Young Persons’ Sitting Service
We recognise that caring for a child or young person with a disability is demanding and can be exhausting. We also understand that Parents/Carers need a break to recharge their batteries or simply get on with looking after their own lives.
Finding someone who can take care of their child under these circumstances can have its problems.
First Initiatives is now able to provide a Sitting Service for young people with disability under 18 years old living at home. The Young Persons’ Sitting Service provides support for families with children, particularly those with disabilities, allowing parents to take a much needed break from caring. The service is managed from Goddard Hall, the charity’s integrated Community Enterprise and Resource Centre.
This initiative supports parents and children within the aims and objectives of the Government’s initiative ‘Aiming Higher for Disabled Children’ and the Every Child Matters agenda.
Our support is flexible and varied around the needs of each individual young person through focused partnership working with parents and carers. Our Staff are fully trained to work with children within a ‘person-centred approach’ and will consult with the child about the type of activities in which they would like to participate.
The service aims to provide a family with support for around five hours every two weeks at a time that has been agreed between the family and First Initiatives.
The service will be available between 7.45 am and 11.00 pm and is aimed at providing short term respite for parents and/or carers allowing them to engage in activities outside the home.
This service may be purchased through Sefton MBC ‘Children, Schools and Families’ department, or directly using individualised budgets. Parents/carers can access the Young Persons’ Sitting Service from a menu of services provided by First Initiatives.
Childrens’ Social Club
First Initiatives is able to provide a Social Club for children, particularly those with disabilities, in Sefton at the charity’s Goddard Hall integrated Community Enterprise and Resource Centre which provides opportunities for all people within Sefton.
The service within this safe, friendly and nurturing environment, is open to children with disability (under 18 years).
This initiative supports parents and children within the aims and objectives of the Government’s initiative ‘Aiming Higher for Disabled Children’ and the Every Child Matters agenda.
Structured activities will meet the needs of each individual child through partnership working with parents and carers.
The aim is to enable the children to take part in creative and fun activities within a friendly social environment.
- A range of snacks and drinks to purchase
- Inclusive activities with the community
- eg. leisure pursuits
- Film Night
- Games
We support children through social inclusion and towards independence with structured activities, ’learning through play’, and social interaction. A range of play and other pursuits planned to help children learn, play and relax with their friends will be provided.
Our Staff are fully trained to work with children within a ‘person-centred approach’ and will consult with the child about the type of activities in which they would like to participate.
We welcome input from parents and carers on the activities and feedback on performance.
This service may be purchased through Sefton MBC ‘Children, Schools and Families’ department, or directly using individualised budgets.
