General FAQ

Does my child have to be referred to Beckly by other agencies Children's Services or Social Services?

No. Beckly is an inclusive service and is currently is able to offer open access to any child or young person living in Plymouth who has additional needs, specific requirements for extra support and care including physical and learning disability, recognised conditions such as Autism, ADHA Downs. Please ring the Beckly Office direct to discuss your child's individual needs. Families can self refer and pay for sessions themselves as and when required

General Programme Information

Premises and Resources

The building, which is adjacent to Radford Park at Plymstock, comprises of two large play halls with a small outside garden area and is disabled accessible with a ramp, toilets and changing facilities including a hoist available.

The Beckly Centre has a full range of play equipment including soft play, bouncy castle and ball pool: sports equipment including table tennis and snooker: table games and floor puzzles: life skills equipment for cooking: full range of arts and craft materials and equipment: music and hifi equipment: computer and games equipment. We also have use of a minibus for trips and outings and regularly attend community activities make use of community resources such as sports fields, going to cinema / bowling to introduce social and community skills and experience.

Registration

Beckly's registration form attached is for you to give us details about your child.

It must be completed, signed and returned to the Office before your child attends.

"All about me" should be completed by your child wherever possible.

The information you provide should cover all relevant details (if you need more space please continue on separate sheets) so that we can get to know about your child as quickly as possible and should be returned to us before your child visits for assessment.

Where you child has specific needs or problems or you have any particular concerns please contact the Office to discuss these in advance so that any relevant training or procedures can be put in place and other relevant information can be obtained from other agencies.

If there is a care / management plan, statement or other relevant documentation about your child available then it is very useful to have copies for our records.

Please keep us informed of changes (particularly phone numbers) to your child's specific problems, medication or needs

Initial visit (s)

Beckly usually arranges for you and your child to visit the centre to discuss with staff care and social needs. Where possible this is during a session in an appropriate group so that your child can see what is going on. Then we usually suggest that they are subsequently left for a shorter session to see how they settle in. No charge is made for an initial visit.

Confidentiality

All information given will be treated in a confidential manner however we reserve the right to liaise with, discuss and share information and data with other appropriate agencies where it is beneficial to and necessary for the health, safety or welfare of the child concerned.

Times of session

Playscheme and day time weekend sessions normally operate between 10am and 3pm

Evening clubs normally operate between 7 and 9 pm

Day trips are as detailed for each event

Obviously for some special events, outings or trips it will be necessary to vary these times and you will be advised of any changes.

Please note that due to insurance and Ofsted Requirements we can not look after your child outside the published hours and additional charges are applied for care outside published hours

Booking Arrangements and Session Fees

Groups

Sessions are operated on a group basis with a maximum of 20 places available for each session. Whilst we maintain good staff to client ratios we do not offer one to one support unless specially arranged and funded.

We divide those attending into three groups by ability, age and level of personal care and supervision needs - i.e.

• Less able: needing personal care and supervision mainly younger age
• Intermediates: less supervision/ personal care, more able age range 9 / 13,
• Seniors: older/ more able less care and supervision needs, youth club age

This split is successful in providing groups that are closer in ability and needs where activities can be planned to be more appropriate and concentrated Identifying which is appropriate to your child's needs should be discussed with the Centre Manager.

Activities

Activities will be discussed with those attending and for most clubs you will receive a proposed programme which will include a variety of arts and crafts, sports and games as well as occasional outings and trips so please check to make sure your child has what is needed for the session(s) so he/she can participate in the activities.

For some sessions we may meet at an alternative venue or time to allow for special events for which there may be an additional charge

The Becky Centre retains the right to vary, waiver or change the programme as operational needs dictate but we will endeavour to keep you suitably informed.

Transport

A limited number of places are available on the minibus for some sessions. If you would like transport please contact the Office and we will let you know if there are any places available and if so on what dates. We use a cluster system for you to meet the bus at set meeting places which could reduce your travel time to and fro from Beckly.

Priority is given to those with no other means of transport.

We can not guarantee to pick up and drop off at set times or to carry out the transport route in any particular order.

Transport for trips and outings is only from a designated meeting place.

Referral

Referral may be made by Parents direct and Parents may pay for service in full themselves (please note sessions fees are already subsidised by grants from City of Plymouth Social Services, Plymouth Teaching Primary Care and donations).

Places may be allocated on referral by either Social Services or other agencies and funding help be available from some of these agencies.

Medication

Details (time, name of drug, dosage)of all medication whenever taken should be included on the registration form.

If medication is required to be administered whilst your child is at Beckly then only enough for that session should be sent in with the child, in a container that is suitably labelled with the name of drug, time to be given and dosage. Please ask your pharmacist for a spare label and container. Any recording documentation should always be sent with the medication.

All medication should always be given to the Leader in Charge for safe keeping.

Occasional medication should be dealt with in the same way but a letter of authorisation must be given to the Leader in charge if not shown on the registration form

Please note that there are some medical procedures which staff at Beckly can not carry out so if your child has specific medical needs please contact the manager

Suncreams etc

Please provide suitable sun lotions (in individual bottles labelled with name), sun hats and suitable clothing during warmer months so that your child can participate in out door activities. We usually hold and use a high factor child friendly lotion for emergency use but if your child has allergies or specific concerns then please inform us.

General Health

If your child has any illness or sickness we do not have facilities here to look after them adequately so please only send your child if they are well enough to attend. It is also useful to know if your child any minor complaints or infections so that we can take necessary precautions.

Personal Care Needs

If your child needs specific help with personal care needs please make sure this is clear stated on the registration form. Adequate supplies of nappies/ sundries should be sent in with the child.

Clothing

Loose play clothing, preferable labelled with name, trainers or soft shoes jumpers / sweatshirts which can be removed if the child gets too hot. We often have messy or water play so older clothes are better.

Wherever possible we do try to include impromptu trips and outings so outer clothing (labelled with names) suitable for the general weather conditions should be sent in and a bag or rucksack to carry is very useful

It is also very useful to have a change of clothes sent in with your child if they regularly need changing and to cover messy/wet play activities or spills.

Lunches and snacks.

You will need to send a packed lunch and drink with your child for longer sessions as we are not able to go out shopping for food and do not keep supplies on site nor can we reheat food.

Please ensure that foods sent do not pose a risk to others (eg nut bars etc).

If your child needs to eat small / frequent meals please make sure that this is clearly shown on the registration form so that arrangements can be made. If your child has specific eating / food needs (eg tube feding) please discuss this with the Manager

Drinks (water and squashes) are always available and a healthy snack can be sent in with your child for morning break.

Wheelchair, mobility and other needs

If your child has specific equipment needs please discuss this in advance with the Manager. In most circumstances where there are manual handling requirements then equipment such as slings will need to be send with the child.

Health and Safety Policies

The Beckly Centre has a wide range of policies covering aspects of work with and for those attending the centre and participating in activities. Copies of the full policy documents are available to be read at the Beckly office by arrangement

Behaviour Policy

Responses to behavioural issues are dealt with on an individual basis and guidance from parent/carer is welcomed.

The Beckly Centre reserves the right to withdraw services where there is the likelihood of harm, damage or distress to others attending, staff or property

If there is a care management or behaviour management plan for your child please let is have a copy and please inform those dealing with this so that Beckly can be included in any programme / update / ongoing plan.

Complaints

In the first instance any concerns should be brought to the attention of the Centre Manager. All complaints, given in person, by phone or in writing, will be investigate in a caring and professional manner and that where ever possible an acceptable solution will be provided as quickly as it is possible.

You also have the right to pass details of any complaint on to Ofsted Early Years 08456404040 or refer to Social Services on 308777.

Non-collection of children.

An answerphone and message system is in place so parent/carers must leave a message if there is likely to any delay in collecting the child or if alternative arrangements are needed

Where a parent/carer has not collected a child within 30 minutes of the end of a session and / or where attempts to reach the emergency contact detailed on the registration has failed then the Beckly Centre will pass the matter on to Social Services

Parents will be liable for any staffing, transport or other costs incurred outside normal operational times at a published hourly rate plus expenses.

Management Committee and Administration

The Beckly Centre is an independent charity managed by an elected group of volunteers who direct the day to day operations through the centre manager and teams of paid and voluntary workers.

Parents/ carers are welcome to join at any time and help is always needed to ensure that Beckly continues to offer an affordable, reliable and valued service

Regular committee meetings are held together with occasional consultation meetings and usually, in mid summer, the Annual General Meeting all of which are open and accessible

Contact details for the Executive Committee are displayed on the notice board in the foyer alongside brief details of health and safety policies, copies of minutes of meetings, registration and other certificates and other notices which may be of interest.