YOUNG people with SEND and their families are being invited to take part in research and co-create new digital employment support.

Essex County Council is inviting young people with SEND to help create a new digital employment offer. This will help to enhance the Essex Local Offer.

The Essex Local Offer gives information about support available in Essex for children and young people aged between 0 to 25, with SEND.

The new digital offer will provide career and employment information, advice, and support. It will support young people and their families to be aspirational and plan for their future.

It is also aligned with the council’s wider commitment to working with families to improve local SEND services. This includes improving and raising awareness of the breadth of SEND information, advice and support available in Essex.

The council will work with families to understand what information would be most helpful. Families can sign-up to take part in the research in different ways. This includes options to take part in:

surveys
online and in-person focus groups
individual case studies
conversations at autumn SEND Local Offer roadshows
The team will work with families to ensure the process is accessible to everyone and will make adjustments as required.

Families who are interested in contributing or who would like more information, can contact [email protected]

Following the research period, the new digital offer will be co-created with young people and their families.

The council will also continue to work alongside a group of volunteers to develop and test the new offer. The group will be asked to feedback on accessibility and usefulness.

By working together, the council can then ensure that the Essex Local Offer meets the needs of the families it serves. 

Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, Councillor Tony Ball said: “This project will make a real difference to children and young people with SEND in Essex, ensuring they have access to the support and tools to succeed in whatever future career path they choose.

“Their direct involvement is central to us making sure that these new pages within the SEND Local Offer are useful and accessible. We hope to work with a range of individuals and families from different age groups, who may all be at different points in their SEND journey, to truly reflect what young people need.”