On 21st June 2023, Livewell Southend changed to a new platform.
The change was inspired by the need to make the website more fit for the future: it will now be more accessible for all users and will have the ability to connect with other software such as a digital tool for social prescribing (coming soon), which were lacking/unavailable on the existing platform. After listening to feedback from directory record owners, a method where users do not have to directly update their service record unless they want to has also being implemented.
The site as it launches on 21st June will not be the finished product. There will be opportunities in the near future to help co-produce the look and feel of the site and its elements, such as the SEND Local Offer pages and Children/Family Services information.
A new and improved directory system is also being investigated, which may be coming later this year. As such, the version of the directory that is currently in place is likely to be replaced.
As a result of the change, things will look different (and more basic in some areas initially) and there may be times when the site is down. However, the new site will have a much-improved search function and more scope for integration with other software. It will also meet accessibility regulation standards, which is a legal requirement for all local government affiliated websites.
The site will be in constant development and we will need input from others to make it the best tool it possibly can be. Please let us know your thoughts. If you have any questions about the new system, or notice content that is missing, please email livewell@southend.gov.uk
If you would like to add a directory record to the site, please see You said, we did for more information.