SEND Reforms Over Arching Health Storyboard

SEND reforms – Over Arching Health Storyboard

What was the issue?

It is essential for Health to be fully engaged to successfully implement the SEND Reforms. Education, Health, Social Care, parents, carers, children and young people are required to work closely together to ensure outcomes are improved for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Our journey so far .....

In Northamptonshire, Health has been a strategic partner in the SEND reforms since the original proposal be a pathfinder ( 2013) being jointed submitted by Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust ( NHFT), Nene & Corby the CCGs, Northamptonshire Parent/Carer Forum and the Local Authority.

In order to fully participate in the pathfinder for SEND reforms in 2013 we had to identify who are the “Health” providers for children and young people with special educational needs and or disability in Northamptonshire. Health services range from Universal & Primary Care provided by GPs, health visitors and School nurses to specialist and targeted children’s community services and acute paediatrics. A Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) has been commissioned from within these services and is working closely with the Clinical Commissioning Manager for SEND children’s services to quality assure and monitor commissioned services across Universal and Specialist children’s services and to work with parents, education and social care children’s commissioners to identify unmet need and commission services accordingly.

What are we doing?

·  There are clear lines of responsibility for SEND in the CCG and the lead provider organisation i.e. The Designated Clinical Officer is Rachel Akers - Service manager for Children’s Specialist community Health services Northamptonshire Foundation Healthcare Trust, the lead for Children’s SEND in Nene & Corby CCGs is Helen Adams Children’s Commissioning Manager and Alison Kemp Director of Integrated Services Nene & Corby CCG holds SEND as part of her portfolio at Board level

·  The CCG have identified SEND as one of their key quality priorities for children and young people.

·  Personal Health Budgets are available for children who meet the threshold for specialist continuing care needs.

·  The CCG and local authority joint fund residential short breaks, this funding enables disabled children to access an overnight short break for an agreed period of time closer to home.

·  Health partners are involved in a number of multi-agency Boards, work streams and groups that support the implementation of the SEND Reforms e.g. Disabled Children and Young Peoples Delivery Group, Joint Commissioning work stream, Enhancing Early years and Young healthy Minds.

·  A number of specifications from both the CCG and Public Health have been amended and updated to include responsibilities from the new code of practice e.g. School Nursing, Special school nursing and CAMHS Tier 3 and children’s community therapies.

·  School nursing has changed their health assessment process and clinical recording system at all school transition points, which enables them to track and monitor the implementation of health action plans for those children with additional needs.

·  Health advice and input in the multi-agency complex needs panel..

·  Resource Allocation System ( RAS) health input – for designing a tool which produces an indicative budget for all 3 elements of the EHCP

·  A Joint Commissioning Strategy for Children and Young People with SEND was co-produced (2015-17) which outlines clear recommendations for future commissioning across Health, Education and Social Care.

·  Health staff are joining colleagues in Education and Social care for training around writing person centred, outcome focussed report for the children and young people’s plans.

·  Special School nurses (with input from community children nurses) are training support staff in schools and some early years settings, to care for children with complex health needs and or an EHCP in these settings.

What difference has this made?

·  The identification of credible and competent leadership within Health and the commitment to an integrated and collaborative approach has improved communication and ensures that health is woven through all aspects of commissioning services which support implementation of the Reforms. It has also raised the profile of SEND across the health economy.

·  Children and families are considering the option of managing their own support and care via a PHB.

·  The training to school and Early Years staff has supported children and young people with complex and continuing health care needs to remain in school and benefit from this in terms of their educational, social and emotional development.

·  Families don’t have to tell their story again and again to professionals as they work closer together on the same plan. This is a big plus for parents who have previously told us of their frustration.

·  Clinicians are better equipped to be able to write outcome focussed health care plans which are specific and measurable and reflect the wishes and aspirations of the child or young person.

·  The Strategy has given commissioners a baseline of current need and identified gaps that require consideration for future commissioning intentions.

Areas for further action

·  To increase the focus of children and young people with SEND in all Health specifications.

·  Working in partnership to identify gaps in provision and jointly commission new services, in particular preparing for adulthood.

·  To consult with health providers and commissioner

Next steps

·  Continue to develop and increase the profile of the DCO and leadership in CCG.

·  Jointly monitor outcomes for children and young people.

·  Additional briefing sessions to take place with consultants and GP’s on the SEND Reforms.

·  Identify opportunities to achieve better outcomes for children and young people with respect to emotional well-being and mental health.

·  To develop a pathway/protocol within health for managing disputes and tribunal requests.

·  For Health Commissioners to address the 0 – 25yr age range for the delivery of Education Health and Care plans and to commission health services that complement this statutory requirement.

Author: Helen Adams – Children & Maternity Commissioning Manager Nene & Corby CCGs

January 2016 Review Date: July 2016