Local democracy

Agenda item

SHORT BREAKS PROVISIONS IN BRADFORD

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “T”)that provides the Executive with a recommendation for the future provision for Short Breaks for children with disabilities in Bradford.

 

The report outlines the results of the benchmarking of peer authorities across England, to inform the basis of developing appropriate service provisions for short breaks for children with disabilities in Bradford.  

 

The report provides an overview for a proposed structure for a new Short Breaks Assessment Team, to help ensure that the Local Area has the correct resources to support the provision of Short Breaks in Bradford as part of the SEND Transformation Programme.

 

 

Recommended -

 

(1) That the Executive approve the use of departmental reserves in 21/22 to cover the partial year cost for both the Short Breaks Assessment Team and service commissions where they are commissioned in the 21/22 financial year.

 

(2)     That the Executive note that from 22/23, a formal request of £0.387m is requested to fund the Short Breaks Assessment Team as part of the Directorates budget setting process, which will be incorporated into the MTFS and 2022/23 budget considerations in the build up to budget approval at Full Council in February 2022.

 

(3)     That the Executive note that from 22/23, a formal request overall of £0.552m is requested which includes the short breaks assessment team, to fund additional services to provide short breaks for children and families in Bradford to a total value of £2.742m. This will be incorporated into MTFS and the 2022/23 budget considerations in the build up to budget approval at Full Council in February 2022.

 

(4)     That the Executive approve the development of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to understand the needs of children to inform commissioning intentions, to provide services for children with disabilities across the District.

 

(Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

 

(Stu Barratt - 01274 432111)

Minutes:

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “T”) provided the Executive with a recommendation for the future provision for Short Breaks for children with disabilities in Bradford.

 

The report outlined the results of the benchmarking of peer authorities across England, to inform the basis of developing appropriate service provisions for short breaks for children with disabilities in Bradford.  

 

The report provided an overview for a proposed structure for a new Short Breaks Assessment Team, to help ensure that the Local Area has the correct resources to support the provision of Short Breaks in Bradford as part of the SEND Transformation Programme.

 

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder noted that the district had a high proportion of children with special needs and disabilities; that the need to provide short breaks for parents, carers and children had been recognised and that further investment would be allocated for that provision.

 

A member of the opposition group asked to what extent the proposals reduced the Council’s vulnerability to legal challenge if it did not comply with the statutory duties relating to short breaks.  In response it was noted that there would be a SEND inspection and Ofsted would also look at the provision.  It was stressed that if a child with SEND needed the service then it would be appropriate to provide it.

 

The Leader referred to the diversity of the population of the District and asked for an assurance that all families would have equal access to provision.  In response it was noted that the authority was working with a wide range of stakeholders using the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) to ensure that there will be a breadth of service to meet their needs and improve outcomes as part of their Education health and Care Plan (EHCP).  Families would be targeted through the Parent Carers Association.

 

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder noted that there was a lot of flexibility of provision and that it was important to ensure that the provision was tailored to meet different needs.

 

Resolved -

 

(1)     That the use of departmental reserves in 21/22 to cover the partial year cost for both the Short Breaks Assessment Team and service commissions where they are commissioned in the 21/22 financial year be approved.

 

(2)     That it be noted that from 22/23, a formal request of £0.387m is requested to fund the Short Breaks Assessment Team as part of the Directorates budget setting process, which will be incorporated into the Medium Term financial Strategy (MTFS) and 2022/23 budget considerations in the build up to budget approval at Full Council in February 2022.

 

(3)     That it be noted that from 22/23, a formal request overall of £0.552m is requested which includes the short breaks assessment team, to fund additional services to provide short breaks for children and families in Bradford to a total value of £2.742m. This will be incorporated into MTFS and the 2022/23 budget considerations in the build up to budget approval at Full Council in February 2022.

 

(4)     That the development of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to understand the needs of children to inform commissioning intentions, to provide services for children with disabilities across the District be approved.

 

Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee

ACTION: Strategic Director of Children’s Services

Supporting documents: