Inclusion Advice Line
Help on the phone and online for professionals about SEND, looked-after children and school attendance
Introduction
You can find some useful links and information below that may help you to find the support you need. If you cannot find the information you need, our contact details can also be found at the bottom of this page.
Please Visit and share Somerset’s SEND Local Offer
Useful links for more information and support
If you have concerns about a family - including safeguarding concerns
- Connect with other professionals in your area on the Connect Somerset Champions page.
- You can signpost for families about food, health, housing and other issues at Connect Somerset – Help 4 All
- You can find family support for children and young people with SEND on the website of the not-for-profit, community interest company Somerset Parent Carer Forum
- There is information about Early Help Assessments (EHA) and supporting documents on the Professional Choices EHA page.
- If you have any concerns, please complete regular Team Around the Family (TAF) meetings. There is guidance on the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership website
- Safeguarding is everybody’s business. If you are worried about a child or young person who could be in danger, please contact: Children’s Social Care on 0300 123 2224 or email childrens@somerset.gov.uk. For the Police, phone 101 or, in an emergency, 999
- There is more information about how to report a concern on the Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership website
School-Critical incidents/Events
Please contact us via phone or online form at the bottom of this page.
- Information about critical incidents can be found on the Support Services for Education website.
Contact us
Professionals who support children
As a professional involved with the care of a child, before you contact us, take a moment to consider whether you are the most appropriate person to use the Inclusion Advice Line.
If your query is about a specific child, check that you have to hand all the relevant information about them.
You can contact the Inclusion Advice Line by completing this online form at any time or you can phone us on 0300 123 2224 from 9am to 5pm.
What happens when you phone our advice line
If you choose to phone the advice line, you will be asked a series of questions by our advisors. Please allow time for this and provide as much information as possible, so that you can be supported in the best way.
If you are phoning about a specific child or young person, please make sure you have their name, date of birth and all relevant information. You will be asked to provide brief details about the current situation and what action has already been taken. In particular, regarding the Somerset Graduated Response Tool and any involvements or advice from external professionals.
Our advisors will aim to provide the support and guidance you need. For more complex queries and concerns, they may forward your query to the Inclusion Teams for a more specialist call back. This is where a more in-depth discussion can happen, and a plan agreed for the next steps.