Finding your Team in 10 easy steps

This blog will focus on the team surrounding you and your child, how to work with them, and how to get the most out of them.

Your team are all the people in your child’s life that help them, starting with the “core” support of parents and close family (such as grandparents and siblings), to key workers, teachers and SENCO’s plus professionals (such as SALT, OT, paediatrician and Educational psychologist). Your child might receive support from other areas such as social services and they will also form part of your team, as well as after school clubs/activities such as Brownies/Cubs/Swimming lessons.

Where there is great communication and parents keep everyone informed. Progress is made.

Here are 10 top tips to help find your team and keep things running smoothly.

Don’t assume communication will happen, parents must take ownership. Don’t focus on what you shouldn’t be doing, for example, if you were expecting a phone call from a professional and it never came, don’t think that you shouldn’t be having to chase, call up and do just that…chase!
Share information between everyone in your team. Together you will be stronger in helping your child if everyone knows everything. Reports, telephone calls, letters, results all should be shared in order for things to progress.
Summarise all information from professionals e.g. blood test results, health visitor questionnaire results etc.
Establish your core. Your core may well change depending on what your priority is at that given time. For example if your priority is potty training, the health visitor would be your core, you don’t necessarily need the input of a SALT at that given time, and therefore it is OK and wise to not have their input. Don’t be afraid to tell somebody they aren’t needed. Keep your child and their needs at that given time at the centre of everything.
Don’t be afraid to ask for somebody different if a certain professional doesn’t have the same values/thinking as you. For example if your child’s key worker hasn’t particularly grasped your child’s particular needs don’t be afraid to ask for another key worker for your child. It is easy to assume you are being a pest, but in fact you are not, you are doing what is right for your child.
Write everything down and keep everything organised! Keep a note of all appointments, reports, and conversations in one place. If your mind is organised better progress occurs!
Do not be afraid to chase, ask questions, call and e-mail! In a world where services are stretched, unfortunately it is the ones that shout the loudest that get heard and their needs met! You are your child’s biggest advocate. Make sure you are aware of what is happening next, what are the next goals, aims etc. if you do not know then ask!
Ask questions! Always go into a meeting/phone conversation with questions! Professionals love it and will feed on your enthusiasm for you child. There is no such thing as a stupid question, and if you make sure your questions are answered you will get what you want out of it.
The cogs turn and the engine is smooth when everyone knows everything! If professionals are kept in the dark about certain things, that is when a breakdown in communication occurs, and progress slows. If you want certain things private, you must communicate this to the relevant people.
Make sure your child stays in the centre! Aims and goals can quickly be forgotten about and the focus sometimes defers off your child when everyone has their own agenda. Stay focused and keep your child at the heart of everything!

If you haven’t done so already, make sure you download the communication passport, a great downloadable which summarises how best to support your child. This downloadable can be shared between all the people in your child’s team and ensures everyone is working from the same page.

Always keep in the back of your mind where your child is at, what are their next steps, and how do we get to those next steps! Ask for meetings and updates regularly and remind yourself of who you are (a strong parent advocating for their child) and who you are doing this for.