Agenda item

(To receive a joint report from Justin Hackney, Assistant Director for Specialist Adult Services and Sheridan Dodsworth, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disability, which provides the Committee with an update on the progress made on the recommendations from the Transitions Scrutiny Review Final Report – April 2019)  

Consideration was given to a joint report from Justin Hackney, Assistant Director for Specialist Adult Services and Sheridan Dodsworth, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which provided the Committee with an update on the progress made on the recommendations from the Transitions Scrutiny Review Final Report – April 2019.

Heather Sandy, Interim Director of Education introduced the report and advised that the Transitions Scrutiny Panel Review had supported implementing the work identified as part of the SEND Steering Group Action Plan and the areas of development identified through the Ofsted/CQC Inspection of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  The Panel identified the need to undertake improvements in the following areas of transition:-

·         Information and Advice through the Local Offer – Page 17 of the report highlighted themes from the review;

·         Improve Health Outcomes – Page 17 of the report highlighted themes from the review; and

·         Review Pathway Plans for Care Leavers – Page 18 of the report highlighted themes from the review.

It was reported that in response to the Transitions Scrutiny Review, an Action Plan had been formally adopted to summarise the Executive response and monitor progress against the three recommendations.  Appendix A to the report provided a copy of the Action Plan for the Committee to consider.

The Committee was advised of the following progress made against each of the three recommendations:-

·         Recommendation 1 – Information and Advice Local Offer – The Committee was advised that a range of options had been undertaken to actively promote the Local Offer, which had included ensuring that the Local Offer was designed to meet the needs of all service users.  It was highlighted that this had involved the refresh of existing SEND information and layout to ensure that it was streamlined and accessible.  It was highlighted further that a new navigation system had been put in place to improve the service user experience.  Also, both the 'Local Offer' booklet and the 'Moving On' brochure had been reviewed and refreshed, with both of them now being available online and in a printed version.  The Committee noted that promotional events had been held to promote the Local Offer further.  It was reported that it was hoped that the working group would have completed all tasks relating to the said recommendation by 31 March 2020;

·         Recommendation 2 – Improved Health Outcomes – The Committee was advised that the Dedicated Clinical Officer for SEND, (who was employed by the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)) had appointed an Associate Dedicated Clinical Officer who had responsibility for reviewing clinical report writing in order to improve the quality of reports, and provide clarity on health needs and health outcomes.  It was noted that an audit of the health elements of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans had been completed, which had provided useful evidence of where and how improvements could be made.  It was noted further that the use of the electronic Hub for all EHC needs assessments and annual reviews was continuing to progress; and that it was likely to be implemented in September 2020, following an initial pilot.  It was reported that all tasks relating to this recommendation would be completed by September 2020; and

·         Recommendation 3 – Pathway Plan Review – The Committee was advised that a task and finish group had been established to review the related planning processes and paperwork.  It was highlighted that Pathway Assessment tools and planning documents had been redesigned and tested with young people to make sure they fully met the needs of Care Leavers.  It was highlighted further that the revised documentation was due to go live on 12 December 2019, which ensured that this recommendation has been achieved.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·         Electronic Hub for all Education and Health Care needs assessments – The Committee was advised that the use of the Hub would provide a clear report/assessment format for all contributors to the needs assessment and review;

·         The use of the term 'Local Offer', which was the Department of Education's language to describe the services available for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and their families, and the need to make the term more parent friendly;

·         The need to ensure that the 'Local Offer' was easy to find on the Council's website.  The Committee was advised that the website was currently being re-designed to provide a smoother more user friendly experience.  Officers agreed to highlight the matter to the Web Team;

·         A request was made for members of the Corporate Parenting Panel to see a copy of the updated Pathway Plans; and

·         Congratulations were extended to Officers for the progress made on the Executive Response Action Plan and some reassurance was gained from the fact that the outcomes from the Scrutiny Review had mirrored those highlighted in the Ofsted/CQC inspection.

In conclusion, the Committee highlighted the need to be outcome focussed rather than system focussed; the need for the 'Local Offer' to be housed on the website where it could be easily navigated; and to ensure that hard copies of the said document were still made available when requested.  The Committee also requested a further progress report in six months' time; and that a representative from the Clinical Commissioning Group should be invited to attend, to provide an update on recommendation two relating to improved health outcomes.

RESOLVED

1.    That the progress made on the Transitions Scrutiny Review recommendations be reviewed.

2.    That a further progress report be received by the Committee in six months' time; and that a representative from the Clinical Commissioning Group be invited to attend the said meeting to provide an update relating to recommendation two, improved health outcomes.