The Joint Commissioning Group will publish the joint commissioning strategy for disability and special educational needs early in 2012 after approval from the Children's Trust Executive. The strategy will be shaped by the needs assessment completed in January 2012.
Why this matters
Services for disabled children are significant areas of work for partners within the Children’s Trust, especially for health services and the County Council Children, Families and Cultural Services Department.
A review of disabled children’s services was commissioned by Nottinghamshire County Council in 2010. This review recommended the development of a joint approach to strategic planning and commissioning. The Children’s Trust has taken action in response to this recommendation.
What we will do
A Joint Commissioning Group for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs has been established. You can read the Terms of Reference [PDF 75KB] for this group who have delegated responsibility for jointly commissioning services and interventions for children and young people within identified vulnerable groups.
These groups are:
- children defined as having a disability
- children in special schools
- children in mainstream school with a Special Educational Need diagnosis
- looked after children with a disability or Special Educational Need
- children with complex health needs.
This joint commissioning group reports to the Children’s Trust Executive, which in turn reports to the Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board. This ensures that the needs of disabled children are included in planning for health and wellbeing improvements across all public services.
Through the work of this group, the Children’s Trust will ensure:
- Children and young people with disabilities will have equitable access to a range of appropriate services and interventions
- Children, young people and families will be enabled to access specialist equipment with greater ease
- We will improve outcomes for children, young people and their families by working together to use multi-agency single assessment processes, which ensure the holistic needs of children are met through a single multi-agency plan.
- Children, young people and families will be supported effectively during key transition stages
- Children, young people and families will have clearer access to Occupational Therapy to meet their needs
- Children and young people with Special Educational Needs will have improved educational attainment
- Young people are effectively supported in Post 16 placements
- Children and young people with Complex Health and /or Palliative Care needs are assessed and supported appropriately
- Children, young people and families will be have equitable access to short breaks
- Children and families will have access to good quality up to date Information, Advice and Guidance
- Children and young people in need of residential placements will be supported closer to home whilst ensuring they have their needs met
When we will do this
The joint commissioning group has been established and the final joint commissioning strategy will be published by the end of March 2012. A detailed action plan will also be produced to firm up timescales for all other commissioning priorities. The joint commissioning strategy spans from January 2012-April 2014.
The executive summary of the Disability and SEN needs assessment [PDF 2.9MB] is available to download. The full needs assessment will be published shortly.
How this will improve the lives of children, young people or families
Joint commissioning will drive improvements in services for children and young people with disabilities and their families, through partnership. It will promote:
- a sharper focus on the needs of those who use our services
- a strategic understanding of how all outcomes for children and young people with disabilities and families can be met locally
- a more commercially-minded approach to procurement, promoting the most effective use of resources to meet identified needs.
The joint commissioning strategy will:
- develop multi-agency approaches to improve outcomes
- improve education outcomes
- improve health outcomes
- improve outcomes for children and their families
