SEND National Crisis Worcestershire pen letter demanding action

SEND (special educational needs and disability) National Crisis Worcestershire has penned a letter to MPs, Ofsted, and the CQC voicing their lack of faith in Worcestershire Children First to implement the changes needed to offer an adequate service.

Co-Ordinator of the group Tracy Winchester has two children with special needs and runs a support group to help parents in similar positions.

She says she has personally spent around £25,000 “fighting the system” but now, enough is enough.

“We have been experiencing unlawful practice for years and it is only going to get worse before it gets better,” she said.

“There are lots of children not getting what they need and many not even in education.

“The concern is that even if they (WCF) were given a ton of money, I am not convinced we would see them implement the changes required.”

A report from Ofsted and the CQC in 2018 revealed significant weaknesses across 12 areas of service delivery.

Returning in November 2021, with the report released in January, they have found that progress had not been made in four areas, all of which relate to the delivery of SEND services.

Ms Winchester wants direct involvement from those the letter is addressed to and called for an independent investigation into the service.

“People need to know what is going on under their noses,” she added.

The letter lists 13 “unlawful and inappropriate” practices experienced by SEND members.

Failure to secure school placements, poor communication, and extended timescales for an Education, Health and Care Plan, are just some of the concerns listed.

Numerous councillors, solicitors and health professionals have also signed the letter.

It closes with: “There is a widespread culture at WCF of delaying tactics, unlawful practices and treating parents and carers as adversaries.

“We cannot wait for change any longer.

“We have no faith in WCF to deliver what is needed and we require your intervention and detailed oversight as a matter of urgency.

“Our children, young people and families deserve and are entitled, by law, to better. Please make it happen.”

Worcestershire County Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for education, has apologised for the failure of the service on behalf of the council and WCF.

He said: “On behalf of Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Children First I would like to apologise to our parents, carers and their children and young people. We acknowledge that our SEND services have been of insufficient quality and we understand the negative impact that this has had on a number of families.

"Following the recent re-inspection by Ofsted and Care Quality Commission, we have produced an accelerated progress plan to address the four specific areas of weakness where we have not made significant progress. We now need to work together collaboratively and effectively with our partners and parents to ensure plans are of a high quality, lawful and in place within the statutory timelines.

"We will put the young person and their parent carer at the heart of the decision-making process so that we have co-production, ensuring they are involved right from the start and kept informed about the assessment and planning for their young person.”

Tina Russell, Director of Children Services and CEO of Worcestershire Children First added: "I am committed to making the progress needed and at pace in our SEND services. We have been clear to ensure our Accelerated Plan refocuses us in the way we are approaching working with parents and carers. We are implementing our Quality Assurance framework in SEND and this will enable me and the multi-agency representatives of our SEND partnership board to have a regular overview not only of key performance indicators but also the experiences of parents and carers and the quality of the assessments and plans being created.

"It is important to clarify recent reports on staffing changes and confirm that in SEND services we have 87% permanent staff, 7 %  vacancies and we also have some additional agency staff at this time helping us address a backlog of work. We have a team of competent Team Managers and front line case work staff who need senior managers to provide the tools, capacity and an appropriate level of support and challenge to “enable” them to provide the timely and high quality services they want to. I am grateful to those staff for their continued hard work as we work through this time of change.

"So whilst we have some middle management changes, that we understand can create anxiety, I am confident that our interim and longer term staffing plans will give us the right people with the right skills, knowledge and experiences to improve our services to children and young people in receipt of SEND services but to also to all children with disabilities and additional needs. In March 22 we will be setting out our WCF business plan for 22/23 where SEND and Services to children with a disability is a priority.”