To review the impact of the proposed efficiencies including those proposed for short breaks.

The Chairman confirmed that one member of the public had registered to speak who raised the following points in summary:-

·           The concern of many parents carers, their families and voluntary organisations regards the impact of proposed changes to funding and levels of service provided.

·           That support was required for the development of services to ensure they met the differing needs of users.

·           That Members of the Committee ought to formally consider the parent carer survey results contained within the report.

In light of the points raised by the member of the public the Head of Service for Children with Disabilities outlined the four levels of change proposed within the report, the Council’s statutory duty to provide the service and the differing levels of need of service users.  The changes would enable a targeted use of the budget, meeting the efficiencies set out within the Mid Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and Members’ attention was drawn to Appendix C, which contained details of the legal implications of the proposed changes, with the need for Members to be cognisant of the subsequent impact on families.  Regular progress reports  would be  delivered to the Committee at every appropriate stage.

In light of the report Members discussed the following in summary:-

·           Concern that children not yet in the system were waiting too long for assessments, impacting the wider family, with parents often reticent about ‘labelling’ their children.

·           The importance of supporting those children who didn’t meet the current Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) threshold yet still required additional support.

·           That not enough financial detail had been provided within the report in order for Members to have made an informed decision regarding the impact of efficiency savings, with a need for a robust reviewing process to be put in place in order to regularly assess the impact of change.

·           That a reduction in funding did not necessarily equate to a reduction in service.  The proposals offered an opportunity for the Council to utilise best practice.

·           A need to educate children from an early age in order to dispel negative attitudes towards those with disabilities and the need to address the distances some families had to travel in order to access services.

·           Concerns that recent changes to benefits would be compounded by the proposed efficiency savings, having a detrimental impact on families.

·           That the proposed efficiencies could have similar benefits to those for adults within the social care system, allowing greater freedom to choose individually tailored services, with personal budgets managed by families rather than paid directly to organisations. 

·           Concerns around the length of time taken to assess a child’s needs, the category they were placed in and that safeguards were required in order to ensure the focus of proposed changes was not solely financially led.

In summary, whilst Members broadly supported the proposals they were uncomfortable with the untested efficiency savings highlighted within the report and the potential impact on the voluntary sector and families.

RECOMMENDED:-

1.         That the broad model of delivery be supported but the proposed efficiency savings be carefully considered by the Executive in order to mitigate the impact on families of children with disabilities.

2.         That the criteria categories as set out within the report be revisited to ensure they are appropriately applied.

3.         That clarity be provided in relation to who would be consulted on the proposals, how it might affect them and with a timeline for review at every appropriate stage.

4.         That the Executive consider a ring-fenced reserve whilst the proposals are implemented in order to provide financial safeguards to the service.

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