Parent carer support and assessments

Parent carer support and assessments

Being a parent carer can sometimes be overwhelming. You will have extra responsibilities as a parent of a child or young person with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, yet you may not know where to go to for support.

Support available to help you

SEND Local Offer

Every local area must publish information about the provision families can expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people (ages 0 to 25) with SEND and their families – in Worcestershire this is called the SEND Local Offer. This includes information for parent carers about local support groups, training opportunities, money matters and social care.

Parent carer assessment

If you are a parent or carer for a child who is under 18 years old with a disability, you can request a parent carer assessment by self referring you and your child to the Family Front door. 

Please call 01905 822666, staff are available Monday to Thursday from 9.00am to 5.00pm and Fridays from 9.00am to 4.30pm.

In emergencies out of normal office hours (weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays): telephone: 01905 768020

Useful links

Worcestershire Association of Carers (WAC) are a Worcestershire Charity offering information, advice and support to carers.

The Worcestershire Parent and Carers' Community (WPCC) is a local charity that supports families across the county, all of whom have a child with a disability or an additional need.

An assessment of parent carer needs can give you a chance to tell social services about the things that could make looking after your child easier for you. This may result in getting services or direct payments to help meet your assessed needs.

Further information and resources to help you as a carer can be found on our getting support as a carer page.

Get involved with the Parent Carer Forum

Families in Partnership is Worcestershire's parent carer forum. They are an independent group of parent carers who work alongside Worcestershire County Council and other partner agencies to help shape services for children with special educational needs and disabilities in the county.

You can also keep up to date with parent carer forum news via Facebook or Twitter.

Books in your local library

Many parents have also found books have been really helpful.

However, because there are such a huge range of books available it is impossible to list them all here, but your local library will be able to help and also ask other parents if they can make any recommendations. Remember many books are available electronically through the libraries.

Find a library

Training for parents and carers

Parent and carers have told us that they would like information on specialist training opportunities which may be available for them.

We have produced this list of training providers, most of them are run by outside providers and are not provided by the council.

Find out more information on SEND Local Offer training for parents and carers.

Training sessions for unpaid carers

Worcestershire County Council support, empower and build on the skills and experience of unpaid carers. 

Worcestershire Association of Carers (WAC) provide training on behalf of the Council.

WAC have a great carers training programme and they have created courses that will help to build your confidence in caring, such as these and more:

  • moving and handling
  • First Aid for Carers
  • legal sessions
  • wellbeing sessions
  • dementia Awareness
  • creative Writing

To find out more information and book yourself a place visit Carer training

Useful links

Contact us

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