Front Page

Sefton Council and its partners are asking parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to take part in a survey to help improve services.

Feedback

Feedback collected through the survey will be used to review and improve Education, Health and Social Care services provided for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities in Sefton.

Parents and carers taking part in the survey, which is carried out annually, are asked to say what they feel about services overall and how they compare to last year.

The survey, which takes between around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, can be found on Sefton Council’s consultation website at https://yourseftonyoursay.sefton.gov.uk.

There is also an explanation of how the survey works and what it is for.

Also, parents and carers taking part in the survey have the option to be entered into a prize draw. Winners will be randomly selected to win one of three, £50 shopping vouchers.

Better services for the future

Cllr Diane Roscoe, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said: “I would urge parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to take part in this year’s survey because it is their views and feedback that helps us shape better services for the future.

“And as well as helping develop improvements for their children’s future they also get the chance to enter a draw to win one of three £50 prizes.”

People who would prefer to give their feedback by telephone can arrange to do so by calling 0151 934 3733 to arrange a suitable time. They will then get a call-back at the arranged time, between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

After the survey has closed on Friday 31^st March, the responses will be analysed and shared with Sefton’s SEND Continuous Improvement Board, which is made up of representatives from the council, health and other services and organisations.

You can find the survey here.

You said… We did

Here are a few examples of changes made as a result of previous surveys.

You Said: “There needs to be more awareness of the Preparation for Adulthood Guide, parent/carer and young people need to be involved in the transition process, there is a delay to reviews and not all staff attend the review meetings.”

We Did: “We developed a Preparation for Adulthood Guide that has been sent to all schools and providers to be shared at Education, Health and Care plan reviews from year 9 onwards and it is on the Local Offer.

You Said: “There needs to be more support and guidance after autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, shorter waiting time, information about services and support available.”

We Did: “Alder Hey provide information about the post diagnostic offer on their website and the Children with Complex Care team have supported the Parent Carer Forum to secure a venue, at the Cambridge Wellbeing Centre in Bootle, from which they can offer their services, which include informing parents about the social care services available to families”

You can find the survey here.

After tonight’s annual budget meeting at which Sefton Council agreed a Council Tax rise of 4.99%, which will mean an extra £1.51 per week for properties in Band C, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher said:

“Tonight, we have set a budget that focuses on Sefton’s future and the futures of our Borough’s young people.

“It reflects our commitment to investing the cash needed to meet the unprecedented demand on Children’s Social Care and to delivering the recommendations of OFSTED and the Commissioner.

Additional £10m-plus funding for Children’s Social Care

“And it builds on the additional £10m-plus funding we have committed to our Children’s Social Care services since 2021 for developments and improvements that are already well underway.

“We will be raising Council Tax by 4.99%.  “As a result, at Sefton Council, we will be able to continue providing the vital functions and support so many in our communities rely on, expect and deserve.”

Cllr Maher confirmed that a number of costs including those for using the Council’s car parks and residential parking would go up but that the overall rise would be less than inflation.

Below inflation rise

He continued: “Prices at our Leisure Centres are going up but recognising the importance of those services to people’s physical and mental health, we have also kept that rise below the level of inflation.

“The budget we have agreed tonight also recognises the importance of funding the growing need for adult social care presented by our ageing population.”

Cllr Maher said that all departments had taken budget cuts to ensure the Council’s ongoing investment in services for Sefton’s children and young people. He added there would be no job cuts or redundancies required by the Authority, which is one of the Borough’s largest employers.

Better results

He said: “I would like to thank the Council’s officers who, for yet another year, have succeeded in achieving better results for more people despite fewer resources, and for the transparent budget management process which sees us receive honest and open updates each month at our Cabinet meetings.”

Cllr Maher also urged people who are struggling to pay their Council Tax or other bills to contact the Council for support.

Partners

He said: “This winter we have had to work with our partners to provide a network of places in Sefton where people can go to keep warm.

“And we are seeing a steep rise in the numbers of people contacting the Council seeking support.

“As well as the Council Tax Relief scheme, we have the Emergency Limited Assistance Scheme, or ELAS, to meet people’s one-off needs and the Household Support Fund to provide financial support to Sefton residents struggling to afford energy, food and water bills.

“Anyone who is struggling should visit www.sefton.gov.uk/cost-of-living or call our Contact Centre on 0345 140 0845.”

You can find out more about the Council’s budget and spending here.