MPs again, DfE/DoH & a Hallelujah!

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MPs again, DfE/DoH & a Hallelujah! 20th December 2017 Dear All We promised this would be an update on national news… so perhaps not the most gripping reading, but important to our families nonetheless. Go straight to the Hallelujah at the end for some seasonal cheer!

MPs again… We’re pleased to write that we’ve finalised the informal meeting notes from the SEND Forum on 1st December and included a resume of a follow up meeting with Zac Goldsmith.

Meeting notes for the SEND Forum, which includes: 1. Summary of format and objectives for the SEND Forum. 2. Informal meeting notes from the SEND Forum – with Sir Vince Cable and Sir Ed Davey MP - 1st December 2017 3. A resume of the meeting with Zac Goldsmith MP - 15th December 2017

You will find the notes here: http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/booklets-research/ We have further plans and dates to follow this up in the New Year. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact with Penny or Alex on the e-mail addresses below: Penny: Penny@sendfamilyvoices.org or Alex: Alexhardy@ruils.co.uk

From: "IMPLEMENTATION, SEN" <SEN.IMPLEMENTATION@education.gov.uk> Date: 05 December 2017 at 12:01 Subject: Updates from the Department for Education [DfE] and Department for Health [DoH] On a fairly regular basis, and usually just before holiday periods, the DoH and DfE issue a SEN Implementation bulletin. In this article, we are offering the highlights. If you would like the full bulletin, please reply to this e-mail. “In this update we have included: 1. An invitation to respond to the consultation on mental health launched in a green paper published yesterday by the Department for Health and the Department for Education. 2. Details of a consultation on raising concerns and making complaints about health, social care or education. This involves a survey for children, young people and adults with a learning disability, autism or both, their families and paid carers. 3. Details of recommendations for the UK made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

1. An invitation to respond to the consultation on mental health from the Department for Health and the Department for Education in a green paper A government Green Paper is a consultation paper and often the first step in new legislative ideas. The Green Paper progresses to White and is generally seen as a policy document. The stage after this is a Bill, which ultimately becomes new Act (ie the law) “This green paper on children and young people’s mental health sets out this government’s ambition to go even further in ensuring that those who need it are able to access the right help for their mental health, in the right place and at the right time. The green paper focuses on earlier intervention and prevention particularly in or linked to schools and colleges. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transforming-children-and-young-peoplesmental-health-provision-a-green-paper ; with the consultation mini-site at https://engage.dh.gov.uk/youngmentalhealth/ You can also subscribe and receive regular updates on the ‘engage’ page. This consultation closes at: Noon on 2 March 2018

PRESS RELEASE [extract} “SCHOOL CHILDREN TO GET MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN RADICAL SHAKE UP TO IMPROVE THE NATION’S MENTAL HEALTH - New measures signal a fundamental shift in mental health support, with over £300 million funding available - Training for senior designated mental health leads in schools to improve prevention work - Earlier access to services through the creation of new Mental Health Support Teams working in and directly with schools - New four week waiting time for NHS children and young people’s mental health services to be piloted “

2. Consultation on raising concerns and making complaints about health, social care or education ”The Department for Health has also launched a survey of the views of children, young people and adults with a learning disability, autism or both, their families and paid carers about people’s experiences of raising concerns and making complaints. This closes on 12 January 2018. For further details please see the attached flyer and the consultation site.” https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/ask-listen-do/

3. Recommendations for the UK made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities “The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluded its Periodic Examination of the UK’s compliance with the Convention in the summer. The Committee’s Concluding Observations can be found at:” http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD%2 fC%2fGBR%2fCO%2f1&Lang=en. Recommendations relating specifically to education are at paragraphs 20, 21 and 46-53.

Restraint and Restrictive intervention From the Department of Health and the Department for Education: “The Department of Health and Department of Education have jointly commissioned new guidance reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention for children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and mental health difficulties. The DoH and DfE are consulting on the draft which was produced for us by the Council for Disabled Children (CDC), until 24 January 2018. We welcome your views by 24 January 2018.

Here is a link to the consultation on gov.uk where you’ll find the draft guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/restraint-and-restrictive-intervention-draftguidance NB this site then points to a further link where you can participate in the survey: https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/dementia-and-disabilities/reducing-the-need-for-restraint The new guidance applies to all health care commissioned by the NHS, children’s homes and special schools and colleges. “

Social Care and EHCPs Aimed at practitioners‌ free and one we can share with those that work with our young people‌ “Council for Disabled Children are facilitating a free one-day workshop, hosted by the SEND Regional Network, for social workers (children’s and adults’ services), social care practitioners, practice managers and team managers across London. This will be an opportunity to focus on a range of practical areas including the role of Social Care in EHC needs assessments and identifying Social Care Needs as part of the EHC assessment and planning process. For more information and to book, click here: https://t.co/QTSPzRanDgâ€? https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-role-of-social-care-in-implementing-the-send-reformslondon-tickets-40902557651

@SENDFamilyVoice Two great blog posts from Starlight McKenzie (one below on Section A, and one Hallelujah): Capturing a child's voice in Section A of an EHCP: https://starlightmckenzie.wordpress.com/2017/12/18/so-how-should-we-collect-a-childsauthentic-voice-ehcp-part-a/amp/?__twitter_impression=true Why I am silent: an autistic perspective http://the-art-of-autism.com/why-i-am-silent-an-autistic-perspective/ Harry Redknapp: football should be open to everyone https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/894244/harry-redknapp-football-austism-friendlyopen-to-everyone/amp?__twitter_impression=true Five things I've learned about epilepsy http://community.fireflyfriends.com/blog/article/five-things-ive-learned-about-epilepsy-sincemy-sonsdiagnosis?utm_content=buffer424c3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_c ampaign=buffer New Dept of Heath consultation on physical restraint https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/dementia-and-disabilities/reducing-the-need-for-restraint/

Pushy SEND Parents – Hallelujah Another blog from Starlight – the wonder of when Things Go Right and some good ideas to help make it so‌ đ&#x;˜Š “When your child is finally in a placement that is so good at understanding needs, so committed to working with parents, and so determined to give the children the skills they

need to not just cope with changes but enjoy them, well what an extraordinary effect that can have on a family.� https://starlightmckenzie.wordpress.com/2016/12/ As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and we'll always do our best to find an answer. With best wishes, Romany (for Richmond) and Caroline North (for Kingston) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org

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