PAPER C

Purpose: For Decision

Committee: EXECUTIVE

Date: 23 APRIL 2002

Title: BEST VALUE JOINT REVIEW DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING APRIL 2001 – MARCH 2002:

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS

PORTFOLIO HOLDERS – EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

1. SUMMARY/PURPOSE

1.1. To consider for approval the joint Best Value Review undertaken by the two Directorates on provision and services for children with special educational needs, disabilities and significant health needs.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 This report has been considered and recommended for approval in final draft form by the Select Committees for Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning and Social Services and Housing.

2.2 The work commenced with the production of a review scoping document which was consulted upon and approved by the Children’s Committee on 22 March 2001. This identified six review areas of the services for which working groups were established:-

· Management Steering Group

· Policy and Strategy Group

· Direct Services Group

· Indirect Services Group

· Administration and Resources Group

· Residential Short Term Support Group

2.3 These groups considered wide-ranging consultations held between May 2001 and February 2002 and identified a number of key issues and areas for action. Bench marking and comparative data has also been collected. The report includes an improvement plan for the services with six key objectives.

· To create a more streamlined and simplified service by improving joint working and exploring future integration.

· To develop fair and equitable services through improvements to eligibility criteria.

· To enable service users to have access to transport services which help meet assessed need.

· To make services more inclusive by:

· Developing good working practices.

· Improving the access to and availability of high quality and inclusive services provided by a range of organisations.

· To make services more accessible by improving information services for users and other stakeholders.

· To develop services that better reflect needs by improving service user involvement in all aspects of services.

2.4 A progress report was produced and considered by a Members Appraisal Group on 1 November 2001 resulting in a draft report which went to joint meeting of the Social Services and Education and Community Development Select Committee on 20 December 2001. The draft report was considered by a Stakeholder Conference in February 2002 prior to its consideration by the Select Committees in April 2002.

3. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The improvement plan includes a £51,000 bid to the Invest to Save Fund to resource the work of a project officer to co-ordinate the joint work proposed; this bid is attached.

3.2 All other work within the improvement plan will be achieved within existing resources.

4. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 None directly at this stage although the review and improvement plan form an important element of the Local Education Authorities’ Post Ofsted Inspection Action Plan.

5. RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Executive accept the Best Value Review for Children with Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Significant Health Needs.

That the Executive note that there will be a bid to the Invest to Save Fund in due course.

Contact Points: James Doyle 822247; David Pettitt 823410

A KAYE Strategic Director Education and Community Development	J WAREHAM Portfolio Holder for Education and Lifelong Learning
C WADDICOR Strategic Director Social Services and Housing	R MAZILLIUS Portfolio Holder for Social Services and Housing