Information for Parents and Carers of Autistic children and young people.
Identification and diagnosis
Click here to view information about Identification and Diagnosis
Resources
Barnet Parent Carer Forum (BPCF)
A voluntary group of enthusiastic, committed parents and carers in the London Borough of Barnet working with the local authority to ensure that the voices of our children, young people and their families are heard
Also see: Barnet Parent Carer Forum Q&A session with Brigitte Jordaan and Kim Miller
BICS
BOOST
https://boostbarnet.org/?page_id=314
Community Paediatrics
Barnet community paediatrics | Royal Free London
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Children’s Integrated Therapy team (CIT)
Information about therapies and training
Barnet Children's Integrated Therapies (CIT) (whittington.nhs.uk)
Children’s Centres/Early Help/Social Care
Early help for children, young people and families | Barnet Council
Children and families | Barnet Council
Carers
Barnet Carers Centre | Barnet Council
Contact for Disabled Families
Sendiass
Special Educational Needs and Disability Information and Support Service (SENDIASS)
About the SENDIASS service | Barnet Council
Specialist dentist
Community Dental Service (Whittington Health)
This service includes care for children who are very anxious or uncooperative, children with disabilities or medical conditions requiring special care and who are unable to access local community dental service.
Community Dental Service provided by Whittington Health NHS Trust | Barnet Council
Homestart
Home-Start Barnet, Brent, Enfield and Harrow is an independent charity which is part of the Home-Start UK network. At the heart of their work is home visiting volunteer support. A volunteer who will spend around two hours a week in a family’s home supporting them in the ways they need. Homestart offers a wide range of services, from perinatal mental health support and practical advice on managing household finances, to groups and events for families, and parenting programmes for families with older children.
Home-start Barnet (https://homestartbarnet.org/)
IPSEA
Resources for Autism is a registered charity which provides practical services for Autistic children, young people and adults and for those who love and care for them:
Resources for Autism
Resources for Autism is a registered charity which provides practical services for Autistic children, young people and adults and for those who love and care for them:
https://resourcesforautism.org.uk/
Barnet Mencap
Barnet Mencap provides a range of services and campaigns with people with learning disabilities and autistic people and their families to secure good services and support in the borough.
https://www.barnetmencap.org.uk/
0-25 advice and support-
We offer:
- Help to access disability benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Support applying for Short Breaks, Bleu Badges, and Freedom Passes
- Making charity applications if appropriate
- Signposting, advice, and information
- Discussions with parents regarding the needs of their child or young person
- Help to access services
- Regular parenting workshops on topics such as DLA, PIP, Blue Badges, and accessing local services
0-25 Advice & Support - Barnet Mencap
Parenting Programmes and workshops
We run two Family Links nurturing programmes per term, for parents of children with learning disabilities, ADHD, or who are autistic. The programmes may be online or in person, depending on demand. Online sessions will be held online via zoom while in-person session will be held at our office at 35 Hendon lane.
Parenting Programmes and workshops - Barnet Mencap
Open Door- Under 5s services
For families with a child under 5 with any additional needs, with or without a diagnosis, we offer signposting, information, advice, and play activities.
We Offer:
- Information, advice, and guidance
- Support to claim disability benefits such as Disability Living Allowance
- Signposting to appropriate local and national services
- Support to apply for Blue Badge, charity applications, and other appropriate services
- Holiday Play sessions
During the school holidays we offer some family fun days and other activities for children under 5s and their siblings such as soft play sessions, picnics, and theatre trips.
Open Door – Under 5s Service - Barnet Mencap
Short Breaks- Take a Break
Take a Break is a service for families with a child or young person with learning disabilities to provide short breaks in the family home, an extra pair of hands for a family outing, or to take a child out on their own.
SCERTS
The SCERTS Model is the framework used by the Autism Advisory Team.
The SCERTS® Model is a research-based educational approach and multidisciplinary framework that directly addresses the core challenges faced by Autistic children and persons and related disabilities, and their families. SCERTS® focuses on building competence in Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support as the highest priorities that must be addressed in any programme and is applicable for individuals with a wide range of abilities and ages across home, school and community settings.
Recources - Books/podcasts/Videos
- Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children – Luke Beardon
- The Secret Life of Rose: Inside an Autistic Head – Rose Smitten
Dean Beadle
@DeanBeadleuk; Autistic speaker/trainer, singer and former journalist. Proud to be autistic.
https://www.youtube.com/@DeanBeadleuk
- Autistic Joy – Dean Beadle (will need uploading)
- Anxiety – Dean Beadle (will need uploading)
Benefits
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Help with DLA forms.
Citizens Advice may be able to offer support with filling in forms.
Help with filling in the DLA form for your child - Citizens Advice
Personal Independence Plan (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP): How to claim - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Citizens Advice have a useful video clip about filling in a PIP form
Check how to fill in your claim form - Citizens Advice
Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): How to claim - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Citizens Advice have useful information around eligibility for ESA
Check if you can claim ESA - Citizens Advice
Council Tax Reduction
How Council Tax works: Discounts for disabled people - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Bus/Tube Pass
Freedom passes | Barnet Council
Blue Badge
Renew or apply for a Blue Badge | Barnet Council
Training and Support
Click here to view our full Training and Support page
BELS Autism Parent/Carer Programme (0-6yrs)
The programme runs each term and was designed with input from parents/carers and includes the following sessions:
-
Autism in Early Years (delivered by BEAM teachers/facilitators)
- Emotional regulation and Promoting Predictability (delivered BEAM teachers/facilitators)
- Promoting Communication (delivered by Barnet NHS Speech Therapist)
- Understanding Education and Health Care Plans (delivered by SENDIASS)
- Understanding Sensory Processing (delivered by Barnet NHS Occupational Therapist)
- Eating and Drinking Difficulties (delivered by Barnet NHS Occupational Therapist)
- Sleep (delivered BEAM teachers/facilitators)
- Toileting (delivered by BEAM teachers/facilitators and Barnet Parent)
How do I access the BELS Autism parent carer programme?
In order to access this programme you must:
- Be a resident of Barnet
- Have a child with a diagnosis of Autism
- Be a parent of a child 0-6 years old
You can sign up for this course via an online booking form that can be found on the course flyer- please email [email protected].
Barnet Autism Course for Parents and Carers (BACPAC) 7+ years
A 6-session online training course, over 6 weeks, covering topics including:
-
An overview of what it means for your child to be Autistic
- Communication
- Sensory needs
- Understanding emotional regulation/’behaviour’
This course also gives parents/carers an opportunity to meet to meet each other and share their experiences. Please only sign up for one of these courses and please do not sign up if you have already attended this course. For further information, dates and times, please contact [email protected]
Local Information
Activities (0-5years)
Barnet Children’s Centres
Every Children’s Centre is intended to make life better for parents and children under five-years-old. Children’s Centres offer the following services:
- family support and information, including parenting workshops and drop-in groups
- health services and advice including support before and after the birth of a baby
- access to specialist services, for example, speech and language therapy, midwifery support etc
- home visiting to isolated families
- activities for children, mothers, fathers and carers
- learning opportunities for parents and advice on employment
- childminding support groups
- information and advice including benefit information
- children with additional needs support groups
Children’s centres are open 9 am to 5 pm, 48 weeks of the year. Centres that offer childcare may open for longer.
Barnet is split into three localities, with activities provided across a range of Children's Centres.
You can find details of all Children's Centres in Barnet on the Barnet website. You can enter your postcode, find your local Children’s Centre, see the activity schedule and if you’d like to, join their facebook group.
Unitas Babyzone
Under 5’s space for play and organised classes, every Thursday from 9.30-2.30pm during term time. FREE.
Unitas Youth Zone
76 Montrose Avenue,
Edgware HA8 0DT
Contact [email protected]
Facebook: /babyzoneuk
Instagram: @babyzoneuk