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Health and Social Care

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Health and Social Care

 

Many children and young people with special educational needs (“SEN”) and disabilities will also require support from the health service and social care. If the child or young person has an education, health and care (“EHC”) plan, this may cover their health needs relating to their SEN and social care needs relating to their SEN or to a disability.

The SEND Code of Practice 2015 says:

Local authorities and health bodies must have arrangements in place to plan and commission education, health and social care services jointly for children and young people with SEN or disabilities. (1.23)

 

Section 25 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to integrate education, health and social care provision where this would promote wellbeing and improve the quality of provision for disabled young people and those with SEN.

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to work across children's and adult's services so that young adults are not left without care and support as they move into adulthood. 

Health Care

This section provides useful information if you have concerns about your child’s or young person’s health, wellbeing and development, such as what services and therapies you can access through the NHS and other specialist services.

The SEND Code of Practice 2015 says:

Local authorities, CCGs and other partners must work together in local Health and Wellbeing Boards to assess the health needs of local people, including those with SEN or who are disabled. (1.19)
CCGs, NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts must inform the appropriate local authority if they identify a child under compulsory school age as having, or probably having, SEN or a disability (Section 23 of the Children and Families Act 2014). (1.16)

 

Key Definitions:

 

NHS Continuing Healthcare

Some people with long-term complex health needs qualify for free health and social care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. This is known as NHS continuing healthcare.

NHS continuing healthcare is for adults. Children and young people may receive a "continuing care package" if they have needs arising from disability, accident or illness that cannot be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

More information can be found here

and through the Local Offer here
 


NHS-funded Nursing Care


This is the funding provided by the NHS to care homes with nursing to support the provision of nursing care by a registered nurse. Since 2007 NHS-funded Nursing Care has been based on a single band rate. In all cases individuals should be considered for eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare before a decision is reached about the need for NHS-funded Nursing Care.


Primary Health Need


This concept was developed by the Secretary of State for Health to assist in deciding when an individual’s primary need is for healthcare (which it is appropriate for the NHS to provide under the 2006 Act) rather than social care (which the local authority may provide under the Care Act 2014).  To determine whether an individual has a primary health need, there is an assessment process, which is detailed in this National Framework. Where an individual has a primary health need and is therefore eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, the NHS is responsible for providing for all of that individual’s assessed health and associated social care needs, including accommodation, if that is part of the overall need.  


Integrated Care Board (ICB)

North East London Health & Care Partnership is responsible for planning and buying health services. 

Its priorities are:

  • Home first – ensuring timely, safe hospital discharges.
  • Care closer to home – ensuring care is planned and hospital admission is avoided.
  • Promoting wellbeing – reducing inequality, preventing illness and promoting self-care.
  • Children and young people – develop and improve children’s services to ensure children and young people have the best start in life
  • Mental health – to improve mental well-being of residents to ensure people have access to mental health support when and how they need it.
  • Learning disabilities and/or autism – to improve the health and wellbeing of people with learning disability and/ or autism, reducing inequalities and ensuring people have equity of access to services and specialist support where required.

 

The Waltham Forest Local Offer is where to go for information about health services and provision for children and young people with SEN or disabilities including:
 

  • Services to support children and young people with medical conditions in education
  • Speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and services relating to mental health 
  • Wheelchair services and community equipment, children’s community nursing, continence services
  • Palliative, respite and continuing care for children with complex health needs
  • Support for young people when moving between children to adult healthcare services

Social Care

This section is about children and adult services available to support you. Children services and Adult Social Care services has a duty to assess and provide support to those in ‘need’. The support is for children, adults and families. They work in partnership with a range of services including health; education; housing; voluntary and independent organisations.

 

The SEND Code of Practice 2015 says:

If children and young people with SEN or disabilities are to achieve their ambitions and the best possible educational and other outcomes, including getting a job and living as independently as possible, local education, health and social care services should work together to ensure they get the right support. (1.22)

 

The Waltham Forest Local Offer is the place to find information about Social Care Services and provision for children and young people with SEN or disabilities, including:

  • Childcare
  • Leisure activities & short breaks
  • Moving from child to adult services
  • Living independently, and finding accommodation
  • Help finding work

 

Personal Budgets

Finding help when you or your child has SEN (Special Educational Needs) can be challenging. Having a personal budget can give you the support you need to receive the care you deserve.

A Personal Budget for SEN is money identified to pay for support specified in an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) for a child or young person with special educational needs. It can include funds from the local authority for education and social care and from Health.  

 

Types of Personal Budgets

1. An EHC Personal Budget

An EHC personal budget is an amount of money that is allocated to your family from the local authority to cover the cost of making a special educational provision specified in the EHC plan (Education Health and Care Plan).

Kids provide a useful booklet on direct payments and personal budgets that can be found here

 

2. Social Care Personal Budget

A social care personal budget allows you to receive any social care and support you may need. Your local authority decides if you are eligible for a social care personal budget to help with any social care and support you may need. This is determined through a needs assessment.

More information can be found here

 

3. Personal Health Budget

A personal health budget is an amount of money given to you to support your health needs, which is planned and agreed between the recipient or their representative and the local ICB (Integrated Care Board). The personal health budget is not new money, but it may mean spending money differently so that you can get the care you need.

More information can be found here