Introduction to Disabled Children’s Access To
Childcare (DCATCH) Project
In May 2007 the
Government launched the ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC):
Better support for families’ review, with the intention to improve
service provision for disabled children and their families, and to enhance
equality and opportunity for them. The review stressed the importance of
appropriate child care for disabled children and young people and
acknowledged the lack of adequate provision to meet that need.
The ‘Disabled Children’s Access to Childcare’
(DCATCH) programme is the AHDC initiative dedicated to developing child
care provision for this group of children and their families.
In order to take
forward the aims of DCATCH
within the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley
areas the Parents
Consortium was given a pot of funding to appoint a part time Parent Champion for 12 months.
Jacqueline Bobb started work as our DCATCH Parent Champion in February 2011
and is very keen to reach as many families as possible to push forwards the
programme’s aims and objectives.
The main aims of the DCATCH programme
in Dartford and Gravesham
1.
An increased awareness of who has child
care needs
2.
An
increased knowledge of the main barriers to accessing quality child
care and the type of child care required
3.
An
increased awareness of child care opportunities in the area
4.
An
increased awareness of the gaps in provision with recommendations
for future actions
5. Improved child care for disabled
children and increase awareness of good quality child care
Role of the Parent
Champion
My
name is Jacqueline Bobb and I took up this post on 21 February 2011. I live
in Kent
and have a disabled step son aged 14. I have worked with disabled children
and their families for a number of years and have a passion for ensuring
equality of access for everyone.
My role aims to improve access to child care for disabled children and their
families. In order to do this I need your help! I plan to work very closely
with local families to get the best outcomes for our children.
Some of the things I plan to do are:-
-
Engage with local families to find out your
requirements may be and what the barriers are to accessing quality child
care
-
Develop a central location (including signposting)
for information about child care opportunities etc. in the area (web pages
linked to The Parents Consortium website)
-
Provide a central point of contact for parents
with child care requirements
-
Develop and maintain a data base of families with
child care requirements
-
Liaise with statutory, voluntary and private
organisations to identify quality
child care opportunities in the area
-
Promote quality training opportunities for child
care providers
-
Liaise with other Parent Champions across Kent to
share good practice
Working Parents/Returning to Work
Would you like the
opportunity to return to work?
The Job Centre Plus operates a scheme which is
designed to assist you in your journey in returning to work (please see
a Factsheet ‘Work Focussed Support for Carers’ below ). Further information about returning to
work, study or volunteering can be found on the Job Centre Plus website
( http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/index.htm
)
|
What is Work Focused Support for Carers?
Work Focused Support for Carers (WFSC) is
a voluntary scheme designed to help people who wish to combine paid work
with their role caring for someone.
You can choose
to take part, and are free to stop taking part, at any time. Even if you
don’t feel ready to work now but might like to in the future, you can
still take advantage of the support available.
Who is eligible?
Work Focused
Support for Carers is available to carers who:
·
do not work or work less than 16 hours a week
·
are aged 18 or over, and
·
are not able to get help from any of the other
Jobcentre Plus employment support programmes such as New Deal, New Deal for Lone Parents or
Work Choice.
Will my benefits be affected?
If you are in receipt of benefits
they will not be affected by taking part in WFSC. If you find a job you
are interested in, your personal adviser will be able to tell you how
your benefits will be affected if you start work and help you apply for
any in work benefits or tax credits if appropriate.
|
What help will Jobcentre Plus give me to find work?
Your adviser can help you with advice on training,
finding a job, local childcare and local replacement care. Also, if you
start work, your adviser can continue to provide support and advice.
What other support is available?
Jobcentre Plus may be able to help pay for
things like replacement care while you attend appointments with the personal adviser, take part in
a training course or attend job interviews.
Where should I go for more information?
To
find out more about getting into work or training, you can:
·
visit www.direct.gov.uk/carersemployment
·
arrange an appointment with an adviser at your
nearest Jobcentre on 0845 604 3719
(Please state you would like a Work focused support for carers
appointment)
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Childcare
Opportunities
Would you like to
find out more about child care opportunities in the Dartford,
Gravesham and Swanley areas?
Please click on http://www.ofsted.gov.uk to find out about the quality of
registered child care providers in this area.
In addition, if
you have any information about suitable child care providers in the
Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley areas please email dcatch@parentsconsortium.co.uk
or telephone Jacqueline Bobb, Parent Champion on 07918 911 749 so that I
can add them to this web page.
Short Breaks
for Disabled Children
Would you like to
find out more about short breaks for your disabled child?
Click here
for the Parents Consortium Leisure Services or click on this link for
further information
from Kent County Council:- http://kent.gov.uk/childrens_social_services/disabled_children
