Decision details

The Board received the report and, to enable compliance with the Children and Families Act agreed:

(i)  To support the current draft version of the ‘special educational needs and disability code of practice 0-25 years’ which we are directed by the DfE to use as statutory guidance.

(ii)  The Board also noted:

(a)  Full implementation was required by 1 September 2014 and the implications this would have for strategic and commissioning decisions.

(b)  The statutory guidance required that “Joint commissioning should be informed by a clear assessment of local needs.  Health and Wellbeing Boards are required to develop Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies, to support prevention, identification, assessment and early intervention and a joined-up approach”

(c)  The refresh of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is currently underway and would be expected to take account of the requirement, in preparation for a future refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

(d)  Structured programmes are in place for implementation of both the Children and Families Act and the Care Act, which would consider the implications of the new guidance for the overlap between Care Act and Children and Families Act requirements and irrespective of any discrepancies identified, there remains a statutory duty to put the arrangements described in the Children and Families Act in to place by 1 September.