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Devon County Council (DCC) are working to identify improvements to the process of requesting and receiving an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan. The project is seeking to improve the timeliness and quality of EHC plans as well as how we communicate with parents. You can read more about the project on the DCC website.
The project team have now written to parent-carers who are registered on the online EHC Hub inviting them to take part in one-to-one interviews. If you would like to get involved, you can sign up using the online form before 5pm on Monday 11 December.
If you can't take part this month, you can still register your interest in taking part by using the form above and selecting the option “Other – evenings and weekends”.
The project will also be hosting an in-person workshop with 20 participants to share and discuss the findings before looking at potential changes. This workshop will be held on Wednesday 17 January in the Newton Abbot area and will last roughly four hours. We’ll share details of how to book once we have them.
We’re transforming our SEND service with Essex partnership
Essex County Council (ECC) has become Devon’s improvement partner for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services with funding from the Department for Education (DfE).
Devon is aiming to deliver system-wide transformation so is looking at how others have achieved this. Since 2019, Essex’s SEND transformation journey has seen considerable advancements in the quality of EHC plans, including accurate approaches to identifying needs and the development of an early intervention offer.
Read more about the improvement partnership arrangement here.
Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) virtual event
Following a redesign of Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) services, CFHD are hosting a virtual event for partners, professionals, service users and communities to attend. You can find out about the newly designed pathways of care around specialist services for physical and mental health to children and young people across Devon.
The event is being held on Teams at 11.00am to 12.30pm on Thursday 7 December.
Email cfhd.communications@nhs.net for a link to attend.
Autism and Us spring 2024 places now available to book
Devon’s popular Autism and Us free programme for parent-carers returns in the new year, with a combination of four-week courses and one-off workshops.
The Autism and Us programme offers support for families of children and young people who have an autism diagnosis or who are waiting for one. It is designed for parent/carers of primary and secondary school age children in Devon. It gives families an opportunity to develop their understanding of autism, looks at practical solutions to managing and supporting children and young people’s needs.
Full details of the programme and how to book are on the Devon SEND Local Offer.
Devon virtual wallet for direct payments and personal budgets
Devon’s Disabled Children's Service is launching the Devon Wallet. The Devon Wallet is a virtual wallet that will support the delivery of direct payments and personal budget, starting with Short Break plans.
Families have told us they would like more visibility of the support available to them, and an easy-to-use online system with everything they need in one place. They’ve also said that choice and control remain important.
Find out more about our plans for the Devon Wallet.
Christmas Holiday Activity and Food places available to book
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme offers free physical activities and healthy, nutritional hot meals during school holidays to children who are in receipt of benefit related free school meals.
We work hard with our providers to ensure that the activities on offer are fully inclusive and accessible, so we are pleased that figures for the recent summer holiday programme show that one in five places were taken by a child or young person with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Parent-carers can check if their child or young person is eligible for a place on the HAF pages.
Learning Disability Annual health checks
Did you know that anyone aged 14 or over with a Learning Disability is entitled to a free Annual Health Check at their GP surgery?
The Annual Health check is a full physical check covering all areas of health, including lifestyle advice and screening, questions about mental health and relationships, medication review and offering vaccinations.
Anyone on the Learning Disability Register will be invited every year. If you or someone you know with a Learning Disability has not been invited, then please check that you are on your GP’s Register by contacting your surgery. More information can be found at https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/health/annual-health-checks.
2024 SEND conference for schools – bring your headteacher for half price!
Devon Education Services (DES) will be running their SEND conference in June 2024. The morning of the conference has a strong focus on leadership, with keynote speaker Natalie Packer, as well as workshops to support greater joined up working between schools and other services.
Schools booking a full day place can now book their headteacher in for half-price. More details are available on the DES booking page for the 2024 SEND conference,
Devon SEND governance
The Devon SEND Strategic Partnership Board met on Wednesday 15 November. Minutes for this Board are published in the ‘working together’ section of the SEND Local Offer site.
Devon County Council’s Children’s Scrutiny Committee reviewed SEND transformation progress on Tuesday 14 November. You can read the minutes on the Democracy in Devon website.
Support for people considering a childcare career
Devon County Council is concerned that there are not enough professionals in place for when funded childcare for working parents is extended next September. They are providing advice and support for people considering childcare as a rewarding new career.
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