Memorandum submitted by Judith Cameron, Principal Manager Integrated Services, Newham CYPS

In summary we would question the assumptions that assessment should be separated from provision. We would question what evidence there is to support this suggesting that the conflict relates more to provision accessed through finite resources, taking assessment away from la control would have no impact on this.

We have major concerns in regard to the quality of assessments, accountability and additional bureaucracy and expense if assessments were 'farmed out'.

We would suggest that the advent of the caf could resolve many of the perceived difficulties and that any move to separate assessment and provision would make a mockery of strategic planning and be counter to the caf and effective inclusive practice.

We also suggest that the sendt should be replaced by effective local independent moderation that would be for all children/young people with sen not just those with statements. This would support the move away from statementing to early intervention.

We do not address the fourth question.

This very short response has been put together by the Principal manager of integrated services within Newham, it reflects the views of other principal managers and staff across the children and young people's service.

1 Q1 - How might assessment of sen be undertaken other than by the relevant la without the establishment of a new separate agency for the purpose?

1.1 Fundamental assumption that taking assessment outside la control would be better, what is the evidence for this? Huge assumption to say there is conflict, assuming inhereent dishonesty from those carrying out assessments or agreeing on pr0vision at present.

1.2 The Common assessment framework [caf] is definitely a move in the right direction, it supports:

· Early intervention

· Holistic assessment

· Involvement of the parent/carer from the start - equal partner

· Provides for a lead professional - one point of contact

· Will reduce duplication, identify gaps

· Lead to agreed action plan and review

· It will bring together views based on through assessment in a way the statementing process doesn't though 'team around the child' meetings

1.3 Any move to separate la involvement will be contradictory to this major development.

1.4 Assessment needs to be carried out by those who are involved with the child/young person over a period of time in different contexts, and in contexts the child/young person feels safe/comfortable in.

1.5 The risks of taking out of la control are:

· Individual assessments by any other than la personnel/pct etc won't be accurate, based on ltd time, assessments that can be measured quickly, assessor could have their own agenda, financially motivated, subjective views re provision

· Make a mockery of la strategic planning

· Back to the purchaser/provider split which in our experience didn't work

· Presumably la would be employers - won't employ assessments from anyone who creates difficulties, therefore not going to be any more independent

· Where would these people come from, would need different assessors to cover whole range of inputs? Will be massively bureaucratic, organisational nightmare, costly, how would it be moderated - more expense!

· Who would carry out assessments in schools?

· Concerns about accountability and consistency

· Conflict with caf process as well as sa/sap

· how will the child/young person respond to being assessed by strangers?

 

1.6 There is very little disagreement in our experience from parents/carers as to what the assessments/ statement says - the conflict arises over provision and often provision outside the la control..

1.7 Focus needs to be on ensuring schools can meet need, better guidance and training around assessment. In regard to the former there are issues around initial teacher training, on going training, resources including those from health.

1.8 The caf will for the first time bring partners together, more chance through this process of lessening the conflict around assessment and provision than anything else. The caf should and could take the place of statutory assessment.

 

2 Q2 - How might local accountability for assessment be maintained if the la does not directly undertake the assessment?

2.1 With great difficulty, many of the points made in response to Q1 are relevant here as well. For the process to be fair there would need to be an expensive moderation process, there are issues around quality control that would need to be addressed as well as ensuring ecrbs are in place. There would need to be a common framework for assessment that each la will need to put in place. Assessors would need to be conversant with current education practice/ leglislation/ policy etc. this would need to be checked.

2.2 Would the la have right of appeal? Could lead to more conflict.

2.3 Use of parent partnerships and developing local appeal, mediation.

2.4 Greatest fear is that assessments won't be as thorough and will be based on quicker, less in depth assessments that aren't holistic and don't take into account wider issues that may be impacting on the child/young person.

2.5 Can't see any benefits, in assessment going outside la, local context is important.

 

3 Q3 - What other issues need to be addressed in order to make the separation of assessment and provision effective?

· Moderation - expensive

· Moderation from another la- would that work though as we all come from different base lines and have different context

· The fundamental question - what would be the benefits? Where is this practice successful?

· Assessments being conflicting

· The link between assessment and intervention - on going cycle

· Could lead to de-skilling of staff in schools etc.

· How would this be the answer to the 'post code lottery'?

· The assumption that la don't take any notice of assessments, i.e are service led. How would 'independent' assessments change that - there is a finite pot of money and therefore often a shortfall in parents expectations. If las/pcts/camhs had more resources, better school buildings etc there would perhaps be no conflict.

· sendt needs to change - should be more of a focus on local mediation and not just for statemented pupils, too litigious at present

· career routes for statutory case workers

4 Q4 - no response

 

June 2007