Supporting Parents With Learning Disabilities - Good .
Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities -Good Practice Guidanceeasy read
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ContentsForeword1Part 16Supporting Parents with LearningDisabilities1.Communicating in a way that is easy to understand142.Care Teams and other Services working together toget good support223.Good Support based on what people can do274.Giving long term support where needed405.Access to independent advocacy for parents withlearning disabilities41
Part 243Good practice to keep the children ofparents with learning disabilities safe fromharm, and to get fair treatment for theparents and the whole family.6.Meeting the needs of the child: Good Practice447.The rights of the parent: Good Practice488.Assessments: Good Practice529.Support: Good Practice5510. Professionals and Services: Good Practice58Part 361More information11. Government Guidance to professionals6212. Resources63Notes67
ForewordNicola SmithRob Greig(National Directors: Learning Disabilities)1
We are delighted to be writingthe foreword to this veryimportant document.People with LearningDisabilities are full and equalcitizens.This means that they have thesame rights as everyone else.This includes the right to beparents.2
They also have the sameresponsibilities as everyoneelse and sometimes they needextra support to fulfil thoseresponsibilities.Being a parent is a hugeresponsibility, and thisguidance is about supportingpeople with learningdisabilities to care for theirchildren so that they are safeand secure.3
This guidance has beenwritten to help commissionersand staff in children’s andadults’ services to supportparents with a learningdisability. It tells them howthey should work together tomake this happen.4
We are hopeful that thisdocument will send out astrong message to theservices that support peoplewith learning disabilities. Themessage is that people withlearning disabilities have theright to be parents, just astheir children have the right tolive in a safe and supportiveenvironment.Rob Greig and Nicola Smith(National Directors: LearningDisabilities)5
Part 1Supporting Parents with Learning Disabilities6
The general aim of goodpractice is to enable childrenof parents with a learningdisability to: Be healthy Stay safe Enjoy and do well7
Do good things intheir community Have enough money tolive onBy giving families the rightsupport children can doall these things while livingwith their parents.8
The Guidance to all servicessays that: They must make the wellbeing of children themost important thing Supporting parents tolook after their childrenis the best way9
Parents have a right tofind out what supportthey need to do dailytasks and to be goodparents. Support shouldbe put in place to helpparents keep theirchildren safe and well Parents with learningdisabilities should haveequal access to allservicesServices10
Everyone must worktogether to make surepeople with learningdisabilities are treatedequallyThe Guidance says thatprofessionals should look athow to change poor housingand information that is hard tounderstand, as well as makingsure people get the rightsupport.11
There are 5 key points ofgood practice in working withparents with learningdisabilities:1. Communicating in a waythat is easy to understand2. All services workingtogether to make sureparents with learningdisabilities get goodsupport3. Good support based onwhat people can do, andwhere they need supportto do things12
4. Giving long term supportwhere needed5. Access to independentadvocacy for parents withlearning disabilities13
1. Communicating in a way that is easy to understandAll services should makesure that people withlearning disabilities whobecome parents know howto get support, and knowabout their responsibilitiesas parents, that is, the welfareand safety of their childrenshould come first.All services should make theirinformation accessible by: Using easy words andpictures in all leaflets Using audio tape, CD orDVD14
Having accessiblewebsites Telling people withlearning disabilities aboutservices for parents andparents-to-beParents with learningdisabilities need to knowthat it is not unusual to needsupport to be a parent.15
Good communication withschools is very important.Parents need to understandthat they have to make suretheir children go to schoolregularly, and that they areexpected to be involved intheir children’s education.Teachers and schools shouldmake their informationaccessible so that parentswith learning disabilities cando these things.Information andcommunication should alsobe accessible to children.16
Adult Learning DisabilityServices can supplyaccessible information to beused in GP surgeries andother places for parents andparents-to-be with learningdisabilities.Learning Disability Servicesshould give accessibleinformation showing parentsthey can be assessed to findout what support they needand where they can get it.Parents should be able to getinformation that is easy tounderstand about why anassessment is being done.It should tell them how it willbe done and what will happenafterwards.17
The information should haveno jargon in it and parentsshould be able to getsomeone to support them toget ready for the assessmentor for a meeting about theassessment.Parents with learningdisabilities told us that socialworkers who are good atcommunication: Are respectful18
Turn up on time Speak directly to parentswith learning disabilities Don’t use jargon19
Think before they talk toyou Listen and hear you Explain what ishappening20
Do what they say theywill do Be honest if they cannothelp you Are patient21
Make enough time tocommunicate with you(Quotes collected byCHANGE)2. Care Teams and other Services working together toget good supportFinding out what supportpeople need at the start ofbeing a parent, and beingready to give support to thefamily as the children growup, will help the wellbeing ofthe children and stop a lot ofdifficulties for the parents.22
It is important that all servicesinvolved with children andparents work together andunderstand what each otherdoes.When services are workingtogether it is very importantthat they understand:Adults’ ServicesChildren’s Services Young parents andparents-to-be withlearning disabilities maybe between children’sand adults’ services Parents with learningdifficulties may have alot of needs, including:23
24-physical or sensoryimpairment-a long term healthcondition-mental healthproblems
-substance abuseproblems Some parents withlearning disabilitieshave a lot of housingproblems, including:-homelessness-harassment fromneighbours25
-difficulties inkeeping up withpaying billsServices involved in care andsupport need to help parentswith these issues.Children’s ServicesAll of the services involvedwith the parents should spenda lot of time making sure thereis good communicationbetween them.Adults’ ServicesThis could involve:Children’s ServicesAdults’ Services Services doing trainingtogether26
Children’s ServicesAdults’ Services Children’s serviceshaving a contact personto link with Adults’services Adults’ services having acontact person to linkwith Children’s services3. Good Support based on what people can doSupport for parents withlearning disabilities must bebased on the needs of theparents and the parents’situation, as well as the needsof their children.The main things which helpparents with learningdisabilities learn parentingskills are:27
Good communication,making sure parentsunderstand what theyhave been told. Watching and practisingdoing things with aprofessional, likesterilising a bottle. Pictures showing how todo things as a parent likechanging a baby’s nappy.28
Finding out aboutpractical tools which canhelp a parent. An exampleof a tool is a containerwhich holds the rightamount of milk to give achild so that the parentdoes not have to measurethe milk. Getting support for all thefamily, including fathersParents who have learningdisabilities should be able toget help from the followingtypes of services:29
Parents’ groups Courses in parentingskills Practical support in thehome30
Family planning services Information and advice tochildren Services supportingchildren to have links toother children and helpwith their school work31
One to one support infinding out what childrenneed as they grow upfamily member Support around fostercare and shared care Behaviour supportservices32
Groups and coursesaimed at fathers Counselling Advocacy services33
Help to get directpayments Short breaks services Support to use servicesavailable to all familiesbefore and after a baby isborn.34
The support that parentswith learning disabilitiesget must change anddevelop as a child getsolder. Parents may need helpwith parentingadolescents. Servicesmust make sure theyunderstand the needsof parents with learningdisabilities when theirchildren are teenagersand can offer themsupport.35
Support should beavailable for parents iftheir child is experiencingbullying. Children should beprovided with support intheir own right, as well asthe parents gettingsupport.36
Parents may need emotionalsupport as they might lackconfidence because of thingsthat have happened to thembefore.They may also be frightenedand stressed if children’ssocial care are involved andthere are concerns about theirchildren’s welfare.Adult learning disability servicesGood support in this situationis often provided by adultlearning disability services orby voluntary sector services.Parents have said thesethings help:37
Listen to children andhelp them to say whatthey want to say Don’t behave like you arejudging us when you’retalking to us Don’t patronise us38
See what we are doing –not just what we arestruggling with Believe that we canchange Build up trust so that wefeel okay about lettingyou into our house andsharing information withyou(From a meeting with parentswith learning disabilities inBristol)39
4. Giving long term support where neededParents may need long termsupport to help them meet thechanging needs of their childor children.If parents know that servicesare able to give them longterm support, they, theirchildren and the whole familywill benefit.40
5. Access to independent advocacy for parents withlearning disabilitiesParents with learningdisabilities should be able toaccess advocacy and selfadvocacy. This can help withself confidence.Parents with learningdisabilities should be giveninformation about their rightsand responsibilities,especially when there areconcerns over a child’swelfare.41
Parents should be givensupport and information aboutways to deal with bullying andharassment.Parents should be able to findout how to get access toservices.42
Part 2Good practice to keep the children of parentswith learning disabilities safe from harm, andto get fair treatment for the parents and thewhole family.43
6. Meeting the needs of the child: Good PracticeChildren should stay livingwith their parents if possibleand get the support to do this.Professionals and servicesshould find out what thechildren want when they makedecisions about their lives.44
Children have a right to beinvolved in things that affectthem, including meetings.They have a right to getaccessible information aboutwhat is happening to them.If professionals and servicesdecide that a child is notbeing harmed, or likely to beharmed, they must make surethat the child will continue tobe safe. This means theyshould support the parents tokeep the child safe from harmin the future.45
The law says that whenchildren’s social care givechildren a place to stay awayfrom their parents, they havethe right to an independentadvocate if they have acomplaint to make. Theadvocate should work for thechild.Key WorkerIt is good practice to give thechild a key worker who isresponsible for the child’swelfare. The key workershould know about learningdisabilities or be able to getinformation about what alearning disability is.46
If a child is in care, children’sservices must help the child tohave contact with their family,unless the court saysotherwise.It is good for children to havecontact with brothers, sisters,grandparents and othermembers of their family.family memberServices should always thinkabout putting children in thecare of family members orfriends if this is the bestoption.47
foster mothermotherServices should try to putchildren with foster parentswho know how to work withparents with learningdisabilities.7. The rights of the parent: Good PracticeParents have the right to aprivate life and a family lifebut the welfare of theirchildren comes first.48
If professionals and servicesdecide that a child is beingharmed the parents should beinformed about everythingthat is going on, unless thiswould be dangerous to thechild.parentParents should be invited tomeetings about their children.parentfamily memberA parent’s family can oftengive good support. If theparent wants it, their familyshould also be invited to themeeting.49
key workerIt is good practice to give theparent a key worker. The keyworker should know aboutlearning disabilities or be ableto get information about whata learning disability is.Sometimes a child protectionplan is put in place that tellsthe parents what to do. Theparents should only be judgedon whether they have donewhat the plan says, if:50 They were given clearinformation on what to do They were given supportto do what the plan says.
parentWhen children have beenplaced in foster care, parentsshould get support to becomebetter parents. Without thisparents may not be able tolearn to care for their childrenand get them back.parentparentAs long as it is not harmful tothe child, parents should stayin contact with the child evenafter the child has been placedin foster care.parentfoster motherParents should see theirchildren and take part inmaking decisions about thechild’s life.51
Parents should be told howto make a complaint. Thecomplaints procedure mustbe accessible to parents withlearning disabilities.8. Assessments: Good PracticeAssessments should be fullyaccessible to the parents andthe children.52
specialistfamily memberIf a parent with learningdisabilities is being assessedthere should always be helpfrom a specialist who knowswhat it means to have alearning disability. If theparent agrees, there couldalso be help from someonewho knows the parent.Often a parent with learningdisabilities whose child is indanger has extra difficultiessuch as: Mental Health Problems Drugs or Alcohol53
Violence in the home.If an assessment is done thereshould be help from an expertwho knows about thesethings.54
9. Support: Good PracticeIf a parent has a learningdisability they are likely toneed on-going support.It is good practice forprofessionals and servicesto find someone who cansupport the parent tounderstand what ishappening. This could bean independent advocate.55
If the parents cannot find anadvocate they should besupported to contact a friend,family member or someonefrom the community to helpthem. The person whosupports the parent should begiven the right information sothey can be a good supporter.Professionals and servicesmust be aware that parentsmight also need emotionalsupport. When a child is livingwith foster parents, parentsmay be very upset and hurt,especially if difficult or sadthings have happened before.In these situations parentscan need a lot of support.56
Parents should also besupported not to have anotherbaby if they do not want one.Professionals and servicesmust make sure that: Parents can understandthe information they aregiven. Parents can say whatthey think and how theyfeel.57
If no support is given to theparents this could be againsttheir rights and the law.10. Professionals and Services: Good PracticeAll the professionals andservices that work with theparents should share theirinformation with each other.Everybody should be clearabout what job they have todo and how they do it.Everybody should make surethey understand what the lawtells them about the rights ofparents and their children.58
People who work with parentswith learning disabilities andtheir children shouldunderstand what a learningdisability is. If they do notknow what having a learningdisability means, they shouldget help to understand.parentProfessionals and servicesshould work in a way that isfully accessible to parentswith learning disabilities. Theyshould involve parents asmuch as possible ineverything that is going on.59
It is important that parentswith learning disabilities aregiven enough time tounderstand what is going on.They must also be given timeto learn how to be betterparents.Children’s social care shouldwork in a way that givesparents with learningdisabilities the same chanceto keep their children aseveryone else.It is important that servicesand professionals look at theway they work, and changethings that could causeproblems for parents withlearning disabilities. Thesethings should be changedbefore they become a bigproblem.60
Part 3More information:61
11. Government Guidance to professionalsThis chapter should be read in the context of thefollowing guidance:“Fair Access to Care Services: Guidance oneligibility criteria for adult social care.”Department of Health, 4009653“Framework for the Assessment of Children inNeed and their Families”.Department of Health and others, /doh/facn/facn.htm“Working Together to Safeguard Children”:A guide to inter-agency working to promote andsafeguard the welfare of ngtogether/621
“Protocol on Advice and Advocacy for Parents(Child /89/00/04018900.pdfNational Standards on the Provision of Children’sAdvocacy 3/04018893.pdf12. ResourcesCHANGEThe Words to Pictures Team: A team of peoplewith learning disabilities who work with anillustrator to produce information in an easy readformat. The team also produces CD Rom PictureBanks with custom drawn images fororganisation wanting to make their informationaccessible.Parents training for Change: Training on how tosupport parents with learning disabilities.63
For more information contact:CHANGEUnits 19/20, Unity Business Centre26 Roundhay RoadLeedsLS7 1AB.Tel:0113 243 0202Minicom:0113 243 2225Fax:0113 242 kValuing PeopleValuing PeopleSupport TeamThe Valuing People website has a section onparents with learning disabilities and contains anumber of resources and useful eople115.jsp641
Parent Assessment Manual by Sue McGaw, KerryKeckley, Nicola Connolly and Katherine patientassessmentmanual.aspCircles NetworkCircles Network also provides a number ofresources related to person centred planning:http://www.circlesnetwork.org.uk/what is personcentred planning.htmBILDpublications:“I want to be a good parent”Illustrated cards to help parents carry out a rangeof essential child care tasks. For use withsupport from health or child care workers.“I want to be a good parent“Five illustrated booklets giving practical advicefor parents with learning disabilities.Both available from:BILD PublicationsBookSource32 Finlas StreetCowlairs EstateGlasgow G22 5DU65
Tel: 08702 402 182 http://www.bild.org.uk/03books.htm 66
NotesWrite your notes here:67
made accessible by CHANGEwww.changepeople.co.ukPictures CHANGE 2006
parents with learning disabilities safe from harm, and to get fair treatment for the parents and the whole family. 6. Meeting the needs of the child: Good Practice 44 7. The rights of the parent: Good Practice 48 8. Assessments: Good Practice 52 9. Support: Good Practice 55 10. Profes
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