Merton Mencap

Providing support and services for children, young people and adults with a learning disability and their family carers in the London Borough of Merton

Events

Thursday 2 November, 10-11:30am in person at The Chaucer Centre, Room D and Thursday 9 November, 12:30-2pm (Teams meeting)

Merton have arranged two ‘Bringing Back the Strategy’ engagement workshops in October. These workshops will be an opportunity for you to view a first draft of Merton’s refreshed SEND Strategy and feedback your thoughts on the content. The Strategy outlines Merton’s plans for how they are going to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families. Please attend 1 of the workshops if you can and provide feedback on the draft strategy before the final version is agreed. All the information regarding the workshops is provided in the two Eventbrite links below.

Eventbrite booking form – online workshop

Eventbrite booking form – face-to-face workshop

Friday 22 September, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Nick Chisnall, Service Manager, Habib Farahmand, new Team Manager of Merton’s Integrated Learning Disability Team and Tabitha Papai, Assistant Team Manager for the Transition Team

Meet Nick Chisnall, Merton’s new Service Manager overseeing the LD and Transition Teams, as well as Habib and Tabitha, the Manager/Assistant Managers of the teams. Find out what they do and hear about the different roles within the teams. Plus, information on how to access the teams, the eligibility criteria, outcome panels, attendance at reviews, their work with health colleagues, an update on any staff changes and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet senior managers and ask your questions!

Presentation on LD and Transition TeamsDownload
LD Staffing Structure Sept 2023Download
Transition Team Staffing StructureDownload
Referral Form MILD TeamDownload

Friday 15 September, 10am to 12pm (Zoom meeting)

With Karishma Parmar, DCO for Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (Merton) and Vikki Cameron, Interim Lead Integrated Children’s Senior Transformation Manager (Merton & Wandsworth), South West London Integrated Care System

Karishma and Vikki will each talk about their roles and responsibilities related to children and young people with SEND. Plus hear about priorities and future plans to improve health care services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND in Merton. Register now to hear the latest information, feedback your views and ask your questions!

Vicki Cameron PresentationDownload
Karishma Parmar PresentationDownload
Earlybird leafletDownload
Earlybird Plus leafletDownload
Teen Life LeafletDownload

Friday 14 July 2023, 10am to 12pm (Zoom session)

With Christine Towers from Together Matters

Christine will be talking about the Thinking Ahead and I’m Thinking Ahead guides that give families some structure to think and talk about the future needs of their relative with a learning disability/autism, and positive change they’d like to plan for. She will cover some of the topics in the guides such as supporting your relative with making choices, building friendships and community connections, and planning housing and support. She will also talk about other Together Matters resources that look at good support as people grow older. Register now to secure your place!

Thinking Ahead slidesDownload

Thursday 29 June 2023, 10am to 12pm (Zoom session)

With Belkis Sbai, Manager at All Saints Respite Centre and Helen Bridges Assistant Director of Operations, Vibrance, and from Merton Mencap; , LD Carers Advisor, Carolyn Doyle, LD Carers Caseworker and Dymphna Graham, Community Facilitator

Meet Belkis and Helen and hear about the service at All Saints which provides 24 hour short break (respite) accommodation for adults with learning disabilities. Yvonne and Carolyn will explain what support they can offer family carers of adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, such as a carers’ assessment, and exploring services and support which could help, advice on putting together an emergency plan in case something happens and you are not able to support the person you care for, grants you may be entitled to and more. Plus, Dymphna will talk through how she can support adults with a learning disability/autism to plan their lives, reach their goals and get the most from life.

All Saints Respite slidesDownload
Adults First presentation slidesDownload
All Saints Respite Indroduction 2023Download

Tuesday 27 June, 10am-12pm

With Matthew Taylor (Senior Mental Health Practitioner, Merton Off the Record) and Gosia Pawlowska (Merton Schools Wellbeing Team Service Manager)

This workshop will cover the theory of anxiety, signs of anxiety in children and young people, panic attacks, fight or flight and practical strategies you can use at home with your child. Most of the content and strategies talked about will be transferable to manage anxiety in adults too. Plus hear about the Merton Schools Wellbeing Team who work within schools across the borough to provide an additional source of support to young people, their families and the schools they go to.Chaucer Centre, Combi Room, Canterbury Road, Morden, SM4 6PX (please confirm attendance by Thursday 22 June)

Fear and Worries – parent workshopDownload
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