Support, advice and queries
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) have produced a video which provides information about what a Local Offer is.
The Local Offer contains information for children, young people and families, and for adults. It brings together helpful and useful information located in one easily searchable website which is accessible through smart phones and tablets.
The Local Offer contains a wide range of information and services to support children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities. These include services provided by the Local Authority and the health service, as well as services provided by the voluntary and private sectors (e.g. charities and disability groups, nurseries, youth clubs, leisure activities etc.).
Information is available for young adults, to help you make informed choices about things that are important to you such as where to live; transport; social activities, work and training; and becoming an adult.
PODS work across a whole range of services including health, education, social care, and alongside our voluntary sector partners – at a local, regional and national level. We are also members of the National Network of Parent Carer Forum.
Parent Carer Participation is when parents and professionals work together, recognising each other’s knowledge, to make informed decisions about services that make the best use of resources.
We are funded through the BIG Lottery Reaching Communities grant and through a Participation Grant from the Department for Education.
To find out more about Parents Opening Doors, click here.
Phone number: 01952 458047
Email: support@podstelford.org
Address: PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU
Shropshire Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS) is a free, confidential and impartial service for children and young people that are aged between 0 – 25 years, with SEND, and their parents, living in Shropshire. IASS offers parents and young people supports around any concerns they might have around special educational needs and /or disability (SEND) and explains your options, rights and responsibilities.
In the health system, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) deal with compliments and complaints. PALS offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters.
They provide a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers.
PALS provides help in many ways. For example, it can:
- help you with health-related questions
- help resolve concerns or problems when you're using the NHS
- tell you how to get more involved in your own healthcare
Healthwatch Shropshire provide an Independent NHS Complaints Advocacy Service across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin - for more information about this service, click here.
Complaints about an EHCP assessment, content of plans or the provision and support can be made through the local authority; this includes the health element. This is because a complaint may cover issues that include education, health and care, and we must centralise the response. The Designated Clinical Officer will support the Local Authority with issues relating to health in EHCPs.