July 26, 2024
‘We are Wakefield’ partnership working gets top rating from Inspectors
- Independent inspectors give a top rating to Wakefield services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
- Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) praise partnership working
- Assessment recognises exceptional quality of services across health, education and social care
Wakefield services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have achieved the highest possible rating from independent inspectors. This official recognition highlights the exceptional quality and commitment of the services provided.
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) jointly assessed the district’s arrangements for education, health and social care services. Inspectors recognised that the partnership working ‘led to positive experiences and outcomes’, praising leaders for being ambitious for children and young people to achieve their potential. And found that children and young people in the district are typically achieving strong outcomes.
Cllr Margaret Isherwood, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Wakefield Council, said: “I am very pleased that the Inspectors have recognised how ambitious we are for our SEND children and young people. And that we are successfully helping them to thrive and achieve their goals, as they grow up.
“We put children and young people at the heart of decision-making. With our partners we work jointly to support families and deliver effective and high-quality services that make a positive impact.
“We are not complacent. We know that there are challenges, especially as we are seeing an unprecedented number of children and families with SEND who need our support. Our ethos is to continually make improvements, learn from feedback and give our young people the best opportunities to reach their potential.”
It was acknowledged that young people and families were actively listened to, the Parent Carer Forum members felt they were ‘equal partners’ involved in decision-making.
The strong partnership in the Wakefield district between health, education and social care was recognised. This ensures there is a child centred approach at the heart of everything. For example, specialist children’s homes are part-funded by health and Wakefield Council.
Vicky Schofield, Corporate Director for Children and Young People at Wakefield Council said: “Partnership working is the key to providing joined up services and support that makes a real difference. We work in ways that enable us to be innovative and we are always looking for new ways of working to improve our services.
“We are incredibly proud of the dedicated staff who work across education, health and social care, to provide an excellent overall service. It is testament to colleagues and partners that the Inspectors have highlighted that we meet the needs and aspirations of children and young people. And have created an environment in which the work we all do can flourish.
“This is a clear endorsement that Wakefield is a great place to work for anyone wanting to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people.”
Jo Webster, Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership Accountable Officer, said: “This rating is a reflection on the hard work and dedication of colleagues working across Wakefield District to make sure that children and young people are able to access services that are tailored to their personal needs and have been involved in the development of their individual plans. This is an example of the benefits of organisations working together closely across Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership”.
Highlights from the Inspectors’ report included:
- Children and young people with SEND are at the heart of decision-making about their individual plans and support across education, health and social care
- Children and young people and their families take part in decision-making about their individual plans and support, they are valued, visible and included in their communities
- Voluntary sector organisations, such as the Parent Carer Forum (PCF) and Wakefield early support, advice, information and liaison service, support and advise parents and carers to obtain the correct identification of needs
- Leaders are ambitious for children and young people with SEND and actively engage and work with children, young people and families
- The local area partnership commission services and provision to meet the needs and aspirations of children and young people, including alternative provision, they create an environment in which effective practice and multi-agency work can flourish
- Effective partnership working ensures that children and young people in Wakefield benefit from a range of services to support their needs
- Leaders have an accurate, shared understanding of the needs of children and young people in their local area and evaluate services and make improvements
- Leaders across the partnership are ambitious and innovative. They constantly look for new ways of working to improve their services
- Children and young people in the district are typically achieving strong outcomes
- Children and young people’s experiences of their education, health and care are typically positive
- Children and young people’s needs are identified accurately and assessed in a timely and effective way
- Children and young people are well prepared for their next steps and achieve strong outcomes
The report has also highlighted aspects of services for improvement for the local area partnership, with plans being put in place.
This included:
- Some families do not access the information provided through websites and parent coffee mornings about community activities for children and young people
- The local area has identified a gap in provision to meet the increasing demand for respite care and is proactively expanding resources within existing provision to meet this need
- Procedures for transition to adulthood in some health services and for those children and young people known to social care are underdeveloped. Leaders have introduced pilot initiatives to identify a solution to this problem. It is too early to see the benefits of this development
