New support for teenagers with SEND

Teenagers with SEND and their families are set to benefit from new help and support after Norfolk County Council's Short Breaks Service successfully bid for £955,000 to fund an innovative new project.

The new scheme will be for 14 to 18-year-olds with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) demonstrating the most complex social, emotional and behaviour from this summer.

It will introduce new community-based provision for families struggling to manage their child's behaviour safely, including family coaching, psychological therapy, activities in the home delivered by professionals, and community-based activities outside the family home.

Three new short breaks navigator posts will also be introduced to co-ordinate and help families navigate support for their child across health, social care and education, improving the way professionals collaborate to achieve the best outcomes and support for a child.

Cllr John Fisher, cabinet member for Children's Services, said: "This new project will help us to increase support for families in their homes and communities at an earlier stage.

"It also means that both the family and the young person will be supported.

"This shows our continued drive and determination to innovate across education and social care, creating ever more join up between these services to provide the very best support possible for children and young people with SEND to ensure they are able to flourish and achieve their full potential."

The Short Breaks Service provides opportunities for breaks where children and young people with SEND can thrive, grow, achieve and have fun in the community with peers, whilst supporting their families to have a break from caring.

The funding is from the Government's new £30 million Short Breaks Innovation Fund set up as part of the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan it published on 2 March which aims to achieve better, fairer access to high quality SEND support.

The fund is to help councils to test new services including play, sports, arts and independent living activities, allowing parents time to themselves, while their child enjoys learning new skills.

Read more about Short Breaks on the Norfolk SEND Local Offer website.