Agenda item

SEND - Progress Update

Minutes:

The Board were provided with a detailed update on Oldham’s progress against the Written Statement of Action (WSOA) related to the SEND Inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in October 2017.  The Board had requested an update following the previous report in October 2018.  The report also contained information on key related areas of work requested by the Board.

 

Oldham had been subject to bi-monthly joint monitoring/support meeting from the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England related to progress against the WSOA.  The outcome in September 2018 had been very positive with confirmation of a forward direction of travel and continuous improvement made in all areas.  The inspection process by Ofsted had changed and all local areas with a WSOA for SEND would now be re-inspected and it was anticipated that this would take place anytime from March 2019.  As part of the new process Oldham’s bi-monthly monitoring/support with DfE/NHS England would continue until the revisit took place.

 

The DfE and NHS England recognised the work progress on the ‘AMBER/GREEN’ priority Area 3, particularly related to the timeliness of Education Health Care Plans within the 20-week statutory timescale.  It was noted that significant progress had been made with reference to the timeliness of issuing plans being 100% with a similar figure predicted for February due to a more robust process being put into place and additional staffing.

 

The Board had requested an update on key areas at the meeting held in October.  These included:

 

A Voice of the Child Corporate Strategy, which included SEND, had been developed with engagement and involvement of children and young people across numerous services. The delivery of the strategy would be co-ordinated under each agreed objective within the document.  Communication plans would also be developed.  The objectives were outlined in the report.

 

The contract on waiting times for intervention with reference to Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services demonstrated 100% compliance with key performance indicators with referrals screened within 24 hours and first contact within 12 weeks of referral.

 

The percentage of young people with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCs) in Oldham compared to statistical neighbouring and GM authorities was outlined in the report.

 

Members were informed that 10 EHC plans had been issued so far this year compared to none at this point last year.

 

The Board was invited to a SEND event on Sunday, 3rd February 2019.

 

Members thanked the staff for the hard work.

 

Members sought and received clarification on 12-week wait for healthy young minds and urgency was looked at as part of triage and put in place where needed.  The whole school framework was an early intervention model.  Members asked what was planned for the increasing number of home-schooled children and informed that funding had been made available for a co-ordinator doing home visits to assist where there was limited information and use the health visiting assessment which demonstrated joint working.

 

Members were pleased about young people and parents being involved in the design and asked how any issues were acted upon and officers were also asked about children’s emotional and spiritual development and referred to an initiative at Kingfisher School.  Members were informed of a health and wellbeing event that had been held where young people had presented the work and schools took the information back to develop practice.    Students were also very involved in development of EHCs, every plan should have the voice of the child and at age 16 the ambition of the young person was captured.  Bespoke work had been done with regard to funding a sports development programme and individual goals.

 

Members asked if the performance was sustainable and if there was an informal external review.  Members were informed of the bi-monthly visits from the DfE and CQC.  Detailed audits were completed prior to those meetings and extensive internal governance was also in place.  It was a continual journey and officers said there was sustainability with cultural change and the investment made by the local authority. An inclusion strategy was being developed and would possibly be launched in March 2019.

 

Members asked how many people may be involved in EHC plans and how often they were reviewed?  Members were informed that there were 2,054 live EHC plans and all were subject to an annual review.  Involvement depended on the needs of the young person which included assessments which were dependent on those particular needs.

 

Members asked about preparation for any upcoming inspection.  Officers were aware of the challenges and working to develop a communications strategy and engage more widely.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.       The SEND Update on progress against the Written Statement of Action (WSOA) be noted.

2.       The Board to receive a short report in June or July 2019 following any outcome from Ofsted.

3.       The Board to receive a further update in 12 month’s time.

Supporting documents: