Support for parent carers

If you care for a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the following organisations and charities can support you in your role as a carer.

The Wokingham Carers Partnership provides information, advice and support services for carers in Wokingham Borough.

SEND Voices Wokingham are the independent parent carer forum for Wokingham Borough. They give a voice to families who have a child or young person aged 0 to 25 years with SEND.

Find support groups for parent carers

You can use our Local Offer Directory to find support groups for parent carers.

Parent carer needs assessments

If you have parental responsibility for a child under 18 with a disability, you can ask us for an assessment of your needs. This is called a parent carer needs assessment (PCNA).

The assessment will look at:

• whether you have needs for support and what those needs are
• whether it is appropriate for you to provide, or continue to provide, care for your child with a disability, considering your needs for support, other needs and wishes
• your wellbeing
• the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child you care for, and any other child you have

The PCNA is used in circumstances where a parent carer's needs are complex, and an assessment is the best way of identifying how to meet those needs. 

It is often combined with another assessment that is being carried out for your child's needs, but it can also take place on its own.

Request an assessment

You can ask us for a parent carer needs assessment by:

Phone: 0118 908 8002

Email: triage@wokingham.gov.uk

If your child has a Social Care Practitioner, you can also speak to them for advice on whether a PCNA is the best option for you.

Caring for someone over 18

If you care for someone aged 18 and over, the adult social care section of our website has information about support for carers.