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 17 March 2022

Including PIP (Personal Independence Payment), ESA (Employment & Support Allowance), Universal Credit, Carers Allowance and Attendance Allowance

With Suzie Rollins, the Welfare Benefits Co-ordinator

An information session about Welfare Benefits from Suzie Rollins, and an opportunity to ask questions. Plus, information about Merton’s Welfare Benefits Service which offers expert help and advice in relation to benefits, allowances, tax credits and assistance with form filling.

Tuesday 22 February 2022

With Keith Burns, Interim Assistant Director for Commissioning & Roopa Mudhar, Direct Payments and Financial Assessment Teams Manager

If your son, daughter or relative qualifies for support from social services following a needs assessment, you can (providing certain criteria are met) choose to receive direct payments from the local authority to buy the assessed services your loved one needs to meet their assessed needs. This is instead of receiving the services directly from the council via a commissioned service.

An information session on Direct Payments and an opportunity to ask your questions and raise any issues you may be experiencing using Direct Payments.

Tuesday 1 February 2022

With Andy Ottaway-Searle, Head of Service Provision, Angela Wardell, Merton’s Supported Living Service Manager & Keith Burns, Interim Assistant Director for Commissioning

Andy and Angela spoke about Merton’s Supported Living Service which supports adults with learning disabilities to live independent lives in their own homes at various sites across the borough. Keith spoke about Merton’s future plans for new provision and their expectations from providers.

Presentation slides (PDF)Download

Tuesday 5 July 2022, 10.15am to 12.15pm

Join us for a stroll in the park. New members welcome! With Tracy Blackwell, Merton Parent Carer Forum Forum manager, Tuhina Shaikh, Forum administrator & Jodie Hunt, Wellbeing Practitioner from Merton Uplift

Meet other parent carers, get to know each other, & find out more about Merton Parent Carer Forum.
Plus, Jodie is joining us from Merton Uplift so we’ll be incorporating some mindfulness exercises along the way.

All parent carers of children & young people with SEND aged 0-25 who live or go to school/college in Merton are welcome to join us.

Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, SM4 5JD

Thursday 16 June 2022, 10am to 12pm in person meeting
OR Thursday 9 June 2022, 1-3pm & repeated 5-7pm via Zoom meeting

With Georgie Tyrell, SEN Team Manager, EHCP Co-Ordinators, & Fran Turko and Shazia Khan from Merton Information, Advice & Support Service (MIASS) for families in relation to SEND

A chance for year 5 parents to come and hear what the process for the transition of children with EHCPs from primary to secondary school will look like for a September 2023 start date (parents of children with EHCPs in other primary school years also welcome).

Georgie Tyrell will be giving an overview of the process and introducing you to some of the team of EHCP Co-Ordinators. MIASS will also give a short presentation on the legal framework, tips from their experience and what to expect from schools. Both MIASS and the SEN Team will then be available for any questions.

All three sessions will be the same so you only need to attend one.

In person meeting at:

Middle Hall, Chaucer Centre, Canterbury Road, Morden, SM4 6PX
(please confirm attendance by Friday 10 June)

Secondary Transfer ProcessDownload

Tuesday 14 June 2022, 6 to 7.30pm via Zoom meeting

With Paula Jewes, SEND Consultant

Do you want to know more? Do you have more questions than answers?

Paula will explain the background to some of the proposed changes to help you to understand the main issues. She will also try to answer your questions.

Paula has worked as a special educational needs and disability consultant for over 10 years on behalf of Local Authorities, the NHS, charities and parent organisations.

Join us to find out more about the SEND Review green paper and ask your questions!
Please note that Paula will not give you her views on the rights and wrongs of the proposals or make any suggestions about what your response should be to the green paper consultation.

Presentation SEND Green PaperDownload
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