It is important to look after yourself as a parent or carer.
Carers support/assessment
If you care for someone you can ask for a carers assessment. You are entitled to an assessment regardless of the amount or type of care you provide. The assessment is not dependent on your finances.
If you care for an adult call 01702 215008 or email AccessTeam@southend.gov.uk and write `Adult Social Services` in the message.
If you care for a child call 01702 215007 or email FCT@southend.gov.uk and write `Children's Social Services` in the message.
Carers support organisations
Carers First and Southend Carers offer support, information, help and advice for unpaid carers.
Support is available for young carers (under 18) through Southend Carers and the Southend Youth Support Service through Cool Club and Chil Club.
Looking after yourself as a carer
You may find these resources helpful:
advice and information from Carers First
Self-Care for parents and carers from the Anna Freud Centre.
The Southend Neurodevelopmental Guide and the Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child guide also have some helpful information.
The Contact Listening Ear service provides one to one telephone appointments for parent carers seeking emotional support.
Meeting other parent carers and support groups
Talking to other parent carers can really help. There are a number of organisations and groups in the local area. Some focus on particular areas of need, but others offer general support. Some groups run training for parent carers. You can find a selection of local support groups and organisations here.
There are also national support organisations.
Southend Family Centres provide a range of services and support.
Southend SEND Independent Forum (SSIF) are the Parent Carer Forum for SEND families in Southend. SSIF work with the Council, NHS and other partners to represent the voice of parents, carers and their children. They run monthly coffee and chat sessions.
The Southend Council SEND Team run monthly drop-in SEND Surgeries for parent carers to ask questions and get support and advice on a range of SEND related topics.
Free and low-cost workshops for parent carers
- Join events run by Autism Central.
- Events by Contact for Families with Disabled Children.
- Training and support from the Down's Syndrome Association.
- Tourettes Action run low-cost webinars. Check the news section on this page.
- The Council for Disabled Children training catalogue.
- Webinars by the British Dyslexia Association.
Book recommendations and resources
Parent carers have shared book and recource recommendations with us.
Independent advice and support for SEND
SENDIASS Southend provide children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parent carers with impartial information, advice and support so they can make informed decisions about matters relating to their SEND.
Families of children under 5
You may be able to get support from the Early Years SEND Support Service. The team run a Play and Development Group for under 5s with SEND and the Southend Early Autism Support (SEAS) course.
You may also be eligible for support from A Better Start Southend Family Support Workers for social communication needs.
Short Breaks and respite
Short Breaks are fun, interesting and safe activities for children and young people with disabilities:
- children benefit from new interests, relationships and activities
- parents can attend to their physical and mental wellbeing and maintain and develop social networks
Find out more here: Short Breaks for Disabled Children and Young People, contact Childrens Social Care on 01702 215007 or email ShortBreaks@southend.gov.uk
You may also find this information about Direct Payments useful: Children with Disabilities - Direct Payments
Financial support and benefits
The money, housing and legal section of the Local Offer has a range of information including finance and benefits advice; and lists support organisations.
You can also find information about Carers Allowance on GOV.UK