A - E listing - Children's Services Directory

Access to Social Care Records

If you have had involvement with Wirral Social Services or Wirral Children and Young People’s Department as a child, there may be some written information about you. You can read more about what information we hold about you and who we share it with here.

ADHD Advisory Teacher

The key elements of the role include: Provision of advice and training for schools (primary and secondary) around children with attention difficulties to develop good practice, including establishment of resources. Liaison between schools and health professionals at casework and strategic level.  

Adoption

What we do: Wirral Council is committed to ensuring that children grow up as part of a loving family from childhood through to adulthood.     A range of services and resources are provided by the council to help families to care for their own children. But where this is not possible we aim, through our Adoption Service, to find permanent alternative families who will give the child the highest standards of care and opportunities in their life.

Advocacy and Advice Services

Advocacy services provide free advice and representation for people who use social care services or related services. Advocates can speak on behalf of a user or be there to support them speaking for themselves. Recently advocacy services have also been used to involve service users in planning future developments or changes to services.

After School clubs

After school clubs offer a safe and secure option for children whose parents/ carers may require an extended period of care for their child beyond the school day. Such clubs are staffed and managed by suitably qualified personnel and for those clubs catering for under 8s, there is a requirement that they be registered with and inspected by OFSTED.

Asset Management Plan

The Asset Management Plan forms a significant element in the national and local drive to raise educational standards, provide opportunities for all and support Life Long Learning and in doing so link to the council’s corporate objectives and form part of the corporate AMP to deliver those objectives.

Behaviour

Wirral’s Behaviour Support Plan provides an overview of the support that is available to vulnerable children and their families. This includes information about all the major agencies involved. Copies of the Behaviour Support Plan are available in all schools and the Children and Young People’s Department. The Plan also contains information on where parents themselves may seek advice and support. Most children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties are able to continue their education within mainstream schools, though additional focused support and resources may be required to ensure that barriers to learning are minimised and that they remain fully included. Services from which schools can gain support include:

Birkenhead 6th Form College

Birkenhead Sixth Form College provide further education opportunities.

Bullying and Harassment Policy

We provide guidance and support to all schools on policy, strategies and the curriculum and we provide training for staff in schools. All Wirral schools take measures to promote good behaviour and eliminate bullying and each school has its own individual policy.

Carers and Toddler groups

These are largely informal groups for parents/ carers to attend with their child/ children. As they do not generally operate in excess of 2 hours, there is no requirement that they be registered or inspected by OFSTED.

Charter of Participation for Children and Young People in Wirral

The Charter of Participation for Children and Young People in Wirral was launched at Wirral Town Hall on November 25th 2005. Hundreds of children and young people in Wirral have helped to produce the Charter.

Child Protection

Wirral provides a comprehensive child protection service which includes the investigation of serious cases of abuse. It also offers a range of therapeutic services to children who have been abused and their families.

Children's Fund and On Track

Children's Fund and On Track develop and support services for children and young people (4-13) who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or at risk of becoming involved in crime. Each of the services that we support is voluntary, as families work with them to make life better for themselves. All services have policies, which ensure those children, and young people are treated with respect.

Children's library service

Children’s library services are available at all 24 libraries throughout Wirral.

Children's Services Teams

We will organise targeted support services, that is, those which work preventatively to support children and young people with additional needs, on an Area basis.

City Learning Centres

City Learning Centres are playing an increasingly important part in enhancing teaching and learning through the use of ICT.

Community Centres

The Regeneration Department, through its Community Service, provides five all-year round playschemes and liaises with community groups throughout Wirral assisting neighbourhood management schemes eg. community Centres, playcentres, adventure playgrounds.

Complaints Against Schools

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires schools to establish a formal complaints procedure. The procedure must make provision for complaints from different categories of person i.e. governors, parents, guardians, pupils and the general public.This guidance document below,suggests a four-stage complaints procedure to manage complaints from parents, guardians and members of the general public starting with an informal stage for concerns and ending with an appeal to the governing body.

ContactPoint

All children and young people should get the best possible start in life. ContactPoint aims to make services better for children and young people. It is a contacts list for people who work with children and young people. It will provide them with a quick way to find out who else is working with the same child, making it easier for them to work as a team and deliver more coordinated support.

CYPD - Privacy Notice

Daycare Services

OFSTED is responsible for registering and inspecting day care services for children under eight. This includes childminders, pre-school play groups, day nurseries and after school clubs. Further information about how this work is carried out can be obtained from the OFSTED- call 0845 601 4771.

Drug Education

Wirral Drug and Alcohol Action Tam (DAAT) has produced a handbook for professionals giving guidance on drug education for youngsters.

Early Years Grants

For information about free nursery education places and grant funding call the Early years helpline on 346 6584.

Education Social Welfare Service

The Education Social Welfare Service seeks to ensure that every child/young person receives the maximum benefit from the education opportunities provided by the Local Authority. The Service utilises a range of strategies and interventions, working in partnership with children and young people, parents and families, school staff and other agencies to overcome barriers to education and achieve improved outcomes. The Service also collects, collates and analyses attendance data from schools and supports and challenges school staff in their efforts to improve attendance.

Employment of Children

For further information please contact:

Excellence in Cities Plan

The Excellence in Cities programme will complement the Children & Young People's Department's aims as outlined and delivered through the priorities identified in the Children & Young People's Plan. The focus on raising attainment, achievement and extending opportunities is underpinned by a desire to raise the aspirations of all adults and young people involved in the education service and the wider community.

Extended Schools: the Wirral Way

Extended schools are schools offering additional services to parents/carers and the wider community. This can range from having childcare facilities on site or partnership with external childcare providers, through to community use of sporting and leisure facilities, health care and advice on family support.