Services that support Send children told to improve

A service supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) has been told to make improvements.

Regulators Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) raised concerns about Send provision for children and young people in Cambridgeshire.

Inspectors visited the area in January and said improvements were needed in areas such as mental health support and education, health and care plans (EHCP).

However, their report acknowledged "early signs of the positive impact" of a new Send strategy introduced in Cambridgeshire last year.

Send services in the county are planned and commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council and the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board.

Inspectors said current arrangements led to "inconsistent experiences and outcomes" for children and young people, and urged the two organisations to "work jointly to make improvements".

The report said the timeliness and quality of EHCPs was "poor for many children and young people" and "too often" did not reflect an individual's needs.

Some families and professionals told inspectors they found referrals for, and accessing, mental health support was "confusing and difficult to navigate".

In November, the county council brought in a new strategy of "inclusion for all" focused on identifying children and young people's needs.

The report said leaders had put in place a "clear and coherent strategy", adding that oversight of children and young people's health and social care arrangements was "usually robust".

Inspectors requested an update and strategic plan based on its recommendations.

Martin Purbrick, the council's executive director for children, education and families, said it was a "top priority" to give Send children the best possible support.

"We are taking positive steps to improve the timeliness and quality of our EHCP provision," he said.

Carol Anderson, the chief nurse at NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: "We are moving towards a truly needs-led model, shaped by the experiences and voices of families, where children and young people receive the right support at the right time."

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