STEP

STEP are a support service within Trafford Parents Forum. We offer emotional and practical support for parent carers of children and young people with SEND in Trafford (whether diagnosed or not), where additional 1:1 support is required which falls outside of the statutory services delivered by SENDIASS.

This support service is invaluable to our parent carers, particularly at a time when they need it most, with a strong and robust team managing the day to day delivery supported by a fantastic group of Volunteers and Experts by Experience.  Our Peer to Peer Coordinators have already provided emotional and practical support to nearly 300 families, with an established team of 12 Volunteers and Experts by Experience who assist them.  

As a parent carer in Trafford you can self-refer or find out more, please complete the form on the link below to arrange an informal chat. We also consider referrals from Trafford services such as Trafford Team Together, Early Help, SENDIASS and other local community organisations such as Trafford Carers Centre, Children and Families Counselling Centre and Home Start.

We can support in the following ways: 

• Emotional support 
• Practical day-to-day support 
• Preparing for/supporting in low-level meetings* 
• Navigating the Local Offer 
• Signposting to Trafford services 
• Help communicating with schools and Trafford services 
• DLA/PIP Application forms 

*(Please note: we cannot support in any meetings where an EHCP is in place or being applied for) 

We endeavour to respond to all referrals within 3 working days wherever possible but please note the service is open term-time only (generally in line with Trafford's school holidays) so if a referral is submitted during the school holidays, we will aim to respond within 3 working days of the service reopening after the school break.