SEND Participation and Engagement Service

Lambeth Council is seeking a suitability experienced provider to provide a Participation and engagement service for families with Special Educational Needs and/Disabilities (SEND). Lambeth Council has a statutory duty under the Children and Families Act 2014 to involve young people and children with SEND and their parents, carers and families, in shaping the provision of services for those with SEND.

As at January 2017, approximately 1440 children and young people with Education Health and Care plans (EHC) and at least 5640 children are in receipt of support for Special Educational Needs.[1] Our shared vision, principles and priorities are to ensure partners are working together effectively to identify and meet the needs of Lambeth's children and young people with Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities (SEND) from birth to the age of 25yrs. Lambeth Council have redesigned the SEND Participation and Engagement Service for families based on the needs of the families in Lambeth.

Our vision is to move towards a person centred, solution focused model for SEND parents/carers in the borough, with a focus to promote independence for children, young people and their families through increased participation, personalisation, accessibility to leisure activities, training and employment opportunities. We recognise that the feedback received by parents, carers and young people with SEND parent is invaluable; the unique and powerful contribution through the eyes of a parent with a child or young person with SEND has considerable benefits to how we develop services and provision in Lambeth.

The commissioned service will be of a high quality to support parents/carers, and the service would be robustly monitored to ensure excellence. [1] https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/ssh-draft-... The contract will be awarded for a period of 2 year, commencing in October 2018, with an option to extend at the Council's discretion for an additional two years