Getting It Right for Children with Disabilities held on 28 March 2011

In TheNicol Hall, Inveraray at 1.30 pm

Present:Jamie Houston, Catherine Dobbie, Roslyn Redpath, Ann Kendal, Mark Lines, Dorothy MacDonald, Maureen MacIntosh, Anne Skillen, Mary Wilson

Apologies: David Bain, Shiela Downie, Anne Patterson, Liling Payne, Patricia Renfrew

Action
1. / Jamie Houston welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. / Minutes of Last meeting were discussed.
Matters Arising.
The addendum from Alison Leask on the Getting it Right for Children with Disabilities Service Review was discussed. The Review document at the last meeting was the final version of the document and is in circulation. The addendum from Alison is unusual and those present were unsure as to where it should sit. It was decided that the addendum be noted in the minutes of this meeting, but not be an addendum to the original report.
NDP update from Jamie Houston and Mary Wilson. Paediatric Dietician (Jan Chapel) has been appointed and due to start next month. She is a very experienced dietician who previously worked in Yorkhill. Physiotherapy post for Cowal and Bute is at Banding Committee, and will then go to advert. New Paediatric OT (covering North and Mid Argyll) has unearthed large waiting list than, so extra money to go to enhance service to Oban and Mid Argyll temporarily.
Query regarding publiccirculation of minutes from Alison and Dorothy to go to Dougie Dunlop for answer. / Jamie Houston to d/w Dougie Dunlop
3. / Terms of Reference
New document discussed. Unfortunately old TOR was circulated with minutes so Jamie Houston read out new document section by section
This group is tasked to cover all children with disabilities but the report (Getting it Right for Children with Disabilities Service Review) does not cover all children with disabilities. Please see updated terms of reference.
Mark Lines suggested a parent representative join group. Liling Payne and Mark are trying to set up a group with the parents of children using the Respite Centre at Ardlui. Mary Wilson suggested looking at representation from the CHP PFPI (Public Focus Public Involvement) group – to contact Caroline Campion. All at meeting agreed to find out what Parents Groups there were in each area and report back to next meeting. / New Terms of Reference document to be circulated with minutes – attached.
Mary Wilson
4. / Getting It Right For Children with Disabilities Service Review:
Young People and Advocacy
Mark Lines reported on emerging themes. Challenge was set by the Review as to how to meaningfully involve children and how to better involve the children and see what happened on an interagency basis. A lot of research on this topicis available.
Starting point for Educational Psychology was a user friendly way of involving children. Viewpoint was suggested as was already in use in other parts of the Council ie via Catherine Dobbie. A 60 question on line questionnaire interspaced with games was devised. This had a restricted success until ObanHigh School in January 2011 decided to target this questionnaire. 149 filled in the questionnaire in the school library (those receiving additional support in school S1 – S6). School Management found the feedback very helpful to highlight issues for young people.
Mark questioned how helpful this would be on an area wide basis – need to find a way to consult all young children not just children affected by disability. Viewpoint is one to do this but there are other ways as well.
Suggested peer support to younger children about their experiences or use of Buddies within the schools. No specific advocacy service for this group of children in Argyll & Bute..
Transitions
Roslyn spoke of a mapping exercise between health, education and social work and the range of groups that exist to consult parents and establish some kind of consultation eg locality events throughout area or a central meeting. Start point is to consult via schools/education and establish model of creating dialogue for effective planning and straightforward multiagency transitions.
Meeting in Lochgilphead (29.03.11) working with professionals first then looking at good practice examples on GIRFEC principles then to take to schools and parents and see what is currently being done and what changes are needed. For most children, parents will take forward the transition issues fortheir children and only a few parents need a lot of help with transition issues.
Leaving school is the most problematic transition. A lot of the children have not needed much help previously but when they leave school need to be in contact with Social Work Department, Careers, etc. Current policy does not cover all of this. It will be important to target young people at an earlier stage e.g S2, S3 and S4 parents. To involve representatives from Colleges to look at care packages needed to support transition. Outcome of the meeting on 29.03.11 to come back to this committee with initial draft to next meeting. All in attendance agreed to scope out what parent groups they were aware of in each locality and give a brief sentence of what area they cover and terms of reference. List to go to Alison MacCorquodale to forward to Mark Lines and Roslyn Redpath. / Catherine and Roslyn to do report on OHS questionnaire and circulate to meeting.
All present to send list of parents groups they know of to Alison who will pass this onto Mark Lines and Roslyn Redpath.
Named Person, Lead Professional
It is clear that care for children with disabilities is enhanced where a Lead Professional (Key Worker) is in place. Patricia Renfrew and Gordon Higgins taking lead on GIRFEC roll out / training. Bute is currently piloting, then rest of authority area. May need multiagency meeting to discuss who should be Lead Professional for a child. Parents may wish to choose certain individuals e.g. a physiotherapist, and this could impact on service delivery. Training will be needed, on Lead Professional role and number of children involved, etc. This group should be heavily involved with roll out of Lead Professional approach. Work ongoing to get IT systems to talk to each other (MIDIS)
5. / PreSCAT Redesign – Roslyn Redpath
Educational Psychology looking at current policy. Draft of PreSCAT procedures made“GIRFEC friendly”. Looking at role of Health Visitor role for 0-3 plus any not in preschool education – suggested Lead Professional may be HV. If in pre-school, then would liaise with HV as named person. People at meeting should bethose involved with the child (Team Around the Child approach).
Catherine Dobbie noted that information about equipment requirements are coming in earlier as good working relation with CCNs, OTs and Physios. Jamie Houston highlighted PreSCATwas not meeting needs of Pre-3’s so Child Development Team meetings are make it easier to highlight children with needs for equipment before school/nursery entry to plan support arrangements etc.
Some of those at meeting were unaware of redesign proposals - to contact their agency representative on the group for copy of proposals
6. / Autism Argyll Bereavement Resource
Maureen MacIntosh showed the resource box they have containing research papers, activitiy games, books, etc for children with Autism but may be of use for children/people with learning difficulties. Contact Autism Argyll and they will lend out the box. Computerised list of box contents to be circulated with minutes. / Maureen to send contents list of Alison to go with minutes in PDF form.
7. / No other business was raised.
8. / Next meeting on Monday 13 June 2011 in Room 2 Inveraray Conference Centre from 1:30 – 4pm. Lunch available from 1pm.

Corporate or Argyll\Minutes layout guidance document

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