Special Educational Needs and Disability Pathfinder

The approach in GatesheadMarch 2012

• Why Gateshead: what do we want to change?• Where do we want to be?• How are we planning to get there?• Where are we at?• Next key actions

Why Gateshead: what do we want to change?• Individual Budget pilot for families with Disabled children....but small

numbers and limited budgets• Reducing out of borough placements....but continuing demand from

parents for the best services possible• Generally good working relationships with schools...but some

frustration about some aspects of provision especially Additionally Resourced Mainstream Schools

• Developing a commissioning approach....but lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities

• Good partnership working....but issues around integration of education, social care and health, transitions

Where do we want to be?• A child centred system• A more transparent and family friendly system• A system which delivers better outcomes• An approach which brings more choice• An approach which is value for money and is affordable• A single care Plan – education, health and social care to 25• A more streamlined approach to assessments – how far can we go to

align all assessments?• More integrated budgets – pooled or aligned

How are we planning to get there?

• Build on the work of the individual budget’s pilot• Use our experience of engaging and working with families -

recruitment• Engage the Jewish community• Person centred planning approach – Skills for People• Involvement of parents at every stage• Refreshing all materials and the language used (Local Offer)• Test the system navigator role - Children North East

Where are we at?• Project Board established, accountable to Gateshead

Children's Trust (broad representation)• Engagement of parents through parent and carer

Forum (Parents in Power)• VCS commissioned • Work-streams

– Planning and assessment– Finance and resource allocation– Communication and engagement– Local offer

Planning and Assessment

• Identifying current range of assessments and timeframes

• Developing a co-ordinated assessment process• Developing the single plan documentation• Identifying families and control group• Recruiting families

Finance and Resource Allocation Work Group

• Revising the resource allocation model (linked to Adult Services model?)

• Exploring an education RAS (possible banding model)• Developing individual school transport budgets• Looking at opportunities to include health in potential resource

allocation panels• Planned Kaizen event.

Communication and Engagement

• Stakeholder analysis completed and a communication strategy produced

• Branding developed, consulted upon and agreed• Events planned including launch event at the Baltic

on 28th March

The Local Offer

• Looking at information currently available• Reviewing the current education statutory information• Looking at what other LA information should be produced• Clarifying the scope of additional information (e.g. from

schools)• Looking to produce information in a clear way• Produced in a format that enables easy updating• To be discussed at launch event.

Next Key Actions

• Prepare for the conference event• RAS work• Recruitment and engagement of more families• Producing the single plan