Your support checklist

These are some important considerations to make before and during receiving support from the team:

Looking after yourself

Find a way to have regular breaks to rest and recharge to be able to support your child.

Implementing strategies for managing complex needs and behaviours that challenge is an adjustment to your routine and environment. We appreciate the high level of commitment and resilience required to maintain this.

You may require other services such as social care to support you with finding the time for self-care. A carer’s assessment is used to see whether social care can support your family.

Carers Assessment – Carers Oxfordshire

Additional resources

Physical health check

Book your child in for a physical health check, as this may be a reason behind your child’s behaviour.

Annual health checks are eligible for children from the age of 14 years, has your child had theirs? This includes hearing tests, eye tests, and dentist check-ups. Your child’s GP can support with a Health Action Plan.

The first step in understanding challenging behaviour is to rule out physical health issues. Physical health can impact behaviour. For example, not being able to see or hear clearly, or experiencing pain.

Annual Health Check information

Communication

Start to create a structured, meaningful routine. You can include everyday events (breakfast, shower, bedtime, etc.) and desirable activities.

A visual timetable can help to make this clear. Visuals are important to communicate what is happening now and next.

School will be using a visual timetable and now & next for your child, so you can ask for their support to create these visuals.

Consider the environment

What are the sensory levels like in the home?

Noise, lighting, smells, surfaces – can anything be adjusted to better suit your child’s needs?

Environment, communication, and social interaction influence a child’s behaviour.

How busy and noisy is it at home and school? What is the lighting like, the smells, and surfaces within these environments?

Processing sensory information can result in an over-responsive reaction. This may make is difficult for a child to process information in the environment.

The child may become overwhelmed by the environment, increase anxiety and resistance to the environment. Supporting children to manage their sensory needs may help to increase their tolerance to cope in different environments.

Additional services you can access

It is normal to be finding it difficult to support your child. You may you need support from other services including:

Social care services

Your child’s school

  • For speech and language therapy and assessment
  • For support and resources for visual communication

ASD training support

Bowel and bladder service

  • For support with toileting

Your child’s GP or paediatrician

  • For physical health checks, including referral to a dentist
  • For referral to dietician for support with eating and drinking
  • For support and referral for sexual health needs

Your own GP for

  • For support with your mental and physical health

Short breaks

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Page last reviewed: 12 July, 2024