Agenda item

The Board received a report presented by Ian Heggs, Director of Schools Commissioning, outlining plans to implement the requirements of the Children’s and Families Act 2014, by 2018.  In addition to the update, the report also set out preparations for a Local Area Inspection.  The legislation introduced significant changes to the way in which services for young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) were provided, section 3 of the report explained how Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) had been formulated during the first full year of operation.  It was noted that 54.2% of EHCPs were completed within 20 weeks, lower than the national average of 59.2% and that many local authorities were behind.  Co-production was a key element of the process, and ensured that the views of parents and young people were included in plans and decisions. 

The Board noted that extra resources in the SEN service had been deployed to address the backlog of transfers from SEN to ECHP.  The SEN Service sought to work closely with health colleagues and joint commissioners, to ensure that EHCPs were completed in a timely manner.  It was explained that this type of advice differed from the analysis of need, crafting services to fit the needs of young people.  An analysis of the SEN service undertaken by Ernst and Young identified that there was increasing demand on the service.  and increased funding pressures in the 16-24 age group range. Secondary children identified with SEN will increase over the next five years and further exacerbated funding pressures.  The Board were informed that a new director had been appointed, Mandy Lawson, Assistant Director, Special Education Need and Disabled Children's Service. 

ACTION: Children’s Services/H&F CCG

Keith Mallinson highlighted an area of concern, where parents of autistic children had felt frustrated at the lack of joined up thinking, being referred by schools to the GPs, making little progress in obtaining support or clarity.  Navigating the process of formally identifying need and accessing support was acknowledged as difficult and parents often felt caught in the middle.  Ian Heggs explained that the Local Offer for many SEN children with autism could place them in mainstream schools using available resources. Top up funding within the borough was 5%, compared to the national average of 2%.  There was a significant amount of help in schools to signpost parents to services, for example, Queensmill School.  It was recognised that training to identify autistic characteristics and triggers was essential and Steve Miley offered to raise the issue with the new director.  Dr Tim Spicer added that the H&F CCG could assist with improved signposting in practices, recognising that clinical practitioners who were not specialists in the field would have similar issues in diagnosing complex conditions that they were unfamiliar with.  It was understood from Liz Bruce that considerable work had gone into planning and assessing need, particularly the development of respite care, which was very positive. 

ACTION: Children’s Services/H&F CCG

Ian Heggs outlined briefly the inspection process, highlighting for example, the inspection of Queenmills School, which would look at the number of disabled adults in employment, a figure that was viewed as low in the Borough.  LBHF had led by example this week, welcoming several new starters, all of whom were young adults with learning needs. Councillor Vaughan welcomed the use of resources to facilitate easier navigation of the process by parents.  Ian Heggs confirmed that parents, on entering the process would receive a contingency statement and support, whilst waiting for the assessment to be completed.  It was also noted that assessments at Year 11 were a priority, to ensure a smooth transition to adult services. Councillor Vaughan commented that the Transitions Working Group had identified some concerns and welcomed information about available options and on-going planning. Although provision was only required to the age of 19 years, transition support for 16-25 in LBHF, exceeded this, setting EHCP outcomes that covered a three-year period. 

It was agreed that an update to the Board about the joined up operational working between Children’s Services and Adult Social Care would be provided. In terms of practical support, it was noted that further discussion about specific provision would be on-going. Janet Cree confirmed that this would be followed up by the CCG.  It was noted that the Children and Mental Health report from Steve Buckerfield (NW London Clinical Commissioning Group) had been considered by the Children’s and Education policy and Accountability Committee in June and that it was also due to be considered by the Health, Adult Social Care and Social Inclusion Policy and Accountability Committee. 

ACTION: Children’s Services and Adult Social Care

RESOLVED

That the report be  noted.