Article written by SSAFA Welfare Officer, RAF Wittering: Paula Finch
When “families” is chosen as a topic for an article, the first thing you realise is how broad a subject it is, even what defines a family varies from one person to the next.
And so, it seems appropriate that in the run-up to World Autism Day on April 2, we look at special educational needs and disability (SEND) and how the RAF Personal Support & Social Work Service (RAF PS&SWS) staff can support RAF families and their children .
Paula Finch is an RAF PS&SWS Welfare Officer based at RAF Wittering – though her insights will likely ring a bell with anyone at any other RAF station – and she also covers the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Stanford Hall.
Her experience is exceptional, and here she explains more about her role, her personal expertise and perspective, and how families can be supported:
Within SSAFA’s RAF contract and as part of my daily role, we support serving personnel, but we also support their families.
This can be for myriad reasons including mental health, finances, deployments, employment, isolation, and loneliness.
However, at RAF Wittering, we’ve seen an increase in requests for support with SEND. This is possibly because of a combination of reasons such as lack of funding for schools and that the NHS pathway is a long and at times a difficult journey for families.
Emotions can run high, and anxieties can develop – all of which are quite natural.
Factor in being serving RAF personnel, with the added stressors of regular changes of location or deployments for one parent for four to six months at a time, and what is an ever changing political world at the moment, this could cause emotions and anxieties to become more heightened for those at home.
There is, however, a positive and practical way to view this.
These days, we all talk about SEND, autism, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) more than we did. This helps take away the stigma that used to exist, which of course is a good thing. Greater openness in society about it also helps highlight that increasing numbers of children require support.
More people needing support means resources don’t always keep pace with demand and the waiting list for testing through the NHS can be up to two years. However, according to the Chairwoman of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, Layla Moran MP, one of her constituents has been told that there is – wait for it – a 16-year waiting list for diagnosis.
That, of course, is exceptional, but it should come as no surprise why some parents choose private testing when told the waiting list is around 24 months.
Welfare Officers working with the RAF PS&SWS are able to give the family a safe space, which is non-judgemental and confidential. Sometimes that’s all they need is the opportunity to talk to someone they can trust who will most importantly listen to them and offer emotional and practical support. They will also advocate on behalf of families, signposting them to local support or funding that could help. Further support is also available from SSAFA’s Additional Needs and Disability Advisor and FANDF – the Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum.
So how do I support children and their families?
Well, I’m a Drawing and Talking Practitioner, and I work directly in school with children – six children at the time of writing – who require support for varied reasons, and I have to thank SSAFA for helping me obtain the training to do this. However, I must stress that this is an additional, and unique, service as it seems I’m the only one in RAF PS&SWS with this specialism.
Due to waiting lists and the cost of private testing, I often work and support children while they are on the NHS pathway. This gives them and their families much needed support at a challenging time. This also helps the school as it would normally come at a cost for them, but I’m in a position where I can do this as part of my role.
Raising a child can be difficult enough at the best of times, but with our support, we’ll help you navigate the right way for the best possible outcome for you and your children.
FANDF - the Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum
A great place for families living with a disability is SSAFA's FANDF - the Forces Additional Needs and Disability Forum.
The Forum is a tri-Service group for Serving personnel, reservists and their families who have a child or adult immediate family member with an additional need and/or disability. The Forum can provide a great space for you to share with other service families affected by disability as well as providing you with useful information, including early awareness of programs like the SSAFA Short Breaks for Families with a Disability.
Live Chat