Case Ref: 23 006 177 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to carry out a review of the reasons it did not take action after a Consent Order and whether there are any learning points from that review.

Case Ref: 23 006 172 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to report to us on the progress of the full review of its SEN services to ensure it is able to meet all the statutory obligations. This would include a period of action planning and change management. It expects the completed review process to be delivered for September 2024. Additionally the Council will update us about its extensive recovery programme to resolve any out-of-date activities within the statutory SEN service
• the Council agreed to provide a report to a relevant overview and scrutiny committee about the timeliness of EHC plan assessment progress with the Council’s action plan, and what further steps need to be taken to ensure assessments are completed, final EHC plans issued within statutory timescales and alternative provision put in place when required by law.

Case Ref: 23 006 171 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to report to us on the progress of the full review of its SEN services to ensure it is able to meet all the statutory obligations. This would include a period of action planning and change management. It expects the completed review process to be delivered for September 2024. Additionally the Council will update us about its extensive recovery programme to resolve any out-of-date activities within the statutory SEN service
• the Council agreed to provide a report to a relevant overview and scrutiny committee about the timeliness of EHC plan assessment progress with the Council’s action plan, and what further steps need to be taken to ensure assessments are completed, final EHC plans issued within statutory timescales and alternative provision put in place when required by law.

Case Ref: 23 006 091 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will create a handover template to use where a new case worker is assigned to a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan's case. The template will capture a summary of the case including relevant dates, decision and agreed next actions. The template will ensure a clear and comprehensive handover to avoid drift and delay. The completed handover template will be discussed during the Council’s handover meeting with a senior case manager and documented on the running case record for each handover.
• The Council will remind staff responsible for identifying school placements for children with Education, Health and Care Plans to make timely and accurate consultations to schools and to provide the most up to date information for the child.

Case Ref: 23 005 853 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Charging

• The Council will remind relevant staff of the importance of giving full information about paying for the costs of care, including information about how a person's contribution to those costs will be calculated, and about personal budgets and what happens if a person chooses a care home or care package that exceeds this.
• The Council will remind relevant staff of the importance of ensuring that bests interests decision are kept under review.
• The Council will remind relevant staff of the importance of not setting arbitrary limits on the amount it will pay for a person's care and ensuring that in reaching decisions on any potential changes to their care, such as moving them to a care home or a cheaper care home, it assesses the likely impact of the proposed change on the person's wellbeing.

Case Ref: 23 005 178 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will share with the Ombudsman its review of its record keeping procedures. This was to ensure it progresses cases where children and young people are unable to engage with their education without delay, and communicates its outcomes with parents.
• The Council will remind its special educational needs and disability staff of the Council’s duty to ensure it reviews Education, Health, and Care plan at least every 12 months and issues its decisions to cease, maintain, or amend such plans within the statutory timescales.

Case Ref: 23 004 581 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Adoption

• The Council has delayed in reviewing its post adoption support procedure. It has agreed to carry out the review.

Case Ref: 23 004 580 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will remind staff dealing with these cases that where they are aware a child is not attending school, it should consider each individual case and its Section 19 duty in accordance with relevant law and guidance.

Case Ref: 23 003 807 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Friends and family carers

• The Council will carry out a training session for social workers to ensure they know about the Council’s responsibilities under the Children’s Act and the Council’s family and friends policy. That training should include information about what advice and support should be provided to those potentially taking on the care of a child and the information to be given about the options, including financial.

Case Ref: 23 003 786 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will provide training or guidance to relevant officers to ensure it responds to requests for personal budgets in Education, Health and Care needs assessments and reviews.
• The Council should undertake a detailed review of the failings identified in this statement. The review should focus on the induction and support new special educational needs and disabilities officers, including locum officers, receive.