Special Educational Needs and Disability Pathfinder and Individual Budgets

The approach in Gateshead

February 2012

Contents

• Why Gateshead? What do we need to change?

• Where do we want to be?

• How are we planning to get there?

• Where are we now?

• Key messages to date

• Where next?

Why Gateshead?

• Individual Budget pilot for families with Disabled children....but small numbers and limited budgets

• Transforming SEND and School Funding Reform• Generally good working relationships with schools• Development of 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• A single care plan – education, health and social

care to 25• A more streamlined approach to assessments• More integrated budgets

How are we planning to get there

• Streamlined assessment and simpler care plans

• Testing – 12 families, plus control group of 8

• ‘Your LOG’ – Local Offer Gateshead• Active engagement and involvement of

families• Testing VCS role• Personal Budgets

Active involvement of families

• Testing proposals

• Parents in Power

• Conferences, newsletters, events

• Young people

• ‘System navigator’ model

• Person centred planning

• Key workers

Ini

tia l As

se ss m en t

CAF complete

d

Panel* decides which services will be involved in

assessment

Assessment carried out

Resource Allocation Panel* determines indicative

budget

Person Centred Planning meeting to pull plan

together – Skills for People

Panel agrees plan. Copy of assessment

information circulated by Central Assessment

Team

Review held

Review considered by Panel*

Co-ordinated Assessment headlines

prepared by LA to identify needs

As

se ss m en t

Pl

an ni

ng

R ev ie w

6 weeks

2 weeks

26 weeks

3 weeks

Meeting with family, led by System Navigators

Letter sent to parents to confirm agencies being contacted and date

information due back

Reports shared with parents by professionals

6 weeks

2 weeks

Delivered to parents by System Navigator and if necessary a meeting with practitioners to

discuss any areas where negotiation may be required

Decision shared with parents by System Navigator. Meeting

arranged with parents where negotiation may be required.

Parents at the meeting

Single Plan sent to parents and where not agreed meeting arranged with

parents

Parents at the meeting. Skills for People will discuss resources with

practitioners before and after meeting but not necessary for

practitioners to attend.

Practitioners meeting held

To discuss provision in light of views from Person Centred

Planning meeting

LOG: Local Offer Gateshead

• What is it and who is it for?• How do we stop it going out of date?• Broad walk through• Who does what• What’s out there• Personal Budgets• What you can expect• Where you can get help• Jargon Buster• If things go wrong….

Personal Budgets

• An approach, not just a process• Building up options• Care• Health• Education through personalised

approaches• Transport• Support

Key messages

• Putting parents and children at the centre

• Dangers of professionalism• Significant challenges on health

budgets, but no lack of interest• Education budgets will be a challenge –

engaging schools• Engaging families, especially in a

control group