Summary

The meeting involved discussions on various SEND-related issues, including updates from the Continuous Improvement Group, EHCP and Annual Review Compliance, and the Neurodevelopmental Pathway progress. Several actions were identified to improve services and ensure compliance with SEND regulations.

Key Actions and Outcomes:

1. Action Log Review:

• No overdue actions were reported, and several decisions made in August were noted as completed.

• The Board agreed to circulate the response from the Chief Executive of Cheshire and Merseyside ICB.

2. Continuous Improvement Group Update:

• Additional funding was secured to support the restructuring of the Educational Psychology Service, with recruitment ongoing.

• Five out of the EHCP compliance actions were delayed due to capacity issues. A new focus on resolving 180 “stuck cases” was initiated.

Outcomes:

• New recruitment for SEND-related positions will continue.

• Delayed EHCP actions will lead to a revised recovery timeline.

• Discussions on how best to use the JSNA to inform future planning and evaluation.

3. EHCP and Annual Review Recovery Plan:

• Recruitment challenges were highlighted, and EHCP 20-week compliance remained low at 17%.

Outcomes:

• An updated recovery plan with a 3-month delay in targets will be shared.

• EHCP will be a standing item on the Health and Wellbeing Board agenda.

4. Neurodevelopmental Pathway:

• Funding was discussed, including £180,000 for triage and assessment transfers. The pathway waiting times showed improvement.

Outcomes:

• Ongoing efforts to reduce waiting times for neurodevelopmental assessments.

• Discussions on how funding constraints could impact service improvements.

5. Risk Register:

• A review was conducted, with no changes to RAG ratings. However, concerns about escalating deficits in the Dedicated Schools Grant were raised.

Outcomes:

• A potential deficit increase to £98 million by the year’s end was flagged, and actions to mitigate risks were discussed.

6. Speech and Language Service:

• Waiting lists had decreased, but ongoing concerns remained about high waiting times (30 weeks).

Outcomes:

• Efforts to clear the waiting list are progressing, and additional staff have been recruited to support this.

Main Resolutions:

• The EHCP Recovery Plan timeline will be updated, and further modelling of outcomes based on different scenarios will be completed.

• Regular reports on funding, complaint handling, and service performance will be provided to the Board.

• The neurodevelopmental pathway improvements and risk mitigation efforts will continue with more detailed reports to follow.

Summary of Duties (Actions):

• Continuous monitoring and reporting on EHCP compliance.

• Supporting recruitment and restructuring of SEND services.

• Addressing delays and capacity issues within SEND services.

• Improving waiting times for neurodevelopmental assessments and speech and language services.

• Ongoing management of funding and risks associated with the Dedicated Schools Grant deficit.