Support for You and Your Family

Overview
There are many ways in East Sussex for families of children with SEND to receive additional support. Support might come from SEND-specific services or more general support for families.
On this page you will find descriptions of some of the support that is available.
Meeting Other Parents and Carers
Sometimes, the best support for parents and carer of children with SEND will come from peers. This might be parents and carers with children the same age as yours, or, parents and carers whose children are now older and they have some experience of what you might be going through.
East Sussex Parent Carer Forum
The East Sussex Parent Carer Forum (ESPCF) is a forum for parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in East Sussex. Find out more by visiting their website:
Amaze
Amaze are a local charity who run Face 2 Face Befriending, which is a peer support service offering families in Sussex support around the time of their child's SEND diagnosis or new challenges:
Directory on 1Space
Part of the East Sussex Local Offer includes the directory, on East Sussex 1Space. The directory includes numerous other charities and community groups that can offer support in meeting other parents and carers:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups (opens directory in a new tab)
- Additional Support for Families, Carers or Homes (opens directory in a new tab)
Sibling Wellbeing (Sibs)
The ISEND Sibling Service (Sibs) support children aged 6 to 17 who have a brother or sister with a disability.
The service is for brothers and sisters of disabled children who do not:
- have their own moderate to severe Special Educational Needs (SEN), or
- attend Social, Emotional and Mental Health school or unit (SEMH).
For more information on the Sibling Service and to get in touch, please click the below links:
- ISEND Sibling Service (opens website in a new tab)
- Contact ISEND Sibling Service (opens website in a new tab)
Please note: there is a national charity that support brothers and sisters, which is also called 'Sibs' (the two are not linked). They provide information, advice and guidance. To find out more, you can visit their website by clicking the link below:
Practical Support, Advice and Guidance
Amaze SENDIASS
Families of children with SEND sometimes need practical support. This might include help around benefits, work, housing, or adaptations to the home. Amaze SENDIASS (SEND Information Advice and Support Service) offer a free, independent and impartial local telephone advice line that can be a good place to start seeking practical support. This service can be contacted on:
Alternatively, you can visit their website for more information:
CLASS+
CLASS+ works across East Sussex to support families/carers of Autistic children and young people. Their aim is to provide guidance and training that enables families/carers to build their understanding of the strengths and challenges faced by Autistic children and young people and to develop greater confidence in how to support them. The team is part of the CLASS service. You can view their full service details on our directory, by clicking the below link:
Open for Parents
Open for Parents is a website that offers advice and guidance on parenting in East Sussex. You can visit their website by clicking the below link:
Short Breaks and Respite
Short breaks, also known as respite, can be leisure activities and clubs for children with special needs and disabilities. Your child can have fun and learn new skills while you have a break from caring. You can find out more by visiting our page on:
Parent and Carer Assessments
Parent and carers of disabled children up to 18 can apply for an assessment which looks at:
- how caring affects your life, including your health and wellbeing
- difficulties you’re experiencing
- what you would like to change about your caring role?
After an assessment the local authority will give you information about other services and ideas to support you in your caring role.
Can I apply?
You can have a parent carer assessment if you:
- care for a disabled child; and
- have parental responsibility for the child
and:
- the child has multiple and complex needs
- you also care for at least one other person, like an elderly parent
To understand what multiple and complex needs mean, please follow the link below to see what levels 3 and 4 look like on the Continuum of Need:
For more information on the continuum of need, please visit the below link:
How to Apply?
To enquire about a parent carers assessment you can:
- Contact the Customer Relations Team in Children's Services (click here for their contact details)
- Speak to any service currently supporting your family
Parent carers can also apply using the same form as carer’s looking after adults:
Health and Wellbeing for Adults
Parents and carers of children with SEND sometimes need wellbeing or mental health support themselves. This support could come from self-care routines, peers (see our section Meeting Other Parents and Carers), or professional counselling. You could be seeking support because you need general wellbeing support or because you need to talk a specific thing through.
It is important to try to recognise early when you need support and seek it out.
Please note: If you are struggling to cope then you may need to seek out immediate support. You can either make an emergency call to your GP or follow this link to an NHS website that will help you find a Mental Health Support line (England only):
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
CAMHS provide specialist NHS services and support to children and young people up to the age of 18, and their families and carers who are experiencing difficulties with their emotional, psychological and mental health. They have teams of staff across Sussex and in the community who can help you and your family to get the support that you need.
- You can visit the CAMHS website, by clicking here
The CAMHS website provides a wide range of information, advice, resources and more, including:
- Help & Support pages for children, young people, families and carers, which you can view by clicking here
- Resources to help you better understand and take care of your own mental health and emotional wellbeing, which you can view by clicking here
- Recipes 4 Wellbeing that might help support a young person experiencing difficulties with their mental wellbeing, which you can view by clicking here
Self care
Self-care means taking small actions that can have a positive impact on your health. This can be important for parents and carers as it can fit into busy routines sometimes more easily than counselling sessions or similar.
There are many great self care guides available. Parents and carers in East Sussex who we have consulted have recommended the following websites:
- BritMums: Advice on self care (opens website in a new tab)
- Special Needs Jungle: Your wellbeing (opens website in a new tab)
You can find more help and information on how to look after yourself, on the Amaze website:
Counselling
Counselling is a really good way for parents and carers to talk through the things that they find challenging. Counselling can either be:
- Via a health referral from your GP: Your GP can refer you to a local NHS therapeutic service, though this route can sometimes have a long waiting list. If you are are very worried about your mental health this would be the right route to take.
- Private counselling: This would be counselling you find and pay for yourself. You can search for counsellors local to you on google or use one of the many counselling directories, such as Psychology today, British Association of Counselling Therapists, or
- Provided by a charity or community organisation: this can be free or low cost, though sometimes is harder to find.
Initially, we recommend speaking to Relate who offer 8 sessions of free counselling to carers in East Sussex. This includes those who are caring for children.
To find out more please follow the below link to their site:
Directory on 1Space
Part of the East Sussex Local Offer includes the directory, on East Sussex 1Space. The directory includes numerous other charities and community groups that offer health and wellbeing support for children, young people, parents and carers.
You can visit the directory by clicking the links below:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups (opens directory in a new tab)
- Additional Support for Families, Carers or Homes (opens directory in a new tab)

Health and Wellbeing for Children and Young People
The East Sussex Local Offer has a specific page dedicated to children and young people's wellbeing. Please follow this link:
Getting Involved
Many parents and carers find it fulfilling to contribute to the development of services for children and young people with SEND.
Visit our 'Have Your Say' page to find out how you can get involved.
Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms
Some of the terms used on this website are explained on our page, 'Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms':