The Future of Services for Disabled Children: Best Practice and Support

22nd September 2010 in Central London

With a new Government in control, keeping services for children with
disabilities on the political agenda must be a priority. Both nationally and
locally there is a commitment to achieve this: a commitment confirmed
in the NHS operating framework, the Child Health Strategy, Healthy lives,
Brighter Futures and in the Children’s Plan. Currently 7% of children in the
UK are disabled and steps must be taken to close the gap in achievement
between disabled children and their peers. We cannot let the progress
made over the last few years which has sculpted and transformed services for disabled children disappear. It is widely acknowledged that the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme and Healthy Lives Brighter Futures strategy, both launched in 2007, were a real jump in the right direction and have successfully ‘Improved service provision across the board for disabled children and their families, enhancing equality and opportunity for them’.

This unique one day conference explores issues such as how to enable parents, the voluntary sector, health services, education and social services to work with each other effectively and also how to achieve efficiency in commissioning. Delegates will be briefed on the latest policy and legislative developments, and essential advice on how to ensure partnerships between local services and organisations are effective. Senior speakers from across the sector will address these issues in an open and welcoming environment.

This conference will also assess progress to date in providing disabled children with the best possible services in order for them to achieve their full potential.

Speakers Include:
Hardip Begol, Department for Education
Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive, Scope
Professor Geoff Lindsay, Director, CEDAR , University of Warwick
Liz Sayce, Chief Executive, Radar
Kate Martin, Making Ourselves Heard, Council for Disabled Children
Esther Burridge, Daycare Trust
Richard Selwyn, Commissioning Support Programme
Tim Swingler, Project Director, Soundbeam
Lucy Aston, Senior project worker, The Children’s Society’s Disability Advocacy Project
Sutton Disability Partnership
Philippa Stobbs, Principal Officer, Council for Disabled Children

Download the booking form or contact Care Matters Partnership to book a place.

Email: booking@carematterspartnership.co.uk
Phone: 020 7384 2365