Time to Listen

Adrian Orr, Assistant Director for Education, Skills and Learning, Suffolk County Council

"I lead a diverse range of teams in education including Early Years and Childcare, Admissions, School Travel and Free School Meals, School Infrastructure, place planning and buildings, School Improvement in maintained schools, Post 16 tracking, Skills and Apprenticeships and Adult Learning and Education Safeguarding. I also oversee HR and finance for maintained schools.

I have worked in education for 37 years as a Teacher, Headteacher, Schools Adviser and Senior Education Officer prior to being an Assistant Director. I taught in the secondary phase ​and for a university.

I believe in the power of education to transform children's lives and positively shape their futures. The teams I lead have a wide range of responsibilities and accountabilities and I seek to ensure that whatever the focus, team members try to put children and the impact on them at the centre of our work. Outside of my day job I retain a keen interest in the subject I taught for many years. I’m from somewhere that starts with a ‘B’, but no one ever guesses!"

Ros Somerville, Assistant Director for Inclusion, Suffolk County Council

"I am Ros Somerville and I am the Assistant Director, Inclusion at Suffolk County Council with responsibility for leading on the SEND Strategy. Prior to this I was the Principal Educational Psychologist in Essex, and I was responsible for SEND services in North East Essex too. Before all of that I was a primary school teacher.

Working in a solution-oriented way is important to me and I am committed to work together to improve outcomes for children and young people. I live in Colchester and love to play tennis and walk my dog when I am not at work."

Codrutza Oros-Marsh, Assistant Director for Children’s Social Care, Corporate Parenting, Youth Justice and Strategic Commissioning

Codruta has been in this role since April 2022. Prior to this, she was the Head of Quality, Engagement and Professional Development Service across CYP and ACS, which is a role she commenced in 2018. In January 2019, Codrutza was seconded as Head of Children’s Social Care Fieldwork prior to returning to her substantive post in April 2020. Codrutza has been a qualified social worker since 1997 and subsequently completed a Masters in Advanced Social Work and Planning at UEA in 2005.

Prior to joining Suffolk, Codrutza led a non-governmental organisation focusing on advocacy and lobbying services for children with disabilities. Following her move to Suffolk, Codrutza also worked in practice and service manager roles before her current position.

Seb Smith, Assistant Director MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub), Family Support, QEPD (Quality, Engagement and Professional Development), Safeguarding and Resources, Children and Young People, Suffolk County Council

"My name is Seb Smith and I have worked across social care for over 25 years. My experience has included time working in both Adult and Childrens services. Before working as a social worker, I also worked for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust as an education officer and this included field trips with children with a whole range of additional needs.

My current role is that of Assistant Director for Childrens Social Care with a particular focus on Family Support, Safeguarding, and Quality Assurance. I don’t get the opportunity to work directly with families very often in my current position so an opportunity to be able to listen to parents and carers first hand is a very welcome one. I very much look forward to hearing your feedback."

Garry Joyce, Deputy Director of Transformation: Children and Young People, Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (NHS)

"My current role is that of Assistant Director for Childrens Social Care with a particular focus on Family Support, Safeguarding, and Quality Assurance. I don’t get the opportunity to work directly with families very often in my current position so an opportunity to be able to listen to parents and carers first hand is a very welcome one. I very much look forward to hearing your feedback."

Rebecca Hulme, Director - Children, Young People and Maternity, NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB and Norfolk Children’s Services

To book a 25 minute online appointment, please email localoffer@suffolk.gov.uk, letting us know the leader you would like to speak with and some idea of the days and times most convenient for you. We will then respond to let you know the next available opportunity and, once confirmed, send you a Microsoft Teams link to join.

Please note, priority will be given to those who have not previously attended a Time To Listen appointment, to enable as many families as possible the chance to attend.

If you find you aren’t able to make your appointment nearer the time, we would be grateful if you could let us know so we can open the slots to other families.

These appointments are offered as opportunities for you to talk with a senior leader within Suffolk about your experience of SEND provision in Suffolk as a parent/carer. Sessions are 25 minutes long and will ordinarily be held on a 1:1 basis. No recording of the session will be permitted, and any abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and will lead to immediate termination of the meeting.

Spring / Summer 2023 dates for parent carers

These 25 minute appointments will be offered out on a first come, first served basis; please email localoffer@suffolk.gov.uk to book.

Please note, priority will be given to those who have not previously attended a Time To Listen appointment, to enable as many families as possible the chance to attend.

If you find you aren’t able to make your appointment nearer the time, we would be grateful if you could let us know so we can open the slots to other families.

These appointments are offered as opportunities for you to talk with a senior leader within Suffolk about your experience of SEND provision in Suffolk as a parent/carer. Sessions are 25 minutes long and will ordinarily be held on a 1:1 basis. No recording of the session will be permitted, and any abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and will lead to immediate termination of the meeting.

Calling all children and young people with SEND!

As you might know, we run something called “Time to Listen”, where parents and carers can meet leaders and talk about their experiences of SEND services in Suffolk, but we want to hear from you too!

Our next online session specifically for young people is on 23 May 2023, 4:30-5:30pm with Allan Cadzow, Corporate Director for Children and Young People, Suffolk County Council and Ros Somerville, Assistant Director for Inclusion, Suffolk County Council.

If you’re under 18, you’ll need your parent/carer’s permission to attend - to find out more, drop us a line on localoffer@suffolk.gov.uk

These will be offered out on a first come, first served basis; please email localoffer@suffolk.gov.uk to book.

Please note, priority will be given to those who have not previously attended a Time To Listen appointment, to enable as many families as possible the chance to attend.

Allan Cadzow:

15 November 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm

26 November 10:00am, 10:30am, 12:00pm, 12:30pm

Ros Somerville:

16 November 1:00pm, 1:30pm

19 November 10:00am, 10:30am

29 November 11:00am, 11:30am

Walter McCulloch:

23 November: 4:30pm, 5:00pm

24 November: 10:30am, 11:00am

30 November: 4:00pm, 4:30pm

Lianne Nunn:

15 November: 10:00am, 10:30am

22 November: 4:00pm, 4:30pm

25 November: 4:00pm, 4:30pm

29 November: 12:30pm, 1:00pm

Garry Joyce:

18 November: 10:00am, 10:30am

22 November: 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 1:30pm

25 November: 1:00pm, 1:30pm

30 November: 10:00am, 10:30am

These appointments are offered as opportunities for you to talk with a senior leader within Suffolk about your experience of SEND provision in Suffolk as a parent/carer. Sessions are 25 minutes long and will ordinarily be held on a 1:1 basis. No recording of the session will be permitted, and any abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and will lead to immediate termination of the meeting. If you find you aren’t able to make your appointment nearer the time, we would be grateful if you could let us know so we can open the slots to other families.

We plan to continue these opportunities into 2022 and to involve a wider selection of professionals; so if there is a particular team you would like to see represented or if you have any other suggestions or feedback, please do let us know. If you would like to be informed of future appointments and other SEND related updates via email, please subscribe to our mailing list.