October update from the SEND Transformation & Compliance team.

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October news

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Welcome

Welcome

Welcome to the October newsletter from the SEND Transformation & Compliance team. We hope everyone is well in these difficult times and staying safe. We hope you find the October newsletter informative. We have included news and updates as well as some October half term activities.

We regularly update our News & Covid-19 section of the website, so it is the best place to find out about any updates, workshops, guides, new events, and useful information.


Last chance to apply -  Mind the Gap's Future Me programme

(deadline tomorrow Friday 16 October, 5pm) 

Future Me is an employment programme for people with learning disabilities aged 16+ to help them move towards employment, education and training. Future Me is delivered online and teaches skills for a career in the arts. Learning will take place from October 2020 to March 2021.


October half term activities

During the Covid-19 pandemic, sadly a lot of activities have either closed temporarily, reduced or are working in new ways to work with children and young people. Some of our local services have been in touch with the Local Offer to let us know what is on during half term. Here are a few of the activities that we are aware of that are still running.

Nell Bank / Buckden House / Ingleborough Hall - family fun days/weekends

The Specialist Inclusion Project is working in partnership with the team at Nell Bank to provide family fun days during the school holidays. Access to this service may be limited and there are additional measures in place to ensure the safety of families and staff whilst using the service during the current situation. 

For further information contact the Specialist Inclusion Project on 01274 438744 or 07582 103558.


Light of the World, Bradford

The Light of the World Community Centre runs a short break during the school holiday for children with disabilities and special needs.

The age group is from 5 years (4 if child is attending reception class at Primary School) to 13 years of age.

For more information on how to book onto this service call 01274 730640.


SNOOP

SNOOP holiday play scheme is for children aged between 3-19 with special needs, disabilities and complex health needs.

SNOOP offer a full range of play activities both indoor, outdoor and special events to provide learning through play to develop social skills and friendships.  

For more information phone 01274 292126 or email 2carols@snoopcharity.org.



Local Offer annual report

 

The 2019/20 annual report is now published on the Local Offer website. In the report you can find out about developments made during 2019/20 and our next steps. The Local Offer values your feedback to shape your Local Offer information service.


children and young people views

Children and Young People at the heart of outcomes

Further to the initial survey that took place April through to June which identified a set of outcomes for children and young people with SEND, parents and partners across the Local Area attended Council for Disabled Children (CDC) webinars in June and July 2020 on Outcomes Based Commissioning.

SEND Partners in Bradford set out to review the initial outcomes statements and to consolidate these for further consultation. The Outcomes were identified as below:

  • The people who love and care for me are enabled to do this
  • I feel supported and safe
  • I am confident and able to achieve my dreams
  • I feel valued, included and accepted
  • My voice is heard and I have control of my life
  • I enjoy good health and wellbeing.

Further work is underway now to build these into a co-produced outcome framework for the Bradford district which will lead the way we plan and work with children and young People with SEND.


social care update

Infection Prevention Control information for Health and Social Care providers

Bradford Council's Infection Prevention and Control team together with the Covid-19 support team are sharing information about how social care services can minimise infections within their social care settings, and help protect staff and the people they care for. Read more about this on the Connect to Support website. 


Disabled Children’s Register

All local authorities must have a Disabled Children’s Register (DCR) under the Children’s Act 1989, although it is voluntary to join. The register helps Bradford Council and partners plan the services and support may be needed in the area for children and young people. 

You don't have to join the register to receive these SEND Local Offer e-newsletters, it is your choice. Join the register

Joint commissioning arrangements survey

As part of the refresh of our Joint Commissioning Strategy, we are wanting to solidify our definition of 'Joint Commissioning' and what this means to the local area including operational/strategic colleagues, providers, children and young people and parents/carers. To help with this, we are asking if you will answer a few short questions.

SEND Strategic Partnership Board

The latest board meeting took place on 15 September, it was well attended and the main items of discussion were the recent work Bradford Council has been doing alongside the Council for the Disabled Children. They also discussed the Local Offer Annual Report and the recent review of the Self Evaluation Framework. Once approved, minutes will be available on the Local Offer website. 


Short Breaks focus groups

Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent short break survey. Following this we have now set up focus groups in partnership with Bradford parent forums. The purpose of the focus groups is to give parents and carers the opportunity to share more of your experiences and give us more detailed feedback in order to improve our services. The groups are attended by SEND T&C staff, commissioners, internal and external providers along with parents, carers and forum leaders. We will update you further as work progresses.

You can read the outcome, feedback and next steps of the short breaks survey below.