Recommendation 5 update
Recommendation 5:
The local area partnership should ensure that appropriate support is in place from health services for children and young people who are awaiting health needs assessments, so that early intervention reduces the risk of any escalation of concern.
What we wanted:
Evaluate the user experience for all community health services so that support to families that are waiting for assessment is consistent across all pathways.
What we did:
- MyCareBridge continues to be reviewed for it's effectiveness and operability
- offered families a pre-diagnostic support group once a ND referral is accepted with further details of advice and support avenues
- evaluated the pre and post diagnostic offer of workshops, adapting content to cover the most pertinent and requested areas
- routinely carried out support calls to families at certain points during the wait for ND assessment
- community therapy services have widened the universal offer by introducing therapy service duty and advice lines, offering advice and guidance to families and schools
- implemented a link therapy model for mainstream schools
- created transition packs for clinicians to give young people from 11 years and above so they understand the process and support available when transitioning from child to adult services
- provided continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities through the Mid and South Essex (MSE) SEND Health Champions Forum to increase awareness and knowledge in relation to SEND
The difference it made:
- the uptake of pre and post diagnostic workshops is good with families valuing the support
- families and schools supporting children and young people requiring community therapy can access and obtain advice and support without the need for a referral
Priorities for 2025-26:
- continue to identify opportunities to embed SEND training into health contracts
- increase the provision of transition packs based on Ready, Steady, Go model across more health services