Special needs provision for kids under fire
MUMS and dads felt they had to “fight” for support for their children while young people waited too long for autism diagnoses, inspectors have said.
Now a team from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission have demanded improvements to Newcastle’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities service.
“Significant areas of weakness” were identified and inspectors ordered Newcastle City Council and the Newcastle Gateshead NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to produce a written plan to address these.
Leaders have made “slow progress” in implementing reforms to the service, which were introduced as part of new legislation in 2014, inspectors said in a letter addressed to Ewen Weir, Newcastle’s director of children’s services.
The city council highlighted positive aspects of the report, saying it showed the body was “moving in the right direction” and said its action plan would bring “improvements across the city.”
Demand outstripped provision of specialist services for autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication and social, emotional and mental healthcare.
Waiting times for autism diagnoses exceeded guidelines, while some parents found they had to explain their situation repeatedly and felt their children’s needs “were not understood.”
Some families struggled to get the help their children needed.
The report said: “Children, young people, parents and carers have a mixed experience of the services they receive and the difference they make.
“Some have received timely and effective support as soon as their children’s needs have been diagnosed, while others report getting the support their children need is a ‘fight.’”
Parents “lack confidence” their children’s needs are identified well, inspectors added.
There were also issues with identifying and reviewing the needs of lookedafter children.
Meanwhile, CCG bosses were told to improve their understanding of their responsibilities and the effectiveness of the local service in order to be better able to tackle weaknesses.
“Dedicated and committed frontline staff” were praised for working hard for the children and families they come across - but the report reflected a number of problems with “strategic leadership”.
“The local area is not using the information and intelligence it has about children and young people’s needs well enough to inform the planning and delivery of education, health and social care services,” the report added.
One mum, who wished to remain anonymous, said the report reflected some aspects of her experience attempting to get support for her child, which she said had become “a lifetime’s work”.
She said: “It is not a lack of money, it is a lack of leadership and a lack of governance.
“Our family, and many others, have suffered.
“There is a lack of understanding of how healthcare and social care work together.
“The people on the frontline do try to help but as soon as you get beyond that it seems that doors just shut.”
However, the report did praise a number of aspects of Newcastle’s provision.
Help for children with visual or hearing impairments was a “strength” in Newcastle, with families valuing the difference this help made to their lives.
Children felt safe and both leaders and staff had a good understanding of the particular vulnerabilities of children with SEN and disabilities, and how to protect them. There is “extensive” training and support for school special educational needs coordinators, which helps identify children who might need further assessment.
Generally, procedures to identify children’s needs at the earliest opportunity through neonatal screening checks are established and work effectively. Young children got a “good range” of support, while assessments for vulnerable young children, such as asylum seekers or those in the justice system, helped to identify undiagnosed SEN and/or disabilities.
The transition from children to adult services works well for children and young people who have disabilities, inspectors added.
Coun Nora Casey, cabinet member for Children, Education and Skills said: “We welcome the findings of this Ofsted/CQC report which confirmed we are moving in the right direction.
“We are working closely with partner agencies, specifically Newcastle and Gateshead CCG, to deliver an action plan which will see improvements across the city for children and young people living with special educational needs and disabilities.
“It has also been highlighted that our approach to supporting and enabling employment for all is increasing the ambitions and aspirations of young people with special educational needs.”
Chris Piercy, the CCG’s executive director of nursing, patient safety and quality, added: “This report is helpful and we are working with the council and other partners, using the findings as we continue to improve our services.”
There is a lack of understanding of how healthcare and social care work together Anonymous mum