Ahead of the government’s plans to reform SEND, the Disabled Children’s Partnership is calling for a system that works for children, young people and families - not against them. You can read more here: www.theguardian.com/education/20... @dcpcampaign.bsky.social #SEND #FightForOrdinary

The updated version of the LeDeR report has been published this week. The original report, published in September, was withdrawn because information about the cause of more than 200 deaths was missing, meaning whether they were preventable could not be analysed. www.kcl.ac.uk/research/leder

Over 290 people have signed our open letter! Your signature can help ensure that every young person with a severe learning disability navigates the transition to adulthood with confidence and proper support. ✍ Sign the open letter bit.ly/3J9oO8u #EndTheCliffEdge #TheCBF #KIDS

(1/5) The most recent ‘Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people’ (LeDeR) report has been withdrawn so that the LeDeR team can update their analysis after information around the cause of death of some people with a learning disability was missing.

Shopping the January sales? Did you know you could be helping us at the same time? Sign up to easyfundraising and over 8,000 retailers will donate to us every time you shop online without it costing you anything, including Tesco,John Lewis and many more. www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/cbf/

The DfE has published revised guidance on the use of force and restrictive interventions in schools. Whilst the CBF welcomes the changes, we are still calling for the development of mandatory national training standards as a matter of urgency. www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/news/cbf-sta...

Following years of campaigning by families, people with learning disabilities and autistic people, the Mental Health Bill has finally received Royal Assent.

🧠 November is Men’s Mental Health Month 🧠 Men are often offered less emotional support than women, and many feel they have to “just get on with it.” But mental health doesn’t discriminate — and neither should support.

📞 Listening ear calls – Be heard 👂 Our Listening Ear service is a free, confidential active listening service, provided by trained family carers who understand what you’re going through. This is a safe, non-judgmental space for you to offload any stresses or worries.

(1/2) Last week, we shared a post about an upcoming legal case concerning the rights of people who lack capacity to consent to their care arrangements. The hearing has now taken place in the Supreme Court over three days. www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2...

An important court case began on Monday concerning the rights of disabled people who lack the capacity to consent to their care arrangements. We support the case made by @mencap, @mind.org.uk and @autisticsociety.bsky.social

We agree with NICCY & CLC the government in Northern Ireland must honour previous commitments to bring forward reformed legislation and guidance on restraint and seclusion in school. Change is essential to protect disabled children & young people from abuses in school. www.niccy.org/news/79-join...

(1/5) Yesterday, Stephen Kinnock, the Minister for Care, set out in Parliament the need to work with people with lived experience to coproduce a government roadmap for developing community support to prevent inappropriate detention.

(1/3) A devastating ITV news article. Adrian, Oliver and Louis all died too young. Families share their views on failures in NHS learning disability care. For over 20 years there has been a focus on how to prevent avoidable deaths.

Learning Disability Nurses play a vital role in helping children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities to access healthcare – through personalised communication, listening to families, coordinating support, and ensuring reasonable adjustments.

(1/3)The Law Commission has published its Review of social care for disabled children in England. "The current system of support for disabled children and their families is in urgent need of reform." - Jacqui Shurlock, Chief Executive, the Challenging Behaviour Foundation

(1/9)After a delay of almost a year, the most recent Learning from Lives and Deaths–People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People (LeDeR) report has been published. This report looks at the lives and deaths of people with a learning disability and autistic people who died in England in 2023.

We are unaware of any evidence at all that backs up Richard Tice’s random assertion. Nor are we aware of Reform having a policy on special educational needs and disabilities.

The CBF has signed this letter. We work with families and colleagues across the UK campaigning against restraint and seclusion in schools and support this action in Scotland.

(1/4) When Safeguarding harms. Recent coverage in The Sunday Times has exposed the devastating consequences for families traumatised by wrongful FII accusations, which has in some events lead to child removal and the withdrawal of essential care.

It’s time to fix the SEND system. A whole generation of disabled children and those with additional needs are being let down by a broken education system. bit.ly/FightforOrdi... #FightForOrdinary

(1/3) Following the preventable death of Myles Scriven, an autistic man with a learning disability, The CBF has signed a joint letter calling on the government to publish the overdue #LeDeR report.

(1/3) ITV coverage shares the appalling impact of inappropriate detention. We urge Wes Streeting to meet families as this is a failure of the system, not a one off. Read our full statement below: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/news/itv-new...

☀️ Our Summer edition of our newsletter Challenge is here, Good Communication for Good Lives We explore communication – why it matters, what it means and what can go wrong when poor communication practices are used. Download the digital copy here: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/news/challen...

(1/2) There have been lots of rumours about SEND reforms but no plans published yet. The Department for Education have made the following statement which we wanted to highlight "We have been clear that there are no plans to abolish Send tribunals” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The NHS ten-year plan has been published. We understand it is a high-level plan, and we support its aims of ensuring all people can get support in their local communities. (1/3)

As the #SummerHolidays approach, we know it can be a challenging time for families of people with severe learning disabilities. 📞 Our Family Support Service is here to listen, offer guidance, and signpost you to the right help. bit.ly/CBF-FSS ❤️You don’t have to face it on your own.

#CoProductionWeek – check out our new Podcast Episode! 🎧Tune in and listen to the first episode in our new series now! spoti.fi/44KULM8

Its #SmallCharityWeek 2025 We want to give a heartfelt thank you to all our families, fundraisers and supporters who have donated, shared and championed our work over the past year. Thank you for being part of our community. #TheCBF #CharitySupport #LearningDisability #FamilySupport

It’s #LearningDisabilityWeek! 🎉 We’re launching the What Matters to Me Toolkit — a powerful resource for supporting people with profound learning disabilities to be seen, heard & included. 👉 bit.ly/3TuOaPq #Inclusion #WhatMattersToMe #LearningDisabilitySupport #FamilyCarers

We believe people with severe learning disabilities deserve support to live as independently and meaningfully as possible. Check out this practical guide for families: 🌟Living a Good and Meaningful Life 🔗 www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/information-... #DisabilityRights #Inclusion #FamilySupport

We believe that people with severe learning disabilities should be supported to be as independent as possible. We're sharing helpful resources for families and carers to support this: 📝 Positive Risk Taking Encouraging independence and informed decision-making: bit.ly/3Zg8K9L

We believe that people with severe learning disabilities should be supported to be as independent as possible. We're sharing helpful resources for families and carers to support this: 📘 Planning for Adulthood Packs: transitions and future planning: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/information-...

#LearningDisabilityWeek 2025: Do You See Me? 🔦 Being seen means being heard, having choices, and being supported to live life on your own terms. We believe that people with severe learning disabilities to live full, meaningful lives and to be part of their communities.

In commemoration of Carers Week, we are publishing our first steps towards planning for the future resource 👣: a template to help family carers to prepare for all eventualities. It brings together key information that someone will need in order to support your relative.

🌟 Peer Support Carer's Catchup! 🌟 We host twice-monthly, informal online peer support groups called Carer's Catchups — a safe and welcoming space to share experiences, find support, and feel heard. #Carers #CarersWeek #Support

#CarersWeek Empowering families to speak up Created in partnership with #FamilyCarers and professionals, our Family Carer #Advocacy Resource is here to support you with clear information and guidance if you ever need to advocate alongside or on behalf of your loved one.

🎧 This #CarersWeek2025, hear real stories & practical tips for families of children & adults with learning disabilities. 🩵Listen to our podcast 'Challenge Accepted' - created by carers, for carers. To tune in, follow the link: 🔗https://bit.ly/4kUvyEi #CarersWeek #CBFpodcast #SupportCarers

This Carers week, we are excited to be holding the first of 3 regional community of practice events for the new Challenging Behaviour Foundation-led Forward Together project.

Did you know it’s Carers Week 2025? This year's theme is ‘Caring about Equality’, We’re sharing key insights from the Carers UK 2025 Report, highlighting the vital statistics concerning unpaid carers are in our communities. #CarersWeek #support #UnpaidCarers #CaringAboutEquality 🤝

Last week was Volunteers' Week 2025 - We are taking the time to thank all our volunteers, our dedicated trustees to our fantastic Local Champions who moderate the private family carer Facebook page, run Carers' Catch Up sessions and help spread the word, your contributions are invaluable

Learning Disability Nurses provide vital support. This petition calls for a full bursary and maintenance fund to support people to become Learning Disability Nurses, so that people with a learning disability can continue to access this support. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71...

To mark Carers Week 2025, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is hosting a free online information session for people with caring responsibilities across England and Wales. 👉 Register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understand...

Do you support someone with a severe learning disability who displays behaviours such as eating inedible objects or drinking excessive fluids? We are offering individual places on our open-access workshop at a special rate.  For more information, please visit: bit.ly/43hbtRn

Do you support someone with a severe learning disability and behaviour that challenges? We’re pleased to announce that, due to high demand, we are now offering a series of open-access online workshops. To view available dates, pricing, and to book your place, please visit: 👉 bit.ly/4dtlrUJ

We have two new internship opportunities at The Challenging Behaviour Foundation! Our internship programme has been running for over a decade, offering valuable experience to those passionate about making a difference. 👉https://bit.ly/4kesPG1

Thank you to @laurenedwardsmp.bsky.social for standing up for the rights of people with learning disabilities and autistic individuals during the second reading of the Mental Health Bill. Strong community services are key to upholding people’s right to live in their communities, not in hospitals.

Last week, I spoke in Parliament in support of Labour’s Mental Health Bill. I highlighted the incredible work of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF), based in Chatham proper in my constituency, which supports young people with learning difficulties and their families. (1/2)

Thank you @laurenedwardsmp.bsky.social for visiting us - it was great to have a chance to talk to you about our work and how we can all work together to support children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges.

Last Friday, I visited the Challenging Behaviour Foundation to learn about their inspirational work supporting children & adults with severe learning disabilities. Great to meet Jacqui, Vivien, & their team in Chatham. Integration across health and social care is crucial, and I'll push for more.