Meet the Local Area SEND Partnership Board
The Local Area SEND Partnership brings together all the agencies that provide SEND services for families, children and young people in Wirral.
The partnership also includes representatives from parents/carers who use the services. Working in collaboration, the aim of the partnership is to improve the outcomes for all SEND children and young people in Wirral. The Local Area SEND Partnership Board meets every month. You can read a summary of the last meeting here.
We’ve put together some profiles for Board members so you can see who they are and what skills and knowledge they bring to the Board.
Paul Satoor, Chair of the Local Area SEND Partnership Board and Chief Executive, Wirral Council
I have been in post as the Chief Executive of Wirral Council for five years and I have worked for the council for seven years. During this time, I have led with a focus on structure and governance, and I wish to bring this rigor to the Local Area SEND Partnership Board.
Councillor Paul Stuart, Leader of the Council, Wirral Council
As the Leader of Wirral Council and a foster carer for the local authority, I bring a wealth of experience and dedication to the Local Area SEND Partnership Board. Having been elected as Leader in May 2023 and serving as an elected member of the Seacombe ward for over eight years, I am deeply committed to our community.
My personal experience as a foster carer gives me a unique perspective on the challenges faced by families and children with special educational needs and disabilities.
My leadership is driven by a strategic vision and a collaborative approach, ensuring that the voices of our families, carers, and young people are heard and valued. I pride myself on working effectively with various stakeholders to foster a cooperative environment within the board. With a strong focus on improving outcomes for all SEND children and young people, I am dedicated to making a positive impact through our partnership.
Councillor Jean Robinson, Deputy Leader of Wirral Council and chair of the Health and Wellbeing board
I have served as Deputy Leader of the Council since May 2022. I am passionate about improving SEND services across Wirral for children and families and I bring to the board the importance of scrutiny and overseeing/strategic leads on links between health services and the council. I have over 14 years of experience in early years and this brings a particular perspective of the need for and effects of SEND services for families locally. As the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, I also sit on the Cheshire & Merseyside Health & Care Partnership Board and I am also Vice Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee.
Councillor Stephen Bennett, Labour Councillor for Upton ward and Chair of the Children’s Committee
I am the Chair of Children’s Services. I pleased to be working with all of our partners on the board. I have worked alongside various departments in Wirral’s children’s services for many years and I believe that my experience and my commitment will help shape a SEND service that delivers the best outcomes for the families and young people that use the service.
Dr Abel Adegoke, Chair Wirral Primary Care Council
I am a local GP based at the Hamilton Medical Centre in Birkenhead. I am also the Wirral LMC Honorary Secretary and the Chair of Wirral Primary Care Council. I am bringing many skills used in Primary Care to the board to help shape our SEND services here on Wirral.
Ste Bailey, Director of Specialist Provision and Support, Wirral Met College
My name is Ste Bailey. I am Director of Specialist Provision and Support at Wirral Met College. I have worked in the further education sector for over 20 years in a variety of leadership roles relating to education and support for students with SEND. I am passionate about removing barriers for students and enabling everyone to achieve their full potential. Before working in further education, I worked in various voluntary and public sector organisations, supporting and teaching adults with learning difficulties and mental health challenges.
Simon Banks, Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside
I am the Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. I have worked in Wirral since April 2017 and worked for over 30 years in health and care, in either the voluntary sector or the NHS. I am also NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Strategic Lead for mental health, learning disabilities and autism for all ages. I have lived experience of SEND as a parent of child with complex needs. NHS Cheshire and Merseyside commission health services for the population of Wirral and, as Place Director, I provide a direct link to decision making within this organisation.
Mark Bellamy, Head Teacher, Hilbre High School
I lead a large 11-18 school on Wirral which is part of a Multi-Academy Trust. The school is very inclusive with approximately 30% of the student population on the SEND register. To support the students, we employ a team of 40 plus teaching assistants, led by our SENCO and her Deputy. We also run a Resource Provision which caters for 30 students with either ASC or MLD. In addition, the school provides countless SEND interventions to ensure we do all we can to best meet the needs of our students. I bring to the Local Area SEND Partnership Board over a decade of experience of leading a high school with students with very diverse and extensive SEND needs.
Melissa Berry, Programme Manager, Strategic Change, Law and Corporate Services, Wirral Council
My name is Melissa Berry and I am the SEND Improvement Programme Manager. My role is to lead the programme of improvement works, facilitate the Local Area SEND Partnership Board and support the Executive Group, whilst also supporting the subgroups that report to the board. I bring strong co-ordination skills and a can-do attitude to the team, whilst also ensuring the right people are involved at the right time. I am committed and passionate about collaboratively working together to make the necessary improvements for children, young people and families.
Kirsten Brown, Headteacher, Gilbrook School
I am the Headteacher of Gilbrook School. This is specialist provision for primary school age pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. I am currently Chair of the Wirral Special Heads Group, where I work with headteachers across a range of provision types. I have worked in SEND schools many years, in both primary and secondary provision. I bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding in a wide range of SEND areas, including extensive multi-agency working. I believe this experience will be invaluable in supporting our diverse cohort of young people and their families in Wirral.
Julia Bryant, Head of Quality & Safety Improvement, NHS Cheshire & Merseyside
My name is Julia Bryant. I am Head of Quality & Safety Improvement for NHS Cheshire & Merseyside. As an experienced children’s nurse and health visitor, I am committed to supporting children, young people and families to reach their potential through improved health outcomes. I currently chair the Strategic Performance Subgroup and work with providers to understand and improve our statutory compliance, and more importantly the effective delivery of services. I play a key role in system improvement and collaborative working, ensuring everyone understands their role in supporting the Wirral SEND agenda.
Stacey Evans, SEND Lead, Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust
I am SEND Lead at Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust. I work closely with the SENCOs across our trust. I used to be a full-time SENCO and I still spend a lot of time within schools. I understand the needs of children with SEND, parents and carers wishes and the challenges that schools are facing. I bring a day-to-day view of SEND within our primary and secondary schools in Wirral.
Elizabeth Hartley, Director for Children, Families and Education, Wirral Council
I am the Director for Children, Families and Education at Wirral Council. I’ve worked in Wirral’s Children’s Services for over 15 years in roles in all parts of the service, including education, social care, early help, and family services. I bring a broader understanding of working with children and families to the Local Area SEND Partnership Board, linking the agenda to our wider partnership approaches for early intervention and co-production. I am committed to enabling the development of a borough-wide approach, with schools, parents, young people, and community organisations, that focuses on getting the best for all our children and families.
Jane Harvey, Assistant Director - Consultant in Public Health, Wirral Council
My name is Jane Harvey and I am an Assistant Director - Consultant in Public Health within Wirral Council’s Public Health team. Along with other health programmes and services, I’m responsible for making sure that the national Healthy Child Programme is delivered in Wirral. I am committed to making sure that children and young people with SEND and their families get the same levels of support from this programme as any other child or young person in Wirral. The programme aims to support resilience and wellbeing, improve healthy behaviours and reduce inequalities. Our team also produces the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (better known as the JSNA). This has been recently updated and keeps the board informed about types of need, patterns and trends of SEND across Wirral.
Margaret Jackson, Primary Headteacher Representative, Wirral Council
I work for Wirral Council and I have been invited onto the Local Area SEND Partnership Board as the headteacher representative for Wirral primary schools.
I bring to the board my own experience as a teacher in several Wirral schools, and of eighteen years as headteacher in three schools, serving communities across the Wirral. This has given me the opportunity to understand the support available for children with SEND in a range of settings, and the challenges they and their families may experience in schools, in the community and when navigating the systems related to health. I support the board in communicating key information in relation to developments in SEND to primary school leadership through meetings with headteachers. I look forward to using my insights and communication links with primary schools, along with skills and abilities in analysing reports and data, to work with the board to find solutions to the challenges we currently face.
Kathryn Kennedy, Headteacher, Ganneys Meadow School
I am the very proud Headteacher of Ganneys Meadow School and Family Hub. Our school has a reputation, across Wirral and beyond, for providing a high-quality inclusive environment for children aged two to five years old and their families. We are proud to offer our 36-place resource provision for F2 children, in partnership with Wirral Council. I have many years’ experience in early years, working in partnership with parents and families to support all children to reach their potential. I bring to the board my passion to make a difference and my knowledge and understanding of working in a school in the heart of the community every day.
Adrian Leach, Assistant Director for SEND and Inclusion, Wirral Council
I am Assistant Director for SEND and Inclusion at Wirral Council. I am responsible for a number of the local authority’s teams and services that impact directly on the lived experience of children and young people, including participation and engagement, educational psychology and the SEN Statutory assessment and referral term. My role on the board has three parts: firstly, I am accountable for the improvement journeys in those services that sit under me; secondly, I can provide the board with additional expertise in relation to the range of Department for Education statutory guidance; and thirdly I am able to operate as a bridge from the strategic board level to operational practice so that staff are clear about the directions of the board and board are able to make informed decisions based on a clear understanding of operational pressure and challenges in the system. I bring over ten years of management experience in SEND and Inclusion into my role in Wirral from a range of other local authorities.
David Maguire, Chief Executive of WIRED
I’m the Chief Executive of WIRED, which is a Wirral based charity that currently delivers the Wirral Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS). The SENDIAS Service in Wirral is called Wirral SEND Partnership. I have managed WIRED for almost ten years and have a wide range of experience with children’s service delivery, quality assurance and, in particular, the management of legally based information, advice and support services.
Lorna Quigley, Associate Director of Quality and Safety Improvement, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside
Hello my name is Lorna Quigley and my job title is Associate Director of Quality and Safety Improvement. I work for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, which is an Integrated Care Board for the region that was developed in July 2022 following a reorganisation of NHS Services. The Integrated Care Board was set up to improve outcomes in population health and healthcare; tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access; enhance productivity and value for money; and help the NHS support broader social and economic development.
I’m responsible for making sure that the NHS Services that are commissioned (bought) are safe, effective and of a good quality. I am passionate in making sure that children and young people with SEND (and their families) have a positive experience of NHS Services and have access to care when needed.
Toni Shepherd, Interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Wirral Community Health and Care Foundation Trust
I’m Toni Shepherd and I am the Deputy Chief Operating Officer (interim) at Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. I am responsible for operational services including Children’s Therapies, 0-19 Services and Wheelchair Services.
I have over 20 years’ experience of working in Children’s Services and have led the 0-19, 0-19+ and 0-25 services across Wirral, Cheshire East, St Helens and Knowsley. Co-production and engagement with children, young people, their parents and carers is at the heart of service planning and delivery. I am committed to delivering high-quality and accessible services ensuring staff are supported and developed in their role. As a member of the Board, I bring oversight of the current operational priorities and activity, including those areas requiring improvement.
Carole Roche, Children, Family & Education - Joint Commissioning Lead, Wirral Council
I bring to the Board extensive experience in commissioning within local authorities and health partnerships across three local areas. I have played a pivotal role in driving SEND improvement initiatives, particularly in the area of joint commissioning. My focus has been on ensuring a comprehensive range of services to meet the diverse needs of the population, fostering collaboration and alignment between local authorities, parents/carers and health partners.
Samantha Westwell, Chief Nurse, Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH)
I am passionate about improving services for our communities and I am pleased to be representing WUTH on the Local Area SEND Improvement board. I have more than 30 years of nursing, hospital and community healthcare experience. I have worked in senior leadership positions in acute and community trusts across Greater Manchester and Cheshire and Mersey since 2021.