Changes to support services

Following feedback from families Hampshire County Council will be providing a more '˜streamlined' service in the new year that encompasses all strands of support currently available.

Along with the five NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Hampshire, the council has awarded a three-year contract to Core Assets Children's Services, to provide special educational needs and disability information, advice and support.

The council's head of children's services, councillor Keith Mans, said: '˜We have listened to families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and responded to their preference for a single source of professional advice.

'˜In appointing a new, external agency we aim to maintain the quality of service families have come to expect.'

From January 1 this one service will encompass both Support4SEND (currently provided by the council), and Parent Voice (operated by the Rose Road Association) as a single point of contact for children and young people and their parents and carers.

Jo Maxwell Heron, from the Rose Road Association, said she was '˜confident' the change would be beneficial for families using the new services.