Agenda item

Sarah Wilkins presented the six-monthly update of the SEND improvement programme. Following an Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection in March 2018 significant areas of weakness had been identified which necessitated a written statement of action which detailed how the 12 areas of weakness would be addressed. There were five workstreams which had a cross organisational leadership who came together on a monthly basis and reported to the SEND Improvement Board, the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, ICEOG and to the CCG.  A re-inspection was now anticipated.

The monitoring that occurred consisted of the DfE and NHS Leads attending Board meetings and listening to the progress being made but also challenge the actions being taken.

Local area leadership had been progressed through having multi-agency leads for the workstreams. The work was extended to schools and to GPs via the CCGs to ensure they knew how to support and signpost children and families. District Councils were also being asked to consider their local offer for SEND. This work was being done to ensure there was a good accessible local offer for SEND.

The data set had been updated and the SEND JSNA was about to be refreshed. A key area of development would be around using the vast amount of information, including information from the NHS, and distilling it down into a useable format.

Financially there was a huge amount of pressure around the specialist services and placements for SEND provision but work was on-going to understand the implications of the Government announcements that there would be more funding for SEND. A high needs recovery plan has been developed with  ‘building blocks for recovery’ which were aligned with areas of the written statement of action to ensure demand was managed through engagement with parents, carers and providers; improving the Graduated Response in schools; ensuring a 19-25 education offer; developing an efficient provision whether within Worcestershire or out of County and reviewing EHC plans.

Board Members made the following comments:

·       It was felt that this area showed that Inspection Regimes can be effective in raising the profile of an area and improving partnership working

·       In response to a query about whether there should be a communication programme to inform parents and carers just what would be provided, it was stated that Ofsted pointed out that there was a fragile relationship with parents and carers and it was accepted that communication was important. In anticipation of the next inspection, professionals were looking at what difference the improvement plan might have made to the experience of a parent or carer and how a public progress report might be presented. Work was being done with the parent/carer forum to improve feedback

·       It was clarified that the Local Offer sets out what is on offer and has been available for a number of months. With regards to the Graduated Response Worcestershire had a higher proportion of children being placed out of county in specialist schools but the aim was to develop a properly inclusive school system within the County.

RESOLVED that the Health and Well-being Board:

a)     noted the steps taken to address the key concerns identified in the Local AreaSEND inspection in particular in relation to Local Area Leadership; and

b)    having discussed the report made comments regarding the inspection process and communication with parents /carers which could be fed back to the SEND Improvement Board prior to the next meeting on 14 October 2019.