Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) is the Department for Education funded Parent Carer Forum for Southend-on-Sea. They are the nominated strategic partner for the Southend SEND Area Partnership, Their role is to represent the voice of parent carers.
The Southend SEND Network is for organisations and groups that support local children and young people with SEND and/or their families in Southend-on-Sea. Parent carers can also join. The Network is a collaboration between SSIF and the SEND Local Offer Team on behalf of the Southend SEND Area Partnership.
The main purpose of the network is to reach and engage more families. We are developing various ways to do this so that:
- the local community is better informed
- opportunities for co-production are strengthened
- the voice of local families, groups and stakeholders are captured, fed back, and heard across the Partnership
1. Improve communication
To help families understand how the system is working to deliver SEND services and to inform them of key SEND Area Partnership activity, network members will receive:
- information, updates, and events from the SEND Area Partnership
- details of co-production and engagement activities
- invitations to complete surveys and take part in consultations
2. SSIF Seminars
To strengthen relationships across the Southend SEND community and for area leaders to understand the issues facing families in the local area, SSIF will host termly seminars.
Each seminar will:
- focus on a particular topic
- provide information and advice
- gather parent/carer and stakeholder feedback about processes and provision
SSIF seminars are open to all. Network members are encouraged to represent the collective voice of the families they support, and to share information after the event. This is important if the families they support cannot attend themselves. Co-production opportunities may arise from SSIF Seminars.
3. Your Local Offer Your Way sessions
Families need to know what help is available in the local area. The Local Offer team run `Your Local Offer Your Way` sessions. Anyone can come along to tell us what information they need on the Local Offer and how they want it presented.
4. SEND Champions
Organisations that join the SEND Network are asked to nominate a SEND Champion who will:
- raise awareness of the local SEND system
- be invited to attend SEND events or meetings, including those where limited places are available
- represent their organisation and the families support
- share information and co-production, participation and engagement opportunities with their families
We will develop a training and support plan for SEND Champions.
How to join the SEND Network
Please complete a consent form and provide your contact details. You can do this electronically through this link.
If you need any help, or if there are any questions please email localoffer@southend.gov.uk