Rochdale SEND Local Offer COVID-19 Help and Guidance

We are experiencing an unprecedented time due to the Coronavirus outbreak. It is important to try to look after yourself and your family both mentally and physically during this time. This page is designed to offer some supportive advice for families.

Below are links to pages which can offer some practical advice and links to videos and resources which you may find useful.

We appreciate that families may be feeling overwhelmed and that there is a lot of information around at the moment. Our advice would be to have a look at the information and links, it may work for you and your family, it may not. Either way we understand that you will be doing the best you can under these challenging circumstances.

Latest coronavirus information

The latest information on the Coronavirus can be found on Rochdale Council's website - http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus

The governement website - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

School closure support

Please see the link below for a message from the Head of Service for SEND:

Help and support for school closures

How to talk to your child about the Coronavirus

These can be difficult conversations without clear answers at the moment. Please find some links below that may help:

Education support for children and young people

Please see the links below for information and guidance from Rochdale Additional Needs and Educational Psychology Services that may help with learning:

I need support for my child's education and wellbeing at home

You can contact Rochdale Additional Needs and Educational Psychology Services Helpline on 01706 926400

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

As our staff are currently working away from Number One Riverside, you will be asked some questions regarding the nature of your enquiry so we can connect you with the most appropriate professional.

Or you can email the service at: rans.admin@rochdale.gov.uk, and provide some brief information so we can forward your request appropriately.

Family wellbeing

Being at home caring for your children for extended periods can be confusing and unsettling for them and you. Below are some links to information which may help you to navigate this:

Support for parent/carers

It is important to try to look after yourself too during this difficult time. Please find some links below that may be useful:

Rochdale Parent Carers Voice have been working hard to provide information and support for parent/carers. Their details are as follows:

Telephone: 01706 358326

Email: RochdalePCV@outlook.com

Website: www.rochdaleparentcarersvoice.co.uk

Facebook: Rochdale Parent Carers Voice Chat:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/180115677267/?ref=group_header

Rochdale Parent Carer Voice Catch Up

Every week we are having online drop ins. Thursdays at 2.22pm for an hour and at 7.07pm for an hour (weird times are to make it easier to log on now the world is doing online chats).

The first half hour is a virtual cup of tea and check in how we are all doing. In the second half we will have some professionals join us so parent/carers can ask about anything on their minds or feed things back each week.

The link stays the same each week:

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/448680285

You can also dial in using your phone.
United Kingdom: +44 330 221 0097

Access Code: 448-680-285

Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 448 680 285
Or dial directly: 448680285@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##448680285

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/448680285

Carers chat rooms and forums

If you would like to chat to other carers online or get online support you could try an online forum.

Before using any online forum make sure you check out the advice on the forum on how to use it safely including community guidelines, controlling your privacy and looking after your safety.

Forums for adult carers

Forums for young and young adult carers

Short Breaks

For those families who normally receive short break support, please see the link below for the current guidance. Short Breaks can include overnight respite support, community outreach activities, sitting services within the family home, personal care, direct payments for specific activities and personal budgets.

Rochdale Short Breaks COVID-19 guidance

Advice for helping to keep a child with complex health needs safe during this time please see: https://www.wellchild.org.uk/2020/03/18/ten-ways-to-keep-my-child-with-complex-health-needs-safe/

Helplines

If you or your child would like to speak to someone anonymously, you could try calling a helpline or visiting websites such as Shout and ChildLine.

Shout is a crisis text line that provides free, confidential support to anyone at crisis at anytime, anywhere, 24/7 via text.

You can:

text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer.
text with someone who is trained and will provide active listening and collaborative problem-solving.

For further information please see their website: https://www.crisistextline.uk/

ChildLine provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child with a problem. It comforts, advises and protects.

You can:

call 0800 1111 any time for free.
have an online chat with a counsellor.
check out the message boards.

For more information please see their website: https://www.childline.org.uk/

Teenagers and young adults

The Mix provides help and advice for under 25’s around everything from mental health to housing issues. It has a free 24/7 crisis messenger support across the UK.

If you’re aged 25 or under, and are experiencing any painful emotion or are in crisis, you can text: THEMIX to 85258.

Telephone: 0808 808 4994 for FREE 7 days a week 4pm to 11pm.

For further information please see their website: https://www.themix.org.uk/

Safeguarding

Should you feel that you or your family, or someone you know, is at risk of harm or are struggling to cope, you can speak to someone using the numbers below.

If you need immediate safeguarding support, please contact the Complex Early Help and Safeguarding Hub on 0300 303 0440 (8.30am to 4.45pm)

Emergency Out of Office Hours call 0300 303 8875 for emergencies only. Safeguarding Hub email: ehash@rochdale.gov.uk Or call 999.

For disabled children and their families, already known to the Rochdale Children with Disabilities Team, please call the CWD Duty line on 01706 925900.

Mental wellbeing

Mind

Mind is a mental health charity in England and Wales offering support, including legal advice.

Helpline: 0300 123 3393

Telephone: 01706 752335

Email: info@rochdalemind.org.uk

Website: https://www.rochdalemind.org.uk/

Wellmind (free app)

WellMind is a free NHS mental health and wellbeing app designed to help you with stress, anxiety and depression. The app includes advice, tips and tools to improve your mental health and boost your wellbeing. (Available on iOS and Android):

https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/wellmind

Cove (free app)

Free, personal music journal to help you with your emotional and mental health. Trusted by the NHS. (Available on iOS):

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/cove-the-musical-journal/id1020256581

Exercises / movements

Please see the links below for a range of exercises/movements for children to do at home:

Games and activities at home

Please see the links below for a range of games and activities you can do at home:

Death and Bereavement Support COVID-19

During the Coronavirus outbreak some families may sadly experience the death of a loved one. The below information and links are designed to help navigate the practical and emotional elements of making arrangements following a loved ones death during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Advice and guidance in response to the virus is changing frequently. At the time of this information being gathered this reflects current advice, however this may change in the future.

What to do when a loved one dies

Please see the below document for guidance around what to do following the death of a loved one.

What to do when a loved one dies

How to register a death

Please see the below document for guidance around where and how to register a death and what information and documents you will need.

Registering a death

Funeral service during COVID-19

Things may feel different and take longer than they usually would when organising a funeral service during the current COVID-19 outbreak. Each area and funeral director will be different and will depend on their capacity at that time.

Here is a useful guide about what to expect:

https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/blog/coronavirus

https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments

Emotional support following bereavement

The passing of a loved one is a difficult and emotional time and everyone deals with grief in their own way. Things may feel especially pressured during these uncertain times because of the pandemic. If you have suffered a bereavement, the below links might offer some help and support to help manage your grief.

Cruse Bereavement Care

https://www.cruse.org.uk/about-cruse

Free helpline: 0808 808 1677 - they are open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays), with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings when they are open until 8pm.

Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk.

Child Bereavement UK

https://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Provides confidential bereavement support, information and guidance to families and professionals. The helpline team is available to take calls and respond to emails and Live Chat Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (except Bank Holidays).

Helpline: 0800 028 8840

Email: support@childbereavementuk.org

Live chat via the website: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information.

Carers UK

Carers UK - Bereavement

Offers comprehensive advice to carers and their families about what to do when a loved one dies, including issues around benefits, housing, Wills and probate. They are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.

Helpline: 0808 808 7777

Email: advice@carersuk.org.