Firsthand Lothian

Brief description:

Firsthand Lothian exists to support disadvantaged families and children with disabilities to achieve their full potential. Our skilled staff and volunteers help build resilience by working with families in their community, providing support, respite care, guidance, and information.

Organisation name:

Firsthand Lothian

Type of break:

Befriending

Care needs catered for:

Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disability, Medical Condition, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual Impairment

Ages catered for:

Children, Young People

How do people access your service:

Please phone to discuss your needs. Our service is short term (up to 6 to 9 months) with weekly sessions delivered at home and in the local community for 3-4 hours each week, focusing on the needs of the child / young person - helping them to achieve their goals whilst providing respite for parents /carers.

Full service description:

The 1:1 support for children and young people is delivered in the family home and local community, usually delivered weekly for 3-4hrs. Working across Edinburgh we aim to match children/young people and their parent/carer/family with a worker who best meets their individual needs and shares their interests. Workers will engage with children in activities usually on a weekly basis - having fun and going places together that the child/young person enjoys. We encourage parents/carers to think about how to maximise the impact of the service so that it can be delivered at a time that the parent/carer/siblings can also do something they enjoy whilst we are spending time with the child with additional support needs/disability. The service is time-limited and is generally delivered once a week for up to 6 - 9 months, focussing on achieving change for the child/young person. Assessment is carried out to ensure we can meet your needs and that we can deliver the service at a time that maximises the benefit not only to the child/young person with disability but for the parents/carers and siblings. We want to achieve a sustainable change for the child/young person within the 6 to 9 month period that we are providing support.  

Price information:

We apply for and secure grant and trust funding which will pay for the service delivery. We do not engage/encourage children to participate in a regular activity which is costly and not financially sustainable for the family. Families who have secured SDS funding can purchase a service from us - see website/phone us to discuss.

Organisation providing this information:

Firsthand Lothian

Quality Assurance Accreditation:

OSCR, Care Inspectorate

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