Transcript Oldham Council - Short Breaks Network

Oldham and Rochdale SEND
Pathfinder
Personal Budgets
An Oldham Perspective
Tuesday 9th October 2012
Gary McBrien / Julie Hawkins
SEN Reforms / Pathfinder Context
• Green Paper, Support and aspiration: A new approach to
special educational needs and Disability – March 2011
• The reforms are being tested in 20 pathfinder areas,
covering 31 local authorities and their health partners.
• North West Consortium – Wigan, Trafford, Manchester,
Rochdale and Oldham
• Next Steps – May 2012 & Draft Provisions – September
2012
Green Paper Vision
A completely different system that:
The Green Paper proposes:
a new approach to identifying SEN
supports better life outcomes
for young people
gives parents more
confidence by giving them
control
transfers power to front-line
professionals and to local
communities
a single assessment process and
‘Education, Health and Care Plan’
a local offer of all services
available
parents to have the option of a
personal budget by 2014
giving parents a real choice of
school
greater independence to the
assessment of children's needs
3
SEN Reforms / Pathfinder Context – By 2014
• A new duty for joint commissioning which will require local
authorities and health bodies to take joint responsibility for
providing services.
• A requirement on local authorities to publish a local offer of
services for disabled children and young people and those with
special educational needs.
• New protections for young people aged 16-25 in further education
and a stronger focus on preparing them for adulthood.
• Parents and young people, for the first time, to be entitled to have
a personal budget, extending their choice and control over their
support.
• Further Education colleges for the first time and all academies,
including Free Schools, to have the same duties as maintained
schools to safeguard the education of children and young people
with SEN.
Personal Budgets – ‘Short Breaks’ Pilot
• Each project group comprises parents – bringing in children
and young people to shape the work of each group –
Parents Forum ‘POINT’ and ‘Barrier Breakers’ / children and
young people’s groups
• In early stages consulted In Control & Oldham Adult
Services and ‘friendly others’
• Prior to being a Pathfinder we had established a pilot
focusing on short breaks / social care and maybe health
• 10 families reflecting range of needs / age range –
numerous meetings with families – 10 volunteer families
• Each family supported by Project Manager and named
worker – social worker / community nurse
Personal Budgets – ‘Short Breaks’ Pilot
• Agreeing what’s in and what’s not in
• Costing services
• Paperwork & Process – Resource Allocation System (RAS)
• PATH / Support Planning
• Desk top exercise with 50 families across age / need range
• Agreed original ‘pounds for points’ level
• Training for staff / parents in process & support planning
Personal Budgets – ‘Short Breaks’ Pilot
• Review & Evaluation stage
• Feedback from parents / workers / panel etc
• Key issues:
- Exposes full needs
- Age differences – guidance in assessing
- ‘Pounds for Points’ levels
- What’s in e.g. equipment, other family members etc
- Ensuring it reflects individual needs and is linked to the
assessment
- Supporting parents when they have their budget
Personal Budgets – Now & Next Stage
• Project group was extended to include heads, SENCO’s,
‘central’ SEN staff, educational psychologists etc
• Agreeing what’s in and what’s out e.g. transport
• Costings
• Developing RAS to include education
• Identifying families
• Looking at integrating with single assessment / plan
process
• Links with Banded Funding work
• Pilot in January 2013