Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Children and Education:

1.    Notes and ratifies the annual 2021/22 financial contribution of £1,112,074 towards the contract held by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for Speech and Language Therapy services provided by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH).

2.    Notes and ratifies an additional financial contribution of £67,460 towards the contract held by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for Speech and Language Therapy services provided by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) for the development of the new Language Advisory Service.

The decision enables the Local Authority to discharge its statutory duties in securing provision specified in Section F of the EHC Plan (s.42 Children and Families Act 2014) whilst supporting ongoing transformation work in developing a robust ordinarily available offer that supports meeting speech, language and communication needs earlier and without the need for an EHC Plan.

Option 1: Agree to the financial contributions for the Speech and Language services (Recommended)

This will secure existing provision enabling the Local Authority to continue to meet its statutory responsibilities for this group of children and young people. This proposal maintains the current position whilst the review of provision is undertaken with the aim of improving accessibility to services and provision through a clear early intervention offer.

Option 2: Do not agree the financial contributions for the Speech and Language (Not recommended)

The Council would not be able to meet its statutory responsibilities if funding and in turn provision was to cease.