Southend Local Authority (LA) will use the information or reports supplied as part of an EHC needs assessment request to consider whether to conduct a needs assessment under the requirements of the Children & Families Act 2014.

As part of the decision-making process and if EHC needs assessment is agreed, the LA has a duty to ask for information about a child’s needs from the agencies listed below:

·       The child’s school or education setting

·       The Educational Psychology Service

·       Social Care

·       Early Help & Family Support Service

·       Youth Offending Service

·       Health Services (Paediatrician, dietician, paediatric community nurse, Health Visitor, Public Health Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services (EWMHS)

We may also share relevant information on a confidential basis with the Department for Education and Local Government, other Government agencies and other public bodies involved with the implementation of the new legislation as required to meet our statutory obligations.

The information that you and other professionals provide will normally be shared with your consent. Examples of situations when we may share information without your consent are:

• If we need to find out urgently if a child is at risk of harm or we need to help a child who is at risk of harm.
• If we need to help an adult who is at risk of harm.
• If we need to help prevent or detect a serious crime.

Please refer to the privacy notice which provides further detail about the sharing of information. Privacy Notice - Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND)

By ticking the consent box below you agree to the gathering and sharing of information between the educational setting, health services, social care or other professionals as necessary to support the decision making and EHC needs assessment process.