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Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment 

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Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment 

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An Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment evaluates the education, health, and social care needs of a child or young person.

If you are a parent of a child or young person aged 16-25, you can request an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment through the online EHC hub. For more information click here.

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Eligibility:

Aged 16 Years + with a learning disability and an EHCP

The employer and provider must reasonably expect that the apprentice will be able to successfully achieve the vocational aspects of the apprenticeship requirements ie level 2 or above

The provider must complete an assessment to ensure that the apprentice is able to complete Entry Level 3 qualifications in maths and English during their apprenticeship

Find an apprenticeship

National apprenticeship contact

Support for apprentices with a learning difficulty or disability

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Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16- to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an EHC plan. The core aim of a supported internship study programme is a substantial work placement, facilitated by the support of an expert job coach, within mainstream employment settings.

Supported Internships programme in Cheshire West and Chester

Cheshire West and Chester - Supported Internship Programme

New Ground

Petty Pool

Cheshire College South & West

Warrington and Vale Royal College

Reaseheath College

Coleg Cambria

Wirral Met

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The National Careers Service provides high quality, free and impartial careers advice, information and guidance. Our service is available to anyone aged 13+ no matter what stage of the careers journey you’re at.

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The National Careers Service can help you make career decisions throughout your life. From deciding your education route, planning a career change at any age or getting the job that is right for you.

Contents

Making career choices

Whether you know where you're headed in the future or not, knowing the work and study choices available to you is a great place to start.

Advice and support to help you choose your next step if you're leaving school or have recently left.

Help and advice to find and stay in work if you're disabled or have a health condition.

Advice on taking time out of education before continuing your studies.

Find useful advice and resources if you've been made redundant or become unemployed.

Consider and all the post-graduate study options available to you.

Learn resilience and how to deal with difficult experiences.

Look into job roles in the British Army, Royal Air Force or Royal Navy.

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Get advice to help you make career decisions. From planning your education route, a career change or getting a job that's right for you.

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From Year 9, your school will encourage you to think about your future career and lifestyle. While this might seem daunting, remember that many people are available to provide information, advice, and guidance to help you make these decisions.

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Young Leaders programmes offer free opportunities for young people aged 14-25 to:

Connect with others

Discover their passions

Gain valuable work skill

For more details click here.

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We offer comprehensive support to help you find employment, including:

Employment mentoring

Help with overcoming barriers to work

A wide range of adult skills development opportunities

These services are available to adults aged 19 and over.

For more details click here.

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Fresh Start – Young People’s Supportive Employability Programme

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Fresh Start – Young People’s Supportive Employability Programme

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A supportive employability programme where young people are listened to, backed, and in control of their journey (funded by the Department for Education).

Support for young people:

1‑to‑1 mentoring and coaching: individual support focused on building confidence, motivation, and clear progression towards employment, training, or education.

Personalised action planning: support to identify goals, break them into achievable steps, and regularly review progress.

Employability and life skills development: practical support to build key skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and workplace readiness.

Confidence and motivation building: activities and sessions designed to increase self‑belief, resilience, and positive decision‑making.

Group work and peer support: opportunities to take part in group sessions that build social skills, confidence, and shared learning in a supportive environment.

Ongoing engagement and support: continued support during employment, education, training, volunteering, or placements to help sustain positive outcomes.

Barrier reduction: support to identify and address personal, social, or practical barriers that impact progression.

Advice, guidance, and signposting: Information and referrals to additional or specialist services where appropriate

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Job Help - Support to help you get job ready and find work. To find more information click here.

For more information about:

Work programmes & Youth Offer 16-24 years old, work coaches and Disability Employment Advisors click here.

External Places Jobcentre signpost:

King's Trust - provide a number of national contracted Provision as well as adhoc non-contracted provision .

Youth Federation - Better Start Programme in Winsford

Evenbreak - Support customers with disabilities into work. Evenbreak also provide Career Hive

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Areas of Employment in Cheshire West and Chester

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Areas of Employment in Cheshire West and Chester

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Here you will find ten employment areas where we employ the most people, generate the most money for the area or have greatest potential to grow over the coming years within Cheshire West and Chester.

For more details click here.

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On this website, you can explore study choices and careers.

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Features over 1000 videos of people talking about their careers – explaining their job role, career path, and how different factors have shaped their direction.

Videos can be filtered by job type or subject and cover a range of sectors and levels, encouraging young people to draw links between school subjects and jobs

discover opportunities they may not have known about before.

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An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is for children and young people up to age 25 with special educational needs or disabilities that can't be met by the support that is available at their school or college.

For more details about an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and the assessment process, click here

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Share your ideas: Family, friends, supporters

Keep fit and well: Doctor, nurse, therapists

Guide you to a career path: Teachers, Young People’s Service, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Assistant, mentor, careers advisor

Take care of yourself: Social worker, support workers

If you have SEN support, you and your parents/carers will regularly discuss your future support needs with your teachers, even if you don't have a Preparing for Adulthood Review.

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Eligibility:

Working age young people and adults

Special educational needs, learning difficulties and/or disabilities

Primary/secondary mental health care

To find out more click here.

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Cheshire College – South & West provides excellent opportunities for 11,000 students and 1,000 apprentices. They offer high-quality teaching and learning at their campuses in Crewe, Ellesmere Port, and Chester.

For more details click here.

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We offer a wide range of vocational and technical courses for both school leavers and adults, including T Levels, apprenticeships, higher level, and professional courses. Situated in Warrington and Winsford

For more details click here.

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We are of the UK’s leading land-based and technical colleges based in Nantwich, Cheshire. We offer a range of full-time diplomas, T Levels, apprenticeships and degrees, ideal for those looking for an exciting career in the land-based industries.

For more details click here.

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Petty Pool Vocational College is a specialist education provider for young adults with learning disabilities and difficulties, supporting over 113 full time learners from across Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.

For more details click here

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Our aim is to equip you with the widest range of up to date business skills that will launch your career in this cutting edge professional environment. Our provision specialises in a range of business subjects covering retail, marketing, finance, travel and enterprise.

For more details click here.

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We operate across 5 sites and offering a broad and inclusive curriculum offer including GCSEs, A Levels, Vocational Qualifications (Entry to Level 3), Welsh for Adults and Higher Education/Higher Technical Skills programmes. The college also works in partnership with employers locally and nationally to deliver apprenticeships and bespoke training.

For more details click here.

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Derwen College is a not-for-profit organisation that offers residential and day placements to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), aged 16–25.

Students have a choice of pathway areas, with subjects including: Horticulture, Hospitality, Retail and Enterprise, Performing Arts, Work and Independence Skills

For more details click here.

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We offer a wide range of courses to students of all ages and backgrounds, from entry level programmes to degree level study; from apprenticeships and bespoke employer-led programmes to vocational and technical full-time study programmes.

For more details click here.

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Based in the heart of a historic city, we are a forward-thinking modern university with a focus on delivering a sustainable higher education experience that is adaptable to the world around us.

For more details click here.

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All children/young people with disabilities should have the support they need to fulfil their potential and lead as independent life as possible.  Support should  place the child/young person and their family at the heart of decision making regarding the type of care, how and where  it is delivered.

Prior to the young person turning 18, a Care Act Assessment can be completed to identify eligible needs for care and support. Under adult’s services, Adults in receipt of care and support receive a financial assessment to determine the amount that they will need to contribute to the cost of their care.

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Our ambition would be that everyone lives as independently as they can. You might live with parents or cares or get a tenancy on your own. Or you might decide to share accommodation with others. For further information about the Local Authorities duties are click here.

Completed Projects

3 shared houses for LD and Autism [2 Northwich,1 E Port]

1 shared house for aged 16+ LD and Autism [Winsford]

2 fully accessible shared bungalows

8 Flats [Winsford] LD and Autism

14 flats [Chester] MH

There are pipeline projects across Cheshire West and Chester.

10 Year Prospectus:

The Council launched its new 10 year Housing Strategy in 2025 and is preparing a new local plan which will identify the type and location of new housing needed.

Our Housing Strategy aims to ensure that we have housing that local people need and can afford.

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Day Services: The Council’s Day Care provider is Vivo Care Choices: Vivo Care Choices

Active Live! - our day service that supports young people aged 16+: Live!

The council has a range of day opportunities with different providers across Cheshire west from building based services to personalised support

Agency Support: support at home or outreach

Directory of Support

Care Directory

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A personal budget specifies what the cost would be to the local authority of meeting someone’s assessed eligible support needs for care and support.

Direct Payments are monetary payments that people can receive to fund their own Care and Support Needs to meet their outcomes in a way that best suits them.

Direct Payments for All Ages Policy

NHS Personal Budget and Direct Payments

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Volunteering is when someone spends unpaid time doing something that brings benefit to others.

The three elements of volunteering:

1. Free will - An act of choice, and entirely voluntary.

2. Unpaid - Without receiving a salary, stipend, or any form of material renumeration.

3. Making a difference - Doing something positive for someone, or something, beyond yourself (e.g your city, your community, your environment).

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There are many benefits to volunteering, both for individuals and local communities.

Learning a range of new skills

Gaining real work experience

Enhancing your CV and employability

Meeting new people

Provides a sense of purpose and reduces social isolation

Increased wellbeing and confidence

Potential for accredited training (depending on the role)

Connecting with your community and shaping how things are run for the better

Additional Resources:

Volunteering and claiming benefits

Volunteers and employment rights

Find a volunteering role

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The Volunteering Myths and Misconceptions

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The Volunteering Myths and Misconceptions

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Volunteering is often misunderstood, and there are many myths that can prevent people from getting involved. It is important that we all understand the facts.

Volunteering can be one-off (or micro-volunteering), and doesn't always require open-ended commitment.

Volunteer managers are generally accommodating and flexible with whatever time you are willing to commit.

You won't be out of pocket - most organisations will reimburse volunteer expenses such as travel or lunch.

Volunteering roles can be enjoyable, varied, and diverse.

Volunteering is not the same as employment, and won't effect your entitlement to claim benefits, universal credit, or any other social security payments.

Everyone has something valuable to offer.

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Many young people know they want to volunteer, but don't know how to find a role which aligns with their skills and interest.

The Cheshire and Warrington Volunteering Hub - this platform enables volunteers to search for an opportunity local to them, including by postcode, area of interest, and level of commitment.

Social media - volunteering roles are often promoted via Facebook community groups, local forums, Linkedin etc.

Word of mouth - voluntary organisations are often at the heart of a local community, enabling residents to spread the word about interesting volunteering roles.

Leaflets/notice boards - this may be in local shops, cafes, libraries, colleges, or community spaces.

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As Children and Young People approach adulthood it is important that they have whatever they need to live full, safe and happy lives. Children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, may need extra support during this transition to ensure they are fully prepared for adulthood.

Integrated Access and Referral Team (I-Art)

Disabled Children and Young People

Moving from Children's Social Care to Adult Services

The Transitions Service

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Short breaks are a way of giving disabled children a chance try different experiences, have fun and make friends whilst giving parents a short break from their caring responsibilities.

In this section you will find a range of activities available in Cheshire West and Chester. You will also find information on short breaks that have been commissioned

Activities and short breaks

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Cheshire West has a variety of Health Services available from the NHS.  These include; GP Surgeries, Midwives, Health Visitor/School Nurses, Paediatricians, Therapy Services, Mental Health Services, Community Services as well as hospitals.

What SEND related Health Services area available?

Annual GP Health Checks should be offered to you from age 14 if you have Learning Disabilities - for more information see our leaflet here

You may see a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Mental Health professional or another health professional from any of the GP Surgeries

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Cheshire Merseyside NHS

Starting Well - 11-19 Service

Mid-Cheshire Hospital Trust (Leighton Hospital

Countess of Chester Hospital

CCICP

CWP

Bridgewater - Halton

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Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

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Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

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Help with understanding your rights and the school Special Educational Needs System

Support with the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Supporting with meeting preparation and advocacy

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Cheshire West and Chester Council. SEND (Special Educational Needs) Guide for Parents

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Cheshire West and Chester Council. SEND (Special Educational Needs) Guide for Parents

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Cheshire West & Chester Council Live Well site for SEND

If you are concerned about your child’s progress and think you child may have special educational needs – click on this link for some guidance

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Represent parents of children and young people with SEND

Provide support through coffee mornings, drop-in sessions and information events

Gather parent views and share with Local Authority and Health Services

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On Friday 28th April at Down Syndrome Cheshire the PCF held their first informal coffee morning where parents and carers were able to catch up with other parents and speak to local organisations. Thank you to Little Lungs, Cheshire Buddies, Mathew Southall (Children's Therapies-Health, OT, Physio, SALT), Disability Positive and Carers Trust. At each of our events through the year we will have people from education, health and charities. ﻿ Pop along so you can ask them any questions about accessing their services. We also attended SPACE coffee morning on Friday 19th May, with Kola North West, IASS, Live Cheshire and Steamtistic. It was great to meet new families.

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Parent Carer Forum | Cheshire West | Chester

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We are a voluntary group of Parents & Carers in Cheshire West & Chester who have children / young people with special education needs.

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Offer activities for children & young people (no diagnosis required for access to activities)

Offer Parenting Training Workshops

Provide practical support and groups for parents

Provide a counselling service for adults

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Feedback from a Parent | Parental Training Course

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Cheshire Autism Practical Support | Cheshire

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Cheshire Autism Practical Support offers practical help & training for parents of autistic children. Join us for community events today!

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Help with accessing funding

Practical support for short breaks

Advocacy – support to get the parent voice heard.

Gather parent views and share with Local Authority and Health Services

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We provide services, opportunities and a voice to people with lived experience of disability and long-term health conditions, and their families We can offer advice, help with practical tasks and advocate for people in lots of situations. We listen and share people’s experiences to influence positive change in government policy. We know it matters, because […]

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Help with accessing funding

Practical support for short breaks

Advocacy – support to get the parent voice heard.

Gather parent views and share with Local Authority and Health Services

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Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers.

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Our Young Peoples Advisors with young people who are Risk of Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) or currently NEET – with an emphasis and focus on the most disadvantaged young people. - find out more here.

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Youth Provision - We deliver youth provisions and youth projects to young people 11 to 19 years (up to 25 years if Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and/or Care leavers.) For information on the SEND Choices click here.

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Eligibility:

Young people and adults with learning disabilities or autism – 16+

Under 16, by arrangement with school

The Bren Programme consists of:

Stage 1 – Profiling - Developing a personal profile and an initial action plan based on aspirations.

Stage 2 – In House Training – Bren Bikes - 8 weeks at Bren Bikes social enterprise in Chester, learning a range of skills and building confidence.

Stage 3 – Out on Site – External Placement - 8 weeks on placement with a suitable employer supported on a one to one basis by a Job Coach which can be withdrawn on a stage basis.

Stage 4 -  Evaluation and next steps - An in-depth look at what went well with the placement and where next.

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SUPPORTED, BESPOKE WORK PLACEMENTS WELCOME TO THE BREN PROJECT The Bren Project is a small, independent charity offering people with learning disabilities and autism the […]

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Further information about The Bren Project:

The Bren Project

Email: admin@brenproject.org.uk

Telephone: 01244 313473

Bren Project – Case Study

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This service is for adults over the age of 18 who have a learning disability.

You must have a GP in the Cheshire West and Chester and to be able to use the service

For more information see our service leaflets:

An introduction to your local specialist Learning Disability Service Cheshire West

Being assessed for a learning disability - Information for people who use our services

Supporting people who are referred to the adult learning disability team for an Edibility Assessment - information for family, friends and carers

Learning Disability Health Check 14+

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Here you will find the 'CHECK' reasonable adjustment checklists and poster.

The checklist has been designed to help make health appointments, training sessions, and employment meetings comfortable and accessible for neurodivergent people.

The checklist focuses on five main areas:

Communication

Health

Environment

Change

Knowledge

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Your feedback is important for us to continually develop and improve our site.

Tell us what you think of our new preparing for adulthood pathway here.