SEND Improvement Board February 2021 Newsletter: SEND Transformation project, the new SEND Strategy 2021 - 2024 and good news stories on speech language and communication practices in Devon

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                                                                                                                      February 2021

Welcome

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2021, in this edition you will find an update on the SEND Transformation project and the new SEND Strategy 2021 - 2024, some good news stories on speech language and communication practices in Devon and the NHS Key Worker pilot. 

With half term soon approaching, we hope you have a lovely break.


SEND Transformation Project

The work of the SEND Transformation Project to transform the experience of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families is ongoing.

We are just putting the finishing touches to the new SEND strategy for 2021-2024. This has been developed following consultation in October, November and December 2020, to hear your views and feedback. We have used this to help us develop the vision, priorities and key actions in the strategy.

The new strategy will be on the SEND Local Offer website as soon as it is finished, and we will share the link with you.

We are starting to work on a detailed action plan, with targets and timeframes, to deliver the actions within the strategy.

Thank you for all your feedback and insights. This has been vital to the development of the strategy.


Parent Carer Forum Devon

Parent Carer Forum Devon hosted two Q&A session on Wednesday 20th January. Parent Carers were able to speak directly with professionals from Devon County Council, Babcock and Devon Schools Leadership Services. Find out more and listen to recordings of the sessions here.

PCFD

Devon Information Advise and Support (DiAS)

DiAS has revised and updated some of their information for parents/carers about school and education during this lockdown. This time around information has been added which is specifically aimed at children and young people too.

As information changes the pages will be updated and in response to the issues that parents are raising. 

  1. Questions and Answers
  2. Useful resources
  3. Information for children and young people
DiAS

NHS Key Worker Pilot

The NHS is creating key worker roles to work with families who have a child with a learning disability and/or autism who have recently been admitted to hospital because of their mental health. They will also work with these families where community services are finding it challenging to meet the child’s needs and professionals may be considering admitting them to hospital. This is to address the NHS Long Term plan commitment that this group of children will have a designated Key Worker by 2023/24.

For further information including the purpose of the key worker pilot click here.


Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD)

CFHD are recruiting two Health Navigators for a pilot of three months (February to April 2021) within the Autism Service and fit with the NICE guidance. This post could have scope to sit across all CFHD services including Learning Disability, Physio Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) etc.

This role would have the following remit:

  • Liaising with children and young people (CYP), family and carer after referral – managing them through pathway
  • Liaising with professionals and partners around CYP needs - for example identified Child Protection need, referral to social care if unknown/or liaise with Social Worker.  Another professional contact may be to link with educational psychologist or Special Educational Needs Coordinator around education strategies pre-assessment
  • Pre- assessment /early intervention pieces of work- links to Early Help, Parental/carer workshops, Positive Behaviour Support, Sleep hygiene resources, provision of strategies at home
  • Keeping in touch with CYP waiting

Children and Family Heath Devon's Speech and Language Therapy Service

CFHD

Click here for the poster which contains nformation on the additional virtual drop in sessions for parents of children under 2 and professionals who are concerned about children speech, language and commination development. 


Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) Good News.

Public Health England has published a range of documents focusing on the importance of speech, language and communication. These document link to guidance written in Devon.

  • Best start in speech, language and communication:  Guidance to support local commissioners and service leads

The guidance emphasises the importance of an integrated speech, language and communication offer and details the key features of provision that should be provided to cover a continuum of need for each of the age groups/stages from pregnancy to 5 years. The guidance also highlights the critical role speech and language therapists play at a universal, targeted and specialist level in improving outcomes for children. Best start in life guidance

  • Best Start in Life: Supporting Evidence

This identifies ways that early speech, language and communication develops and the risk and protective factors that influence this Supporting evidence document

  • Best Start in Life: Case Studies

This document contains a collection of peer reviewed case studies which provide national and local examples of speech, language and communication pathways and clarification of how an integrated system can work in practice. It is phenomenal to see that Devon’s approach ‘Let’s Talk More’ is one of the 4 case studies shared. This recognition is a testament of your commitment to partnership working. Please see pages 5 to 8 BSIL Case Studies

  • The Early language identification measure (ELIM) and intervention.

The ELIM is intended to support early identification and intervention of SLCN, resulting in more timely and appropriate referrals to Speech and Language Therapy. Services and professionals across Devon have already met and started to consider how best to apply this within each authority. ELIM guidance handbook


Babcock Cygnet Parent Autism Awareness Courses

The programme is for parents/carers of children aged between 7 and 18. Babcock LDP as licensed trainers will be offering access to this programme online during this Spring Term period, as hosting their usual parent autism awareness programme is not physically possible at this time due to Covid - 19 restrictions. There will be 6 weekly sessions (approx. 2hrs each) related to the following topic/themes and release dates:

  • Topic: Introduction, Mon 22nd Feb
  • Autism Overview, Mon 1st March
  • Sensory, Mon 8th March
  • Communication, Mon 15th March
  • Understanding Behaviour, Mon 22nd March
  • Supporting Behaviour, Mon 29th March

To access the programme email:
LDP - Learner support, you will be asked to complete a Reply Slip to confirm details.


NAPLIC DLD Friendly Service Accreditation

NAPLIC is a national organisation of teachers, speech and language therapists and other professionals, working to develop best practice to support children and young people with language difficulties through awareness raising, and information and knowledge exchange.

During the summer term, members of the Communication and Interaction Team at Babcock began to gather evidence to meet a number of standards over different strands as defined by the NAPLC DLD friendly accreditation process: within team; children, young people and their families; and partners. This helped the team to identify gaps in knowledge and provision and make plans for on-going development and improvement. We were delighted to be awarded DLD friendly accreditation at the end of 2020.

Click here for more information and links.

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