A referral was made to Welcare to support Mum and her two children, Leo, aged 5, and Toby, aged 3, following concerns raised by their Health Visitor. This was the second period of intervention, the first having taken place the previous year.
Leo, who has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), is non-verbal and is awaiting an autism diagnosis. In the previous year he was allocated a place at a mainstream school, but following his initial visit the school explained they could not keep him safe. A placement had been secured at a specialist centre for children with communication and interaction needs (CoIN), but this was later withdrawn when the necessary paperwork was not completed on time by professionals.
By the time of the second referral to Welcare, Mum was becoming increasingly distressed. Leo was not in school, and she had experienced four different SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Case Officers in quick succession. The lack of continuity, along with the constant chasing for updates, was taking a significant toll on her mental health. She felt hopeless about anything changing, while also trying to care for both children at home. Having given up a job she loved to meet their needs, her financial situation was becoming increasingly difficult.
During the early stages of support, it became clear that Leo urgently needed a specialist school placement. He had recently turned five and was legally required to be in education, but without consistent professional involvement this could not be secured. At the same time, Toby was beginning to copy his brother’s behaviour. Mum wanted him to start nursery so that he could learn and socialise, but a number of barriers stood in her way. She was struggling to take both children out of the house safely, Dad was unwilling to adjust his childcare days, and Toby still needed to be potty trained. Mum was also worried about the family’s housing situation. Leo loves to climb and she was fearful that he might fall from an upstairs window, which left her desperate to move to a ground-floor flat.
With support from Welcare, things gradually began to change. Working alongside a consistent SEND Case Officer and setting clear timescales, Leo’s case went to panel and it was recommended that consultations be made with specialist schools. This decision paved the way for him to attend a setting focused on Autism and Speech and Language Delay, and Mum was hopeful that he could start attending in the next academic year.
The Family Support Worker visited both parents and spent time with the children in each home. This consistent approach helped the whole family feel supported. Toby has now been offered a place at a local school nursery, Mum has successfully potty trained him, and Dad has agreed to alter his days of care so that Toby can attend five days a week. This gives Toby the chance to learn and socialise with his peers, while also providing Mum with valuable time to focus on Leo.
Concerns about housing have also been addressed. In partnership with the Housing Association, locks were fitted to make the family’s current windows safer. More significantly, the Housing Association agreed to move the family into a vacant ground floor flat within the same block. This will reduce disruption for Leo while also ensuring that Toby can continue at his new nursery.
For Mum, these changes made an enormous difference. She felt more positive and could see a future where both children are settled in school. She even began to explore the possibility of returning to work, which would improve the family’s financial situation and restore a sense of purpose and independence.
