Agenda item

Ian Harrison Education and Skills Director,

Penny Richardson, Interim Head of Service – Inclusion and Skills , LBB

Paper attached   and presentation    

Kate Kennally, Strategic Director for Communities, invited the Board to review a suitable strategy for improving outcomes for all children and young people across the borough in light of the Children & Families Bill. The Board heard that in November 2013 the Health & Well-being Board agreed in principle to sign-up to the Disabled Children’s Charter. Ms Kennally reminded the Board that it had endorsed the Disabled Children’s Charter and noted the progress that has been made against the commitment of the Charter.

The Education and Skills Director, Ian Harrison, informed that the Children and Families Bill contains provisions that have an impact on adoption services, family justice, special educational needs, and services for vulnerable children.

Penny Richardson, Interim Head of Service Inclusion and Skills at LBB, updated the Board on the possible implications of the proposed Children and Families Bill in relation to services for children with special educational need. Ms Richardson identified that the aim of the proposals is to improve the way in which children with Special Educational Needs are identified, assessed and provided for.

The proposals identify the benefits of early intervention to prevent higher levels of care needed later in life and to provide parents of children with SEN with greater control and involvement. The Bill proposes to extend the SEN system from birth - 25 and improve the cooperation between all services that support children and their families.

The Board heard that the local authority is leading a partnership response to measures in line with the proposed Bill, with an implementation date of September 2014.

As part of the proposals under the Children and Families Bill, Penny Richardson informed the Board that there will be an option for a Personal Budget for parents of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care plan. The Board heard the importance of identifying services with potential for the development of personal budgets and Education, Health and Care Plans.

One of the core elements identified in the Bill is the review and strategy for improving joint commissioning arrangements. Ms Richardson noted that feedback from service users indicated the need for a universal approach on a one stop platform across the partnership in offering and arranging services for those with Special Educational Needs, Learning difficulties and Disabilities to achieve their potential. This is therefore an opportune moment for school leaders and key stakeholders to help parents in accessing services through a single source for coherent and complete information.

The Board noted the plans under the Local Offer for the monitoring of delegated funding to allow for an effective structure to support parents. The scheme would also enable effective review of the impact of funding against the plans and actions that have been implemented. A key element of the Local Offer is effective communication with stakeholders, including easier access to service providers for parents of disabled children.

Ms Richardson noted that under the Education Health and Care Plans, young adults should be better supported as they make the transition between children and adult care systems. The Board heard that the Children and Families Bill enables Local Authorities to continue social care services for as long as a young person’s EHC Plan is maintained. Ms Richardson noted that The Board heard about the experiences and challenges faced by young people in early adulthood and the importance of the continuity of support for young adults in light of the pressures on service providers.

Ms Richardson requested that the Partnership consider the necessary action in providing parents with the support needed to take effective management of Personal Budgets.

The Board noted that the new statutory framework for joint working requires Health, Education and Social care to work together in addition to the coherent support required across the integrated services for children with Special Educational Needs. The Board heard the need to discuss constructive arrangements in order to secure outcomes and to bring forward any lessons from the organisations to the Partnership Board.  

The Chairman thanked Ian Harrison and Penny Richardson for the detailed presentation and noted the discussions in relation to the provisions of the Children and Families Bill.

RESOLVED:

a)    That the Board note the commitments in ensuring that maximum benefit can be derived from the implementation of the Children and Families Bill.

b)   That the Board note the progress made against the commitment of the Disabled Children’s Charter.

c)    That the Partnership considers the necessary steps in providing parents and young people with the support needed to take effective management of Personal Budgets. 

d)   To develop a list of stakeholder involvement to detail the Children and Families Bill project work-streams for the Local Offer, EHC Plan and Personal Budgets.