Issue - meetings

For the Scrutiny Panel to consider and approve the scope and terms of reference for the scrutiny review of Transition of Young People from Children’s Services to Adult Services in Haringey.

9.1       The Panel considered the scoping report and terms of reference for the review.  With regards to the scoping report, the panel’s attention was drawn to the Council’s local response to government’s initiatives “Valuing People” (2001) and “Valuing People Now” (2007) which required services to be planned to enable people with learning disabilities to lead full and purposeful lives.  Other initiatives include:

·        Local commitments to developing services which are geared towards maintaining People’s independence stemming from Our Health Our Care Our Say (2006);

·        Children and Young People’s Service Plan 2009-12 priories the need for an integrated approach to transition for vulnerable young people and those with learning difficulties and disabilities including mental health;

·        The Haringey Youth Strategy identifies the need to support young people with disabilities in transition;

·        National Transition Support Programme (2008) has been established by the Government to raise the standards of transition in all local areas; and

·        Aiming High: Better Support for Disabled Children and their Families (May 2007) is the Government’s transformation programme for disabled children services. Transition support is one of the identified work streams in the programme and emphasises the importance of joined up working and services centred on children and their families.

9.2       There were some overlap with similar objectives, however the quality of outcomes was the most significant issue, some services were provided through adult services and others through children services; it was important to ensure that vulnerable children did not fall through the gaps.

9.3       In response to a question regarding pooled budgets, it was noted that currently there were no joint arrangements for children with physical disabilities and mental health issues.  There was joint procurement for the Primary Care Trust and the Mental Health Trust.  Clients were identified at age 16 to ensure early identification of transition issues, consider options for meeting the needs of the client and also to ensure value for money in service provision.

9.4       It was noted that the Audit Commission viewed Haringey as a high spending borough on commissioning and in response to a question on the strategies taken by the Children & Young People Service (the Service) to address this, the panel learned that the Service used a method called the Funding Calculator tool and were considering a Pan-London approach as a further possible tool to assist in proactively managing the Learning Disabilities market. Haringey have also been successfully working with a company called OLM to help review some of its expensive Learning Disability placements and reduce costs.

9.5       It was agreed that this issue would be discussed in more detail at a future meeting of the panel when budgets and value for money issues would be discussed. Further details of the Funding Calculator can be found at: www.southeastiep.gov.uk/

9.6       Due to increasing demand and budget constraints there was a need to plan services effectively to ensure value for money.

9.7       Definition of transition

9,8       “The [1] [transition] process must be individual to the needs and aspirations of each young person. It is a fluid  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9