New support for families in Warrington living with neurodevelopmental conditions.

10th December 2019

Families in Warrington living with neurodevelopment conditions including autistic spectrum disorder/condition, ADHD, sensory processing difficulties and specific learning difficulties can access new support thanks to a new partnership with Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

North-West based ADDvanced Solutions Community Network has been commissioned to deliver weekly pre, during and post-diagnosis community-based support network groups and structured learning programmes. Open to all families living a range of neurodevelopmental conditions, the network groups provide support to help them understand and meet the needs of their children and other members of the family.

Steve Tatham, Lead Commissioner - Maternity, Children, Families & Frailty at NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group said: “To ensure we deliver high-quality services that meet the needs of local people in Warrington, the CCG continue to listen and respond to the views and experiences of our population. Through working with the families of children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism or ADHD in Warrington, we understood there was a need to improve the existing support available for parents, carers and children and young people. This led us to work closely with families to involve them in co-designing what a better offer of support could look and feel like. We are delighted to work in partnership with ADDvanced Solutions to launch this new and enhanced offer of support and hope it will improve the wellbeing of many families in Warrington.”

Vanda Reeves, director at ADDvanced Solutions, added: “Living with a neurodevelopmental condition can be challenging and overwhelming; families find this local support invaluable, the feedback we’ve had has been extremely positive.

“Each week we have discussions and workshops covering subjects and issues that are important to these families. Working in partnership with professionals from local organisations and experts in their field to provide effective solution-focused support, we give parents, carers, and supporters the skills, knowledge and confidence to enable them to meet the needs of their families.”

Claire Humphreys from Padgate has a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Speaking about the group she said: “At the time (of joining) I felt like my world was ending and I was failing as a mother, we were struggling and felt so alone.

“At the groups, everyone seemed to be having the same, if not very similar struggles - I didn’t feel alone anymore, I felt like I had support, a lifeline, a bit of ‘normality’.  I have learnt so much from the family workshops and have made so many positive changes to the way I approach things - if I’ve been unsure about different processes they have helped me to understand.”

ADDvanced Solutions Community Network has been delivering targeted support throughout Liverpool for six years. It also delivers community network groups in St Helens, Sefton, Knowsley and Wirral.

The groups take place each Thursday at Sandy Lane Children’s Centre during term time, with some family activities during the holidays.

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