I am a parent/carer of a child or young person

Charlotte Mitchell - Assistant Director for Integration and Health, Children's Services

As a leader within Children’s Service’s I am committed to ensuring that ‘Children’ and ‘Children and Young People in Rochdale’ get the best possible start in life. I am employed in a joint post across Health and Local Authority which allows me put need at the heart of all decision making. I am responsible for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), Commissioning Children’s related services including Physical and Mental Health. I am committed to putting the voice of children and their families at the heart of services and I am passionate about working together to design and deliver the best possible support for families in Rochdale.

Francesca Soan - Designated Clinical Officer for SEND (DCO)  

I am part of the local authority’s SEND team and an NHS member of staff. I was a local speech and language therapist before moving into a DCO role and I am passionate about making services better for the children and families in Rochdale.

Jackie Ellis - Director/Co-chair Rochdale Parent Carer Voice

At Parent Carers Voice we attend and create events to listen to the parent carers of children with SEND in the Rochdale Borough to establish if services are working well or require change. I work closely with the local authority, the NHS, local services and charities to co-produce projects and new services within our community.

Jo Haworth-King - Inclusion Lead Officer Early Help & Schools

I work with all schools across the borough to improve outcomes for pupils, including vulnerable children and young people. To oversee and manage the work of fair access, attendance, safeguarding and raising participation teams.

Kath Bromfield - Independent chair of the SEND stakeholder 

I am the independent Chair of Rochdale's Stakeholder Forum.  It is my role to ensure that as a locality, everyone keeps the focus on the 'so what?’  

I am passionate and vocal about children, young people and their families having a voice in decisions made about them at every level.

I believe that if we can serve our communities better by having honest conversations and by using outside the box and person centred approaches we enable all our children & young people to live their best lives. 

Katie Berrisford - Co- chair Rochdale Parent Carer Voice

At Parent Carers Voice we attend and create events to listen to the parent carers of children with SEND in the Rochdale Borough to establish if services are working well or require change. I work closely with the local authority, the NHS, local services and charities to co-produce projects and new services within our community.

Katie Charlton - Head of Schools

I develop strong working partnerships with schools to ensure high standards are achieved for all our children and young people. I lead, manage and have responsibility for a range of service areas within the schools service. I contribute and liaise with Early Help and the Children’s Services Directorate.

Lesley Rudge - Head of Service (Send) Children's Services

I am Head of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Service in Rochdale for Children aged 0-25 years. I have a background in Early Years and SEND and I am committed to improving services for children and young people with SEND in Rochdale.

Dr Lucy Charters – Principal Educational Psychologist

I started in education as a primary school teacher and after qualifying as an Educational Psychologist, began working for Rochdale Educational Psychology Service in 2003. I have particular interests in trauma-informed and attachment-aware approaches and am passionate about promoting psychologically healthy education systems.

Rebecca Rawsthorne - SEND Quality Assurance and Performance Lead

I work as a member of Rochdale SEND team. I help to create a framework for SEND outcomes. I carry out audits of EHC Plans, to make sure they are consistent and follow the SEND code of practice. I make recommendations to improve practice standards, across the service.

Rosalie Wain - Designated Social Care Officer (DSCO)

I support children, young people and their families with SEND. I coordinate and facilitate provision of social care services. My role is to work closely with other professionals, such as teachers, health workers, and educational psychologists. I assess needs and develop appropriate care plans that aim to improve outcomes and quality of life for our young people with SEND

Saqub Hussain - Engagement and Co-Design Youth Worker

To develop and deliver participation and co-design with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Engage children with lived experience in a variety of engagement activities and support them in having a genuine influence within the SEND Strategic agenda internally, externally, locally, regionally and nationally.

Steve Kay - Assistant Director Early Help and Schools, Early Help & Schools

Leads and supports a range of provision, schools and services. Works closely with inter-agency colleagues across the Borough to ensure we develop the right services and support, at the right time for children and families.

George Rodgers - Local Offer Assistant

I update all Local Offer information onto Our Rochdale. I do this by checking with services and SEND teams. I like to search for new activities and meet external organisations. I keep in close contact with Parent Carers Voice. I change details if they’re incorrect to the service.

Raising Rochdale - Making our borough a great place for all to grow up, get on and live well. 

SEND jargon buster - Is a simple guide to the most commonly used words and phrases and what they mean.

What is the Local Offer? - The Local Offer gives children and young people (0-25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families information to help them find the right help and support in their area.

Raising Rochdale SEND strategies provides information on what the Local Offer includes and SEND strategies.

I work with children and young people provides advice and information for someone who works with children and young people.

I am a child or young person provides advice and information for someone who is a child or young person.

Attached stay connected Our vision is to provide top quality speech and language support to all children and families who need it in a prompt and convenient manner.

Action together we know people can make things happen as we see it everyday. Across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside, there are thousands of people changing lives, improving neighbourhoods and contributing positively to our area. 

Barnardo's Rochdale service works in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council to provide a range of borough wide services for children and young people.

Beyond psychology is a not-for-profit social enterprise, led and founded by chartered clinical psychologists, who use their expert knowledge, scientific research and experience to improve the mental health of children, their families and those that work with them. We have particular expertise in trauma and attachment.

Carers Hub Rochdale provides a single point of access supporting all carers in the Rochdale borough.

Colourful minds is a non profit organisation providing wellbeing and emotional support for parents and carers of families of all ages with SEN and/or disabilities.

Essential Parent are one of the world’s leading online resources for expert-led, evidence-based parental advice.

Family health link worker service provides continuing holistic support to families of children with complex healthcare needs.

Gaddum is a part of the Thinking Ahead pathway in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. Getting Help provides holistic support to help clients overcome barriers in meeting health and social care needs which are impacting on their wellbeing and mental health.

Home start Rochdale and Bury offers practical and emotional support for any family with a child under the age of twelve years old.

Parenting & family relationships programmes give support, advice and guidance to parents and carers living in the borough.

Rochdale Parent Carers Voice are a group of volunteer parents and carers whose aim is to represent the interests of families and young people with additional needs and disabilities from birth to 25 years.

Rochdale Sendiass (special educational needs disability information advice support service) provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support.

Rochdale Speech, Language and Communication toolkit is a tool for parents and practitioners providing a range of services and strategies available to children pre-birth to 5 years old. 

SHINE parent support group is a 5 week parenting group for parents/carers of children aged 5 and under whose children have social and communication needs.

Support for Carers make a vital contribution to society by giving their time and energy to care for a family member, friend or neighbour.

While you are waiting for speech and language therapy provides valuable resources and support for children in Rochdale who are awaiting Speech and Language Therapy services.

Rochdale Local Offer COVID-19 Help and Guidance - We are experiencing an unprecedented time due to Coronavirus. It is important to try to look after yourself and your family, both mentally and physically during this time.