Whether it’s being able to spot the signs of anxiety and pain in a child with complex needs or looking after yourself as a parent or carer, the following resources may be of help for both you and your child’s emotional and mental health.
Our guides are free to download from our website:
- Our Factsheet on Emotional Wellbeing looks at the importance of looking after yourself if you are a parent or carer.
- Our Guide to Anxiety helps you spot signs of anxiety in your child and gives advice on how to help them.
- Our Guide to Pain helps you understand how children with limited communication may show they’re in pain.
- A Parent’s Guide: Improving the well-being of young children with learning disabilities helps parents support the well-being of their young child with a learning disability (aged 0 to 5).
Other support organisations
Reaching out and getting some help with the things that have a negative effect on your well-being is vitally important. The support organisations, services and resources below might provide the help you need:
Carers UK
Carers UK run a telephone advice (0808 808 7777) and support service for carers who want to talk about caring. If you’re looking for answers, the online information and support is a good place to start.
Carers Trust
The Carers Trust is a national charity that provides support to carers, including carers of someone with a disability. They can support carers in their homes through the provision of replacement care, and in the community with information, advice, emotional support, hands-on practical help and access to much needed breaks.
Carers direct helpline
The NHS-run carers direct helpline (0300 123 1053) can give you information to help make decisions about your personal support needs and the needs of the person you’re looking after, including information about assessments, benefits, direct payments, individual budgets, time off and maintaining, leaving or going back to work or education. They can put you in touch with specialist national or local sources of help, including social care, healthcare and self-help networks and resources.
Challenging Behaviour Foundation
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation is a charity for children with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, providing information and support to families and others involved in service delivery and provision.
Contact (Formerly Contact a Family)
Contact provide direct advice and support services to families with disabled children. They host a free national helpline which is open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5.00pm: 0808 808 3555.
Enable
Enable provides information and support for people who have learning disabilities and their families. They have a helpline called ENABLE Direct that aims to answer any questions you have: 0300 0200 101.
Family Information Service
Find your local Family Information Service (FIS) using the search function provided. FIS provides a range of information on all services available to parents in the UK, including parents of disabled children. Contact your FIS for up-to-date details of local childcare and early years provision in your area.
Mencap
Mencap provides information and support for children and adults with learning disabilities and their families, and offers a range of services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Mencap has launched a new Familyhub, an online portal where you can connect with other parents and family carers of someone with learning disability. You can connect with others, share triumphs and challenges and give and receive support and tips.
Portage
Portage is a home-visiting educational service for pre-school children with additional support needs and their families. They help support the development of play, communication, relationships, and learning for young children within the family and the family’s participation and inclusion in the community in its own right, helping you to identify what is important to you and your child and plan goals for learning and participation.
SENDirect
SENDirect is a website run by the charity Contact (see above), where families of children with disabilities or special educational needs can search for and compare accessible support, activities and services that are right for their family.
