SENDIAS Service
Hartlepool Special Educational Needs and Disabilities information, advice and support service (SENDIASS) provides free confidential, impartial support and advice to children, young people (aged 0 – 25 years) and their parent/carers, about matters related to their or their child’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), including matters relating to health and social care. We are a self-referral, in-house statutory service which is funded by Hartlepool Borough Council (HBC), situated within Children’s and Joint Commissioning Directorate but we operate at ‘arm’s length’ from the HBC Education, Health and Social Care Services.
We are here to:
- Support Children and Young People who have or may have special educational needs.
- Offer free, confidential and impartial advice and information to Parents/Carers, Children and Young People.
- Recognise the importance of Parents/Carers, Children and Young People’s voices and views being at the centre of SEND processes.
- Help Parents/Carers, Children and Young People, Local Authority, Schools, Health and Social Care professionals to work together to meet the needs of Children and Young People.
- Increase Parent/Carers, Child and Young People, and professionals’ knowledge of SEND legislation (the law) and national guidance through a variety of different formats and training opportunities.
We cover:
SEN Support, Graduated Approach , EHC Needs Assessment Requests, EHC Plans, Annual Reviews, SEND Placements, Ceasing an EHCP, Transport, Attendance, EOTAS, Mediation, Tribunal Appeal, Disability Discrimination, Health, Social Care
You can access impartial information, advice and support by contacting Hartlepool SENDIAS Service.
Telephone: 01429 284876
Email: sendiass@hartlepool.gov.uk
Further information about the Hartlepool SENDIASS can be found on the website: www.hartlepoolsendiass.co.uk/
Parent and Carer Forum
1Hart, 1Mind, 1Future is the recognised Parent Carer Forum (PCF) for Hartlepool and was established in 2008.
This is a group of parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabled children aged 0-25 who work alongside the local authority, education, health service and other service providers to make sure they plan, commission, deliver and monitor the needs of children and families.
The group does this through active parent participation and ensuring parents have a voice.
As a Forum it works closely with Hartlepool Borough Council’s Short Break Lead to identify areas in which families feel short breaks could benefit them.
1Hart, 1Mind, 1Future believes it is important to enable families of children with SEN and Disabilities to live a fulfilling active life.
The group works closely with many other services to enable the reduction in isolation to families in Hartlepool and help increase resilient parents.
You can contact the group by:
Telephone: 07896 054361
Email: HartMindFuture@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.1hart1mind1future.co.uk
Facebook: 1 Hart, 1 Mind, 1 Future Group Forum
Hartlepool Carers
Click here for more information.
Carers’ Assessment
Hartlepool Carers are able to offer you a carers assessment, however if you require a review of your carers’ direct payment this will need to be complete by children’s social care.
Who can have a carers’ assessment?
Any carer who appears to have a need for support should be offered an assessment.
You will be entitled to an assessment regardless of the amount or type of care you provide, your financial circumstances or your level or need for support. You do not necessarily have to live with the person you are supporting or be caring full-time to have an assessment.
You can have an assessment whether or not the person you are looking after has had a needs assessment, or if the local council have decided they are not eligible for support.
If you are sharing caring responsibilities with another person, or more than one person, including a child under 18, you can have an assessment.
How will my carers’ assessment be carried out?
New Carers Assessments are carried out by Hartlepool Carers Team via telephone or face to face.
Your assessment should cover:
- your caring role and how it impacts on your life and wellbeing
- your health, physical, mental and emotional issues
- your feelings and choices about caring
- work, study, training, leisure
- relationships, social activities and your goals
- housing
- planning for emergencies
The aim of the assessment is to help you get the support you need. You will need to give your honest opinion about your caring role, the care you provide and your feelings about being a carer.
What help might I get?
The impact of caring is unique to each individual and a tailored plan will be provided to ensure carers needs are met.
Information, Advice and Guidance will be provided as-well as opportunities for short-breaks, welfare support, emergency planning tools, events/activities, and support to remain or seek training and employment.
A wide offer of support is available and will be discussed on an individual basis.
Call Hartlepool Carers on 01429 283095.
West View Advice and Resource Centre
West View Advice and Resource Centre (WVARC) offers independent and confidential advice to Hartlepool residents on welfare benefits, debt, employment and housing. They can be contacted on 01249 271294 or click here for more information.
Bubble of Support
Click here for more information
The Hartlepool Community Support Finder
The Hartlepool Community Support Finder is a comprehensive list of organisations providing a range of services and activities to adults, children and young people in Hartlepool. The Hartlepool Community Support Finder is available at www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk. It is also available as an App and can be downloaded on Apple IStore and Google Play.
These include:
| Group | Web link |
| Dyspraxia Teesside | https://www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk/organisations/27259-dyspraxia-teesside |
| Epilepsy Outlook | https://www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk/organisations/7592-epilepsy-outlook |
| HUDSA | https://www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk/organisations/7558-hudsa |
| Disability North | https://www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk/organisations/14941-disability-north |
| Network for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | https://www.hartlepoolnow.co.uk/organisations/29629-fasd-network-uk-foetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder |
Other Support
Other support and activities available for families in Hartlepool with children with SEND include:
| Group | Web link |
| Families First | Home |
| Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group | Hartlepool Special Needs Support Group – Delivering high quality services to the community of Hartlepool |
| Sportability | Hartlepool Sportability Club | Hartlepool | Facebook |
| Funability – Inclusive sports for children aged 5-16 with SEND | Contact: Participation@hartlepool.gov.uk , (01429) 402896 |
| Daisy Chain | Daisy Chain ｜Autism & Neurodiversity |
| Jump 360 -Jump Support | Jump Support | Jump360 Trampoline Park |
| Repeat for Kids | RepeatForKids |
Support for siblings
Hartlepool Young Carers – What We Do – Hartlepool Carers
