I would like to warmly welcome you to the first of our SEND email bulletins. This is a new regular communication for the SEND community which will deliver the latest news updates, useful resources, events and guidance and support on education, health and social care SEND services available in Central Bedfordshire communities.
We are committed to improving SEND services and support for the families in Central Bedfordshire, working in genuine partnership with our children and families. I appreciate that we need to rebuild trust in our services and that this may take some time. I am committed to improving our relationships with service user families through better communication and by delivering improvements on the ground. We will be held to account for delivering our action plan, which is being co-constructed with our Parent Carer Forum and our health partners. Over the coming months we will be seeking your views, thoughts and input into this plan to ensure we get it right for families.
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you our latest Joint Area SEND Position Statement (updated 21 May 2020), which details the actions the Council and Health, with the support of our SNAP Parent Carer Forum, have undertaken since the Local Area OFSTED/CQC Inspection in November 2019. This will feed into our recently established SEND Partnership Board to develop and deliver our Written Statement of Action and the action plan which will ensure we deliver tangible improvements for our children and their families.
Please do give us feedback on how we can improve our communications, we would really like to hear what you think!
Many thanks
Sue Harrison
Director of Children's Services
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COVID-19: Information on SEND processes and pathways for parents, carers, and professionals
In conjunction with East London Foundation Trust (CAMHS), Carers in Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire Community Health Services and our teams, we have put together a SEND frequently asked questions document, which will be regularly updated, as required.
Emotional health and wellbeing services now more accessible
Bedfordshire CAMHS (North & South): Self Referrals
Young people or parents/carers who live in Bedfordshire can now self-refer to their local CAMH service. Copies of the self-referral forms can be found on the following website pages:
Bedfordshire CAMHS (North)
CAMHS Dunstable
Mental health support for young people
In the event of an emergency, young people can access an All-Age Crisis helpline available 24 hours per day.
ELFT Bedfordshire All Age Crisis Team: Tel 01234 315691
ELFT Luton All Age Crisis Team: Tel 01582 538631
There is more information and links to organisations that offer Emotional Health and Wellbeing services to children and young people on our Local Offer
We want to hear from you about Post 16 Transport for young people - come and have your say at one of our Virtual Listening Sessions
SNAP Parent Carer Forum has been working with Central Bedfordshire Council on its SEND School Transport policies, which includes the transport arrangements for young people aged 16 plus. We will be holding separate virtual sessions for young people and parents as we would really like to hear your views on current arrangements and share ideas and experiences about how we could improve the service and/or how we can support greater independence of young people as they move into adulthood.
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Schools reopening – guides for parents/carers
A couple of Central Bedfordshire headteachers have very kindly produced these documents for parents/carers:
Useful links
Bedfordshire Community Health Services - find out about NHS community health services available in Bedfordshire.
Kooth - online mental wellbeing community for young people. Free, safe and anonymous support.
Central Bedfordshire Youth Support Service - an impartial one stop shop for up to date, useful and reliable information on education, employment and training opportunities.
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