Local Government Reorganisation Update for Cumbria SENDIAS Service
Features
On the 1 of April 2023 the Local Government Reorganisation will come into effect, and Cumbria County Council as well as the 6 district councils will be replaced by two new unitary authorities. These new unitary authorities are Cumberland Council (formerly Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland areas) and Westmorland and Furness Council (formerly Eden, South Lakes, and Barrow areas).
The new authorities will be responsible for delivering SEND IAS Services to the public in their respective areas. Following the 1 of April, Cumbria SEND IAS Service will cease and 2 new services will operate in the Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Council areas.
For more information about Local Government Reorganisation, take a look at the LGR website.
We would like to reassure all families and young people who we are currently supporting, or who may require SEND information, advice and support in the future, we are committed to ensuring service continuity and effective transition to the new arrangements. We are clear that the services operating in the new council areas will continue to collaborate closely and share resources where it is in the interests of families in Cumbria to do so.
What's staying the same?
SENDIAS Services
Each council will establish its own SENDIAS Services from the 1st of April – however the support we provide will stay the same while the teams working in the two new Council areas are established.
Westmorland & Furness SENDIAS Service
Emma Stephenson will continue to work in Kendal and East Cumbria, also covering the Eden area from 1 April.
Celia Jones will continue to work in the Barrow, Ulverston and Grange area of the South Lakes.
Sally Godfrey will continue to work in the Coniston and Ambleside area of the South Lakes.
Cumberland SEND IAS Service
Joanne Thomlinson will continue to work in Carlisle North, South and East , Longtown and Brampton area.
Bev Marrs will continue to work in Carlisle West and will be covering Copeland area from the 1 of April.
Susan Eastwood will continue to work in the Allerdale area.
Service Management
Tracey O’Roarty will continue as the Manager for the Cumberland service.
What’s staying the same for now?
There will be some changes following an initial transition period after 1 April. Families and young people will be updated when any changes come into effect.
Service Facebook Page
The Cumbria SENDIAS Service Facebook page will continue until new pages can be developed for the two services. This will be communicated to families and young people through future communications and through various media outlets.
Service Website
Families will still be able to access the current information. A SENDIAS Service website for each council will be developed after the 1 April. New SENDIAS Service web addresses will be shared in future communications and through various media outlets.
Factsheets and Resources
The information resources we provide for families and young people will remain the same initially, each service will be updating and rebranding resources with the new council logos and individual branding for each SEND IAS Service. This will be done in stages and current resources will remain available for families and young people until this task is completed.
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board will continue to support both services with a plan for each service to set up their own board within 12 months from the 1 April.
SENDAC (SEND Alliance Cumbria)
There will be no changes to SENDAC initially. Any changes will be considered as part of the SEND Partnership review later in the year.
What’s changing?
From the 1 April, the following will be changing for families and young people requesting SEND information, advice and support in the Cumbria.
Cumbria SENDIASS will no longer be operating across the county
The new authorities will be responsible for delivering SENDIAS Services to the public in their respective areas. Following the 1 April, Cumbria SENDIAS Service will cease and 2 SENDIAS Services will operate in Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Council areas.
Eden Area
Change of Co-ordinator from Bev Marrs to Emma Stephenson. Families and young people affected will be contacted by the service.
Copeland Area
Change of Co-ordinator from Sally Godfrey to Bev Marrs. Families and young people affected will be contacted by the service.
Service Management
A new post for a Manager for the Westmorland and Furness service was approved by the local authority, Sally Godfrey was successful in securing the post after a recruitment process. Sally will also provide Co-ordinator support in the Coniston and Ambleside area of the South Lakes.
Service Flyers
Each service will produce an individual flyer with contact details for local Co-ordinators in the new council areas.
Branding
We are currently developing individual branding for each of the services.
Contacting Co-ordinators from 1 April
Co-ordinator mobile numbers
Co-ordinators will retain their current mobile number, however the local area they work in may change, Flyers and email signatures will be updated with new mobile numbers. Please check contact details below for your local Co-ordinators mobile number.
Email
Co-ordinators will retain their current email for now. Work is underway for revised email addresses for each authority, we will communicate the changes to families and parents. Flyers and email signatures will be updated with new email addresses. Please check contact details below for your local Co-ordinators email address.
Local Authority |
Area |
Co-ordinator |
Mobile |
Current Email (To change in the future) |
|
Westmorland and Furness |
Kendal, East Cumbria and Eden area |
Emma |
07769 935446 |
emma.stephenson@cumbria.gov.uk |
|
Westmorland and Furness |
Barrow, Ulverston and Grange area |
Celia Jones |
01229 407439 |
celia.jones@cumbria.gov.uk |
|
Westmorland and Furness |
Coniston and Ambleside |
Sally Godfrey |
07795 110940 |
sally.godfrey@cumbria.gov.uk |
|
Cumberland |
Carlisle North/South/East, |
Joanne |
07825 584865 |
joanne.thomlinson@cumbria.gov.uk |
|
Cumberland |
Copeland and Carlisle West |
Bev Marrs |
07788 360336 |
bev.marrs@cumbria.gov.uk |
|
Cumberland |
Allerdale |
Susan Eastwood |
07824 408922 |
susan.eastwood@cumbria.gov.uk |