No apology for SEND failings in Gloucestershire
Shire Hall bosses say it 'wouldn't change anything' despite a highly critical report
Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities who have been failed in Gloucestershire will not get an apology as Shire Hall bosses say “it wouldn’t change anything”.
Ofsted and Care Quality Commission Inspectors recognise in a new report that services to support children in Gloucestershire with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families are heading in the right direction.
But concerns have been raised that the local area partnership needs to do more to make sure experiences and outcomes are more consistent for all children and young people with SEND.
The partnership, which is a joint responsibility of Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, was inspected by Ofsted and the CQC last December.
Parents and school leaders rightly describe a system that is “not working well” for children and young people with SEND and their families, the Ofsted report reads.
The report also says too many children and young people with SEND do not have a school or college place.
And a significant number of parents describe feeling desperate, and many practitioners say they are battling to be heard by local area leaders.
Inspectors found systems that are too reactive, and, in some cases, this results in children, young people and families reaching crisis point before their needs are met.
“We heard young people waiting too long for mental health assessments or not meeting the criteria for an assessment, even where health practitioners have supported their application.
“For some, hospital admission was the trigger for support. Leaders’ strategies and plans are starting to impact positively on children and young people who are new to the system, but leaders recognise there is much work to do to improve the experience of children, young people and families who have had, or continue to have, poor experiences.”
Surveys show more than two thirds of children and young people state explicitly that they do not get the help they need and that their needs are not understood.
Parents praise some aspects of health support, such as speech and language and dynamic key workers, but too many say they are battling a system where they are made to feel that they are the problem, the report also says.
County Councillor Ben Evans (LD, Churchdown) raised concerns at the children and families overview and scrutiny committee on March 9th.
He said the most vulnerable people in society have been desperately let down over a prolonged period.
He called on council leaders to show that they own the problem by apologising to those they have let down.
“I’m a bit concerned whether the corporate speak that I’m hearing isn’t reflecting that,” he said.
“The obvious thing the council needs to do is apologise and say sorry because there are children and families.”
He said a mother approached him about her child who should be in reception who doesn’t go to school.
“That’s the reality of it. The pressure that puts on the parent, the lack of education for the child, that’s the reality of the situation we are in.
Education, skills and bus transport cabinet member Philip Robinson (C, Mitcheldean) said apologising wouldn’t change anything.
He said the council is focussed on making sure they resolve the problem.
“I do take your point Ben, but actually the way we best serve our children that have been let down, and some still are, it’s by not letting them down in future.
“Apologies wouldn’t change anything in terms of the service we need to make sure we resolve the problem.
“That’s what this is about and that’s why the emphasis is the way it is. I’m not being dismissive of it but I want a solution and not an emotional response to it.”
He stressed the council is on the right track. And children’s safeguarding and care director Ann James said the council’s tone is not triumphal about the report.
“We really recognise the place that Gloucestershire has been in and the work that we’ve done and the distance we have to travel.” She said the council does apologise to parents when things go wrong on an individual basis.
Ms James said the council’s commitment is to improve for all children.
Cllr Evans said it was about the sentiment.
“Owning this and saying we are sorry, I think that would be a really strong first step, as it is in many relationships.”