Home / HPCI Member update 16 February 2024
Welcome to our latest newsletter for families of children and young people with SEND in Hertfordshire.
Since our last update, we continue to be really busy, with lots of meetings taking place each week where we represent the views of families. In the last few weeks, we have met with local partners from the voluntary sector and then shared their concerns at a meeting with the Director for Children’s Services. We have also had meetings about Early Years, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, the sensory offer for neurodivergent children, Down syndrome, Therapies, and more.
Along with a busy period, we also have a very busy newsletter for you. This update covers:
Event: Autism in Schools parent carer webinar – 13 March 2024 (10:00 – 12:30)
HPCI is hosting an online webinar especially for parents and carers to hear all about the Autism in Schools pilot project, which has been running in Hertfordshire for the last three years. It is an opportunity to hear from a wide range of speakers about their experience of the project and how their organisations work to support autistic children and young people and their families. You can find out more about who is speaking and book your free place here.
Update: Improving the quality of Education, Health and Care Plans in Hertfordshire
The quality of EHCPs is something that HPCI has been raising with HCC for a long time and the Ofsted / CQC inspection also highlighted this as a concern.
As part of their improvement work, the local authority has asked us to let you know that they will be undertaking regular multi-agency audits of EHCPs. These multi-agency audits involve professionals from education (school representatives, specialist advisory teachers, educational psychologists, and members of the statutory SEND service), health, social care, SENDIASS and HPCI reps coming together to audit the quality of a random selection of EHCPs. The group will then work together to identify areas of good practice and areas where learning and improvement is required.
HCC have asked us to let parent carers know that this may therefore mean that, if your child has a plan, this could be selected for audit and shared with the above group for auditing purposes.
All those involved in multi-agency audits of EHCPs are required to comply with Data Protection legislation and confidentiality duties, which restrict the sharing of information relating to your child’s EHCP outside of the auditing activity. Those plans being audited will only be available to the group on paper during the auditing meeting, and copies will be destroyed at the end of each session. Attendees will not receive electronic copies.
If you want to opt out and do not wish for your child’s EHCP to be included in the quality assurance audits, please email the Quality Assurance Service at: policyandpractice@hertfordshire.gov.uk
HPCI has raised concerns with the local authority about how this information is being sent out to families, so that parent carers are aware and can opt out if they want to. We have asked if this information can be emailed directly to all families with an EHCP, and we will be raising this in the communication workstream discussions. We have also passed on the many comments that were made by families when we posted about this on Facebook. We have asked if a Frequently Asked Questions document might be made available to answer these queries and concerns. We will let members know if there is any development on this.
Update: ongoing issues with the availability of ADHD medication
There have been lots of reports in the press about the ongoing shortage of ADHD medication across the country. While it was originally hoped this would be resolved by Christmas, it is now looking likely that it won’t be until April at the earliest that things will start getting better. We have asked HCC to write out to schools again to remind them about the potential impact on behaviour / ability to pay attention etc., and schools’ duties to make reasonable adjustments, and to take into account the medication issue when considering sanctions.
Update on the delay to issue Purple Folders
A Purple Folder is a health record for adults with a learning disability in Hertfordshire. There is further information here about what they are and how to apply for one, including specific guidance for families and carers. HPCI is aware that there has recently been a delay in issuing new Purple Folders. We have been asking for an update on when this will be resolved and the service has told us that:
“We had a backlog of requests to send out approx. 100. They will go out this week. If anyone has not received theirs by early next week, please tell them to let us know.”
If you need to make another request, their contact details are: PurpleFolder@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Message: from Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust about audiology appointments
We have been asked to pass on the message below about audiology appointments:
“Many families are aware that there are currently very long waiting times for children to have an audiology (hearing) assessment in Hertfordshire and nationally.
Unfortunately, we are finding that when an appointment has been made many children are missing these appointments. Despite the long waiting times the service is not being told when a child is unable to attend. This means we cannot offer the appointment to another child on the waiting list.
So, we are asking parents/carers/guardians to please let us know if your child cannot attend their appointment, even if you need to cancel on the day. This means the service can offer the appointment to another child on the waiting list and your appointment will be re-arranged. You can find the service’s contact details on the letter sent to you, with your initial appointment date and in the reminder text message you will receive a few days before your appointment.”
After sharing this message on social media, we also received some helpful further suggestions about how the service could make it easier for families to let them know when they are not able to attend, and these have been passed on.
Survey: Public Health Nurse service user feedback survey (SEND)
The Public Health Nurse service (0-5 years) in Hertfordshire is reviewing when and how they have contact with families with children who have an additional or emerging need. They would appreciate your time to complete this short survey of 8 questions, please complete separately for each child under the age of 6 years with an additional or emerging need. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MZKZKQ8
Update: Hertfordshire County Council 2024/2025 budget allocates an extra £2m to SEND
During a meeting of the full Council on Tuesday 13th February, the budget for 2024/25 was approved. This includes an extra £2 million for the Making Send Everyone’s Business programme. You can read more details on the HCC website.
Event: Carers in Herts event for parent carers – 11 March (10:00 – 14:30 in Hatfield)
Carers in Herts are running an information event for parents and carers of children aged 5 to 18 years. A variety of organisations will be attending, including HPCI plus representatives from Hertfordshire County Council, the NHS, local charities, and support groups. You will have the opportunity to talk to the organisations about their services and have one to one chats. For full details about those attending and how to book a place, please click here.
Focus group request: families with experience of moving from a children and young people’s mental health ward into adult services
Following a campaign by the charity Mind, the Health Services Safety Investigations Body is carrying out an investigation into the safety of care when people move from children and young people’s inpatient mental health services to other mental health services. They are looking for families with experience of this to be part of a focus group. If you would like to take part, you can find out more here: Focus group registration form
Update: Scheme from Herts police to help people who might have communication difficulties
Hertfordshire police have introduced a new scheme to help people with communication difficulties via their Pegasus card scheme. Further details are in the link if you or your young person would like to find out more.
Thanks very much for reading – apologies for the very long newsletter this time! As ever, if you have any feedback about anything in this update, the work of HPCI, or issues you would like to make us aware of, you can always email us at contact@hertsparentcarers.org.uk