Aiming High for Disabled Children and Families

Aiming High for Disabled Children and their families is a three year national programme designed to transform services for disabled children and their families. In Staffordshire we want to ensure that we meet the requirements of the Aiming High Programme and continue to improve the services which we provide.

A multi-agency Staffordshire Aiming Strategic Management Board is overseeing the work to meet the Full Service Offer and Core Offer (see below) by 31 March 2011. The Board includes representatives from adult social care and health, children's social care and education services, a special school headteacher, University Hospital of North Staffordshire and representation from the voluntary and community sector and both Staffordshire Primary Care Trusts.

Activities and Services

Information about Aiming High activities and services can be found in our Newsletter by clicking on the link below:

Image of an Adobe icon Newsletter and Activities Brochure (PDF 582 KB)

Further information is also available in the presentation below:

Image of an Adobe icon Aiming High Presentation (PDF 3,772 KB)

Listening To Parents and Carers

At the start of Aiming High in Staffordshire parents and carers of disabled children were consulted to gain their views on services for disabled children. Four events took place in January and February 2009 where parents and carers of disabled children told us about their experiences and what they would like to see happen in Staffordshire. A summary of what was said at these events can be found by clicking on the Aiming High Consultation Events Report link below:

Image of an Adobe icon Aiming High Consultation Events Report (PDF 1.53 MB)

Working Together to Help Disabled Children

Aiming High for Disabled Children requires Primary Care Trust's, Local Authorities and other key partners to work together to deliver:

• A Core Offer to disabled children and families - a series of national expectations have been issued about information, transparency, participation, assessment and feedback. In Staffordshire we are looking at these expectations and standards to ensure we are meeting them and if not how we can work together to meet the requirements.

• Responsive services and timely support - all professionals responsible for planning services for children, both locally and nationally, must focus on the services disabled children and young people need, particularly at key life stages such as the early years and in transition to adulthood.

• Full Service Offer - All Local Authorities must deliver a Full Service Offer for Short Term Breaks by 31 March 2011. Developing the short break programme is aimed at increasing the types and opportunities offered by short breaks and helping some of the most disabled children to access short break provision. Short term breaks are not limited to residential type provision but cover a range of activities and opportunities in the community, at home, approved carers homes, school and residential settings.

In response to Aiming High and feedback from parents, children and young people, we have produced a strategy and outline action plan for delivering Aiming High in Staffordshire.

Information on the national programme can be found at www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/AHDC

Useful Links
Early Support Link:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/healthandwellbeing/ahdc/earlysupport/home/

Sport Across Staffordshire Newsletter:
http://www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk/DisabilitySport/Disabilit-eNews/Issue2-April2010

"Staffordshire Children's Trust is not responsible for the content of external websites linked from this page."

Last Modified: 30/07/2010 11:03:27
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