Parent Portal
Support, Advice & Workshops for Parents and Students
Exam season
Working towards exams can creating feelings of worry and being under pressure, especially at GCSE Level. However there are a range of things that you can do to help deal with the stress that you might be feeling, please use the free resources below for additional support.
Are you a family member or carer of an autistic child or adult? Are you looking for support, but not sure where to start?
As parents and carers of autistic children, young people and adults, it can be hard to find help when you’re trying to get the right support. Autism Central aims to make it easier to learn more about autism and services available to you
Please click here to view and attend over over 30 virtual & in person meets/workshops
Advice for supporting your child’s mental health.
This May Help has been created to support parents and carers with concerns about their child’s mental health. The subjects covered on this website have been chosen by families and young people who have gone through their own mental health challenges. What helped them may also help you.
CLICK HERE FOR ADVICE AND SUPPORT
Childline is the UK’s free 24-hour service for children and young people. Run by the NSPCC, Childline gives children and young people up to the age of 19 confidential support with whatever is worrying them. Since the service began in 1986, it has carried out over 5.9 million counselling sessions with young people. Childline supports more than 200,00 children and young people each year.
Family resources: Emotional Wellbeing and Behaviour
Stockport Inclusion Service
Resources for families (padlet.com)
Telephone – 0800 0684141
Text – 07860 039 967
Email – pat@papyrus-uk.org
HOPELINE247 is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including bank holidays.
More HOPELINE247 information help and guidance can be found here: https://papyrus-uk.org/
Online Information SEN Session for Parents;.
Stockport SEND
The launch of the new EHCP parent portal – The Portal is designed to keep parents informed about the progress of an application for an EHCP.
It is a secure, online facility which provides a snapshot of progress, allows for the exchange of messages between parents/carers and their EHCP coordinator and allows documents to be shared for reading and completion.
Parents of children with an existing EHC Plan or in the EHC Needs Assessment process will receive a letter, explaining that they will shortly be invited to register for a portal account so they can start to view their child’s EHC journey.
This session, delivered by Inclusion Leads – Louise Lamont, Heather Newton and Kath Fawcett, will explore the kind of support that schools provide for children with SEN and is designed to help parents/carers further understand the graduated approach that schools take. This session will be promoted via SENDIASS and PACTS but it would be great if you could also share the attached flyer with your families.
Kooth
Kooth is the UK’s largest and longest established digital mental health service. We partner with NHS and local authority organisations to deliver game-changing mental health support to young people from age 10 and up.
Recent research from Kooth shows that 95% of young people say it’s important to them there are no long waiting lists to chat with a counsellor.
Kooth and Qwell compliment existing care pathways – we are available for young people and adults who are on the CAMHS or NHS Talking Therapies waiting lists, and also for those who don’t meet thresholds. With same day access to chat to a qualified practitioner as well as a library of safe, moderated articles, forums and self help tools, we’re there when support is needed.
One young person said: “You can access [Kooth] whenever you need it – for example, after a hard day of school you can talk to someone on a live chat, find out ways to cope, and have a much better night.”
Support
Interested in how we support people experiencing anxiety, eating disorders, or who are neurodiverse? Check out our Vimeo with our bank of past webinars.
For information about tailored, free staff training for your clinic please contact me: Ryan Whittaker, via rwhittaker@kooth.com.
Free resources
Support guides for young people: Share our 6 support guides for young people, which offer helpful advice and information on social anxiety, eating difficulties, self-injury, suicidal thoughts, and safety plans, in addition to a young person’s experience on Kooth.
Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) Implementation and Update: Read a summary from our Clinical Team on our work aligning with the NHS PSIRF, and our plan going forward.
New social media assets: Check out our brand-new digital posters and video assets, as well as our suggested tweets and templates, which you can share in your emails, websites, and social media channels.
Training about Tourette’s
Have you got a child who has been recently diagnosed with Tourette’s or do you have a child with Tourette’s due to join you in September and wonder if staff know enough about how to support them? If so, you may wish to take a look at the e-learning module from Tourette’s Action (see link below). The course aims to raise awareness about Tourette’s; it explores co-occurring differences, looks at how it can affect individuals and discusses what we can do to help. I completed the training the other day – it has several activities, videos and quizzes within it to keep you engaged and takes about 1 hour – it could be done collectively as a staff meeting, or individually. A CPD certificate is available on completion. (Thanks to Cheryl Hanson for the heads up about this course )
https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/learningplatform/#/
I have also put some resources from Tourette’s Action onto Learning Leads (SENCO network area – Tourette’s), including some fact sheets and presentations to talk about Tourette’s with peers (primary and secondary versions).
SOLIHULL
Two courses on the online Solihull Approach are now available. They are ‘Understanding Your Brain’
plus a new course called ‘Understanding Your Feelings’. The courses aim to give
teenagers the opportunity to understand how changes that are happening in the brain at this time
may affect their behaviour, sleep and mood. To access these courses, go to www.inourplace.co.uk and use the code
REDROCK.
The online Solihull Approach courses also include support for parents, carers and anyone who is involved in a child’s life, including courses on ‘Understanding Your Child’ and ‘Understanding
Your Teenager’s Brain’. Courses are available for a limited time at www.bit.ly/stockportfamilycourse
LGBTQ+ history month
https://www.outsavvy.com/event/18145/spilling-the-tea-on-our-history
SPACE
Who are S.P.A.C.E. Stockport?
Stockport Parents of ADHD Children in Education (S.P.A.C.E. for short) is a registered children’s charity which supports families who have children with ADHD. There is no charge for parents or carers to attend our monthly meet-ups, join our private online community or attend guest presentations.
There is a lot of misinformation about ADHD, which can be confusing, especially for those with a recent diagnosis. Our monthly meetings are an opportunity to talk to other parents who face the same challenges in a relaxed and informal way.
Startwell information
Please see the attached flyer for information about the workshop opportunities available for families in June- August; mainly for those with younger children, but also reminders about the EPEC training courses, including ‘Living with Teenagers’
Where can you find the SPACE Team?
We hold a monthly face to face meet-up from 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm on the second Wednesday of the month at The Dog and Partridge pub on the A6 in Stockport. The meet-up is for parents and carers only and there is no need to pre-book. The full address for the Dog and Partridge is available on our website.
Our website www.spacestockport.org contains a lot of information about ADHD and includes links to several useful resources. It also includes links to our social media accounts, where we share information about ADHD and other issues that may affect local families.
The SPACE team are volunteers, which means that we aren’t always able to respond to emails immediately. The quickest way to get hold of the team is often via Facebook.
ADHD Awareness Month
October is ADHD Awareness Month, but the team at SPACE raise awareness all year round. Due to the increased amount of social media posts and our work being highlighted in Tanya’s documentary, our October meet-up was much bigger than usual and we were able to welcome lots of new parents. The information we shared throughout October is still available online.
Website: https://www.spacestockport.
Email: info@spacestockport.org
Social Media:
facebook.com/spacestockport
twitter.com/spacestockport
instagram.com/spacestockport
Arc – Arts for recovery in the community
Arts for Recovery in the Community, or simply ‘Arc’, is one of the UK’s longest-standing and most respected arts and mental health charities. Based in Stockport and operating across Greater Manchester we create life-changing opportunities for people to celebrate their creativity, connect with each other and learn new skills.
Arc has 30 years’ experience of producing transformational arts projects which promote wellbeing and recovery from mental ill-health, engage marginalised groups, and include thousands of people across the North West and beyond.
Young People’s Arc
Young People’s Arc (YPA) supports more than 100 children and young people facing severe life, family and mental health challenges each year.
We offer creative, life-changing opportunities to children and young people at risk and dealing with issues as varied as caring responsibilities, bereavement, bullying, neurodiversity and acute anxiety.
YPA consists of our MusicSpace programme, Shine (in partnership with Beacon Counselling), and a range of partnerships and commissions with agencies across Stockport, Tameside and Oldham.
BEACON COUNSELLING
Beacon Counselling SOS Group
Beacon Counselling has exciting opportunities for young people (11-24) to be involved in SOS (Stamp Out Stigma). This group is to provide young people with a voice in emotional well-being and mental health services. Young people joining S.O.S. do not need to have accessed mental health support from Beacon or any other service, all that is asked is that they have a passion to help make a change.
The focus of the group is on the 5 ways to wellbeing. S.O.S. can also be delivered in schools, tailored to the school’s needs. Any young person or school who is interested can get more information by emailing SOS@beacon-counselling.org.uk
SHINE
SHINE is a free Early Help and Emotional Well-being Service for any young person (11-17) living in Stockport. Young people, their families or professionals can refer. The offer includes 12 weekly sessions, looking at building resilience, supporting their own emotional wellbeing, and meeting other young people. Beacon has partnered with Arc and Music Space to offer support through creativity. Further information can be found at Beacon Counselling Shine
Stockport Outreach Team are launching a new Sexual Health and Contraception outreach clinic at 1pm-4pm the Fourth Monday of every month in the Treatment Room at Central House.
Please click the link below to view some of the services offered.
Central House Clinic in a box Poster
LGBT+
In recent times there has been significant reporting and social media posts (nationally and locally) concerning matters which may impact the LGBTQ+ community. Much of this content has been challenging and we are aware that some young people may be feeling, confused or distressed about what they have seen or heard. Individual settings will have their own support mechanisms in place, but can we also remind you that children, young people or their families can find information for support here:
Kooth (ages 10-25)
Kooth is an online space where young people can get non-judgemental, anonymous help from an online community, as well as direct messaging with qualified professionals.
The articles and forums are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Direct messaging is available 12 pm-10 pm on weekdays and 6 pm-10 pm on weekends. You can also message them outside of these hours and they’ll get back as soon as they can.
Visit the Kooth website
Pennine Care NHS helpline (all ages)
The NHS mental health helpline is run by experienced mental health professionals who can listen and help callers work through immediate problems, as well as give information about other services and ways to move forward.
The helpline is open 24/7, even on bank holidays.
Call 0800 014 9995
ChatHealth (ages 11-19)
ChatHealth is a free way to get a response from a school nurse in Stockport. Young people can ask them about anything, even if it’s just advice for a friend.
Text 0748 063 5227 or visit the ChatHealth website to send an online message.
ChatHealth will confirm receipt of a message immediately, and most nurses will reply during normal office hours (excluding bank holidays). If someone messages out-of-hours, they’ll reply when they’re next in.
HOPELINEUK (ages 0-35)
If a young person is having thoughts of suicide, they can call or text HOPELINEUK for confidential support.
HOPELINEUK is available every day between 9 am and midnight and is available for anyone under 35 or anyone who might be concerned about a young person.
Call 0800 068 4141 or text 0786 003 9967
The Proud Trust – https://www.theproudtrust.org/young-people/
Help and advice for parents
Emotional Wellbeing Hub (parents of those aged 0-25)
The Stockport Emotional Wellbeing Hub can provide support for parents. The hub is open for advice and information from 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30 am to 4.30 pm on Friday.
Call 0161 217 6028
Young Minds (all ages)
The national team at Young Minds can provide advice and signposting for parents through live chat. Advisers are available 9:30 am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
Visit the Young Minds website
PAPYRUS guide on self-harm and suicide concerns (all ages)
PAPYRUS has launched a guide for parents and carers, concerned that a young person might be experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
Read the guide on the Papyrus website
HOPELINEUK (above) is also available for parents.
Barnardo’s – https://www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-young-people/lgbtq
Supporting LGBTQ+ young people online – CEOP- https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/articles/supporting-lgbtq-young-people-online/
Rescare |
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Who are Rescare? Rescare is a unique nationwide charity with their head office in Stockport. Rescare has been supporting families who have loved ones with a learning disability, by promoting quality and choice in care, education, and health since 1984. Families are at the centre of what we do. How do we support families? We support families in three key areas: Ensuring quality and choice of care and education are available Advocacy work through campaigning and cross-party lobbying Education – providing information, advice and guidance through our useful resources, forums and newsletters enabling family members to become the expert in the room. Our core services that are available nationally are: Helpline – Available Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, a bespoke frontline service. Contact us at 0161 4747323 or helpline@rescare.org.uk Befriending – A service to enable people to feel connected. Designed for parents, carers and people with learning disabilities and people with autism. Find out more by contacting Nicola on nicola@rescare.org.uk
Where can you find Rescare? You can find out more via our website www.rescare.org.uk. It includes links to our social media accounts where we share information about Learning Disability and Autism for parents and carers. Our office is located at: Suite 1B, Sinclair House, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Stockport, SK8 5AF We run online zoom forums on a variety of topics within the learning disability sector which can be found here: https://www.rescare.org. Follow us: https://twitter.com/Rescare_ https://www.facebook.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/ Greater Manchester Integrated Care PartnershipMental Health
We’re working across Greater Manchester to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and their families, supported by resilient communities, inclusive employers and services that maximise independence and choice. We want people across all our boroughs to stay well, whatever their age, and whatever issues or conditions they might be managing. We’re bringing together all the different organisations that support people’s health and social care, so that services and care are integrated. Integrated care means starting with the person, understanding they’ll have different needs as they move through life, and connecting them with the right care. Self-help resourcesWe’ve put together a collection of self-help resources on low mood, anxiety, OCD and ADHD that we hope you find useful. These resources provide guidance and information that have all been quality assured by a Clinical Psychologist. There are resources for young children, teens and parents and carers. Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Children and Young People.Information for children and young people living in Stockport who want help to support their emotional health and wellbeing (we are not responsible for the content of other websites for which we provide a link) Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Children and Young People (padlet.com) National Sleep Help Line https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/national-sleep-helpline/ |
Sleep
SG Autism and Sleep Compressed
The following advice has come from Andy Smith (Spectrum Gaming) who has highlighted two national charities who give free advice/ guidance from trained sleep advisors:
The Sleep Charity: https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/national-sleep-helpline/
Cerebra: https://cerebra.org.uk/get-advice-support/sleep-advice-service/
With the families Spectrum Gaming have worked with, they have noticed that a lot of typical sleep hygiene strategies don’t work for some autistic young people, so they have coproduced a guide to autism and sleep with young people and The Sleep Charity: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13x80OpOsemnS4nLKlNmV7XtzF1f9whol/view?usp=sharing
In addition, there is the National Sleep Helpline – The Sleep Charity
Who do I talk to if I can’t sleep? The National Sleep Helpline can help with your sleep problems, 7pm-9pm, Sunday to Thursday, 03303 530 541.
National Sleep Helpline – The Sleep Charity
Understanding sleep for autistic and neurodivergent children and young adults – Webinar recording
Joe Booker, a Sleep Practitioner at Seashell Trust ran a webinar dedicated to understanding sleep for autistic and neurodivergent children and young adults. The session, explores the unique challenges and barriers that can affect sleep for neurodivergent people, including sensory sensitivities, routines, and environmental factors, and discusses some general strategies to improve sleep.
Please use the following link to access this recording: https://youtu.be/PmKZFTRaI-c
Online Safety Hub – Stockport LA
Supporting parents to keep their children safe online.
Developed by our team of world-renowned Online Safety Experts, the Hub is designed to engage and align the community on online safety and wellness by providing up-to-date and evidence-based information to all key stakeholders of a child’s life.
Parents will find a rich library of helpful resources, including app reviews, how-to guides and advice on an array of online safety topics. School staff and leaders have access to an array of practical guides and information that can be used in the classroom or to inform school governance.
Safeguarding children in Stockport – Online Safety hub
PACIFIC MEDICAL SLEEP TRAINING
Sleep Disorder
Sleep is a biological process that helps the body in performing certain functions. In fact, sleep is important to maintain good health. Disturbed sleeping patterns affect your health, safety, and quality of life.
If you or somebody you care for suffers from a sleep disorder please click the ‘sleep disorder’ link above to access the valuable resources.
Parents and Carers Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Information for parents and carers to help their children to thrive and to access support for mental health and wellbeing
Parents and Carers Mental Health and Wellbeing Support (padlet.com)
PROMOTING BETTER SLEEP – GENERAL TIPS
STAYING SAFE ONLINE
The Pendlebury Centre places a strong emphasis on our young people developing the awareness and skills to stay safe online.
Part of this also includes increased awareness and supervision of what young people are doing online by the responsible adults around them.
There are a number of resources online that can help with this, including:
- Getting Help – (CEOP) READ HERE
- Think U Know Guide – (CEOP) READ HERE
- Digital Parenting – Vodafone READ HERE
- Advice and Tips on Staying Safe Online (CBBC Newsround) READ HERE
- Keeping Children Safe Online (NSPCC) READ HERE
Stockport Neurodevelopmental Support for Children & Young People (5-16)
Training, Support and activities for children and young people and their parents and carers living in Stockport (we are not responsible for the content of other websites for which we provide a link).
Stockport Neurodiversity Support for Children & Young People (5-16) (padlet.com)
Roblox
We have been made aware that there are a number of concerns circulating about possible harmful content on Roblox.
We have made checks on several reputable sites and it has been hard to verify that the alleged content is available as described. We are sharing this useful article which sets out further detail
This article also reminds us as professionals to be careful about the information we post, and sets out suggestions for sharing concerns/information with parents safely.
The SWGfL and the NSPCC both have checklists available for parents (including Roblox) to help them understand sites. These checklists describe the nature, safety features and other helpful information for a range of platforms. You can find them here- https://swgfl.org.uk/resources/checklists/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-blog/roblox/
We recommend viewing the following articles about the use of the Internet and Video Games:
- Violent Video Games leave Teens ‘Morally Immature’ (BBC) READ HERE
- Using mobile phones and tablets before bed could be affecting your sleep, warn scientists – and they say teens are most at risk (Daily Mail) READ HERE
WeHeartCBT
WeHeartCBT is a collection of resources aimed at helping children and young people who are struggling with symptoms of anxiety and/or low mood. Resources are based on a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approach and are for mental health professionals, schools and parents/families.
Everyone struggles with feelings of anxiety and/or low mood from time to time. When we feel this way, it was be helpful to know why we experience these feelings and know some ways that can help us to feel better. These low mood and anxiety self help resources can be used to help children learn more about different types of anxiety and low mood and learn some strategies they can use that can help them to feel better.
Essential Parent
Essential parent’s ambition is to help expectant and new parents bond with their children during the early years and help those children grow into resilient, healthy and independent teenagers and adults.
Early Years intervention is essential to improve the life chances of children, especially those from less affluent communities.