1. Think Family: Getting the Whole Picture 6 February 2008 Dame Jo Williams Chief Executive Mencap Families and Learning Disability

2. Key issues Importance of support at all life stages Whole family approach Joined up between children’s and adults Early support Multi-agency Person-centred/Personalisation Inclusive

3. Government Context Every Child Matters/Every Disabled Child Matters campaign Aiming High for Disabled Children Aiming High for Young People Valuing People Now Putting People First

4. Taking the long view Beginning the journey Family Support in the early years Support during school years Transition to adulthood Becoming a parent

5. Taking the wide view Support for the whole family Person with a learning disability – children and adults Parents and carers Siblings Role of the wider community – not just about services

6. Beginning the journey

7. Getting it Right from the Start Valuing the child Valuing the parents and family network

8. Family support in the early years

9. Family Support in the early years Early intervention Well co-ordinated, multi-agency support that is family focussed, flexible, offers practical support and underpinned by better information Real choice about returning to work: Accessible childcare

10. Support during the school years

11. Support during school years Getting the right school Inclusion – access to every aspect of life in school Disability equality schemes Statementing Bully free zones

12. Life outside of school

13. Life Outside of school Life outside of the family – clubs Extended school services – need full range of services to disabled children Short breaks – 8 out of 10 families at breaking point

14. Transition to adult life

15. Ambitions and aspirations Early multi-agency planning Improved links between children and adults services Person-centred support Transition Support programme Equal chances Individual budgets – more choice and control

16. Becoming Parents

17. Becoming parents 250,000 parents with a learning disability in the UK More likely to have their children removed Lack of appropriate support Need for accessible information and support Independent advocates

18. Conclusions Whole family approach Preventative work – preventing children entering the care system

19. So what can councillors do? Prioritise disabled children and take advantage of Aiming High funding in CSR Include national indicators for disabled children and adults with a learning disability in Local Area Agreements for 2008 Comprehensive Area Assessments in 2009 – opportunities for working with the 3 rd sector Respond to action in Valuing People Now

20. Key questions for group discussion Children and Adult Services How do we effectively manage boundaries between children and adult services? Is the third sector playing its part? How does your council respond to parents who have a learning disability?