Learning.

4.What options are open to young people?

Young people and their parents/carers may wish to investigate the following -

• staying on at school
• further education
• training
• employment
• higher education
• other options

4.1 Staying on at school

This option could be taken to gain more qualifications. You can study National Qualifications at different levels: Access; Intermediate 1 or 2; Higher and Advanced Higher. Staying on at school can also help students to develop more independence and confidence and can improve personal and social skills.

4.2 Further Education

Young people have access to a full range of college courses. Courses are available in ‘vocational’ and ‘academic’ subjects. Support is available on ‘mainstream’ courses and there are courses which offer special support to students.

There are discrete courses available to students for whom vocational provision is not at this stage appropriate. These courses focus upon core skills (communication, numeracy, information technology etc) and life skills (self travel, independent living, personal safety etc), often also with taster classes in vocational areas. It is often possible to study part-time at college.

Colleges are required to produce a “disability statement” detailing the support which they can offer students with disabilities. Prospective students should find out which college best meets their needs. Contact is advisable before applications are made.

Colleges often run ‘link’ courses so that in their last year of schooling students have the opportunity to spend several days at the college sampling some of the subjects they are able to study on a college course.

College transport and personal care arrangements can vary and parents/carers are advised to contact the relevant college for advice before an application is made.

Residential further education may be an option for some students whose needs are not fully met by local college provision – see the Association of National Specialist Colleges’ website for further details –

4.3 Training

Training programmes such as Skillseekers are available in a range of job areas and can be a way of gaining qualifications such as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ’s), work experience and money. Skillseekers training can lead to an offer of employment.

Get Ready for Work is a national training initiative primarily aimed at 16-19 year olds who are not yet ready to go into work for a variety of reasons. On this programme the training should be tailored to meet the individual needs of the young person.

Young people can train in a variety of settings e.g. with employers, at college or in a training workshop. See Section 5 for further details.

Young people who are not ready to access training with employers or in college might be able to access training via social work services (see Section 4.6).

4.4 Employment

There are opportunities for young people leaving school and college to go directly into a job and there are organisations, in addition to Careers Scotland, which can offer extra help to enable young people to succeed in employment. Jobcentre Plus, for example, can provide support to help young people find and keep a job. Job opportunities exist with a wide range of employers.

Support can take the form of job tasters, job coaching, mentoring or provision of practical help through the ‘Access to Work’ programme. This can provide equipment, travel, communication support etc.

Some people are also employed in supported factories and businesses run by local authorities and voluntary organisations.

4.5 Higher Education

There are many qualifications available at this level – Degrees, Diplomas of Higher Education, Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas. There is a variety of course options. Course choice may affect future career opportunities and will determine the number of years spent studying.

Following assessment, finance may be available through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for a Disabled Students’ Allowance. Equipment and/or personal support can be provided for students. Special arrangements can be set up for students who need support with personal care or with study or to sit examinations. See Section 7.2.

Colleges and Universities are required to produce a “disability statement” detailing the support which they can offer students with disabilities. This means that prospective students can “shop around” to find the institution which best meets their needs.

It is advisable to visit any institution to meet with appropriate staff to discuss individual needs – before applying. In Universities there will usually be a Disability Co-ordinator who will arrange departmental visits and advise on equipment and support.

For information on courses, you should consult ‘Scottish Guide 2008’ published by UCAS in association with Careers Scotland. would also assist in identifying courses.

4.6 Other Options

Voluntary Sector – a range of agencies in the voluntary sector may have local opportunities for supported employment or training. Agencies include Enable, RNID, Capability Scotland, etc as well as smaller ones local to one specific area.

Voluntary work can be a way for people to develop self-confidence, self-esteem and improve their personal and social skills. It is also an excellent way of gaining experience and developing new employment skills. Some programmes provide opportunities for volunteers with additional support needs.

Social Care Services – local social work departments fund day services for people with a wide range of additional support needs. Attending a day centre is usually no longer a full time option. Places may be available part time or, increasingly, young people may be able to use support and funding from the department to put together a package of day activities based around community resources. This could include part time college options, leisure activities, voluntary work or use of agencies in the local area for specific interests such as Art, Drama, Music or Computing. Direct Payments and the Independent Living Fund can help to provide personal and financial support for travel.

Social work departments may also fund residential places run by voluntary organisations, e.g. Rudolph Steiner. More information and details of useful agencies are available from your local Social Work Centre or Careers Scotland Centre.

Person Centred Planning (PCP) - Person Centred Planning is a process which enables people to move towards the life they would like and uses a range of different approaches to find out how they want to live, to learn about what is important to them in life and to discover how they might want to live in the future. PCP brings people together around a person to help them plan for a positive future. This may include where and who they will live with, how they spend their days, what their interests are as well as their hopes for the future.

Local Area Coordination(LAC) – LAC’s role is to develop partnerships with individuals and their families to assist them in the longer term to build and pursue their goals and dreams for a good life. Coordinators work with local communities to strengthen their capacity to include people with a disability as valued citizens.

LAC recognises that people with disabilities and their families are in the best position to determine their own needs and goals, and to plan for the future.

Section 5 gives more detailed information on the options which are available in your area and provides examples of the support and assistance available from local organisations and agencies.

5.Local Provision

Please note that this information was accurate at the time of printing but changes can occur and some of the options listed may be amended or may not be available – check availability with your local Careers Centre. The appendix lists the addresses of Careers Centres in the Region.

5.1 Get Ready for Work

Get Ready for Work is a national training initiative primarily aimed at 16-19 year olds who are not ready to go into work for a variety of reasons. On this programme the training is tailored to meet the needs of the young person. Up to four ‘strands’ of training can be offered:

• Life Skills – aimed at young people who require intensive support. This strand can be offered as a part time option.
• Core Skills – aimed at developing skills such as basic literacy, numeracy, information technology, problem solving and working with others.
• Vocational Skills – aimed at developing the broad range of skills necessary to perform a job function, in a range of occupational areas
• Personal Skills - aimed at assisting young people to identify their strengths, address their weaknesses, and develop self-confidence and to help them make decisions about their lives and future.

A Careers Adviser can advise on which strand would be most appropriate for a young person interested in Get Ready for Work.

To access Get Ready for Work, a young person must complete an Action Plan with a Careers Adviser or Key Worker.

Advice and information about current Get Ready for Work vacancies and opportunities is available through your local Careers Centre. (See appendix for addresses and telephone numbers).

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit – Since April 2006, parents and guardians of young people who are unwaged trainees ( i.e. receive a training allowance) and have not yet reached their 19th birthday on Get Ready For Work or Skillseekers, can now apply for Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit

5.2 Further Education for Students with Additional Support Needs