Introduction
The SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25 years requires that local authorities publish comments about their Local Offer received from, or on behalf of children, parents and young people. Comments must be published if they relate to:
- The content of the Local Offer, which includes the quality of existing provision and any gaps in the provision
- The accessibility of information in the Local Offer
- How the Local Offer has been developed or reviewed
Brent’s Local Offer has been developed in partnership with parents and carers. A Local Offer working group was set up and workshops and consultation were held with parents, members of parent/carer forums, pupils and special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs). The site is overseen by the Service Manager for SEND Specialist Services, who reports back to the Inclusion Strategic Board.
Over 135 services have been added to the Local Offer since it was launched, including council, health, independent and voluntary sector provision. Content is continually reviewed and updated across all category areas to reflect new services and changes in providers’ offers.
New and updated provision
The Local Offer’s dedicated Covid-19 portal has continued to provide families with SEND-related support, information and advice during the current pandemic. It is regularly updated to reflect the changing local and national picture. Parents/carers can access a range of information:
- Covid-19 service updates from SEND outreach services (BOAT, EYIST, SAT, Brent Sensory Support Service)
- Back to school information for settings
- How to access local emergency services
- Updated online learning resources
- The latest government guidance
- Covid-19 health advice for SEND (e.g. Updated tracheostomy guidance
- Information about Covid-19 charitable grants
Signposting, referral information and content has been updated for a range of services.
Health
- Speech and language therapy - information about how to access the service during Covid-19
- Physiotherapy - information about how to access the service during Covid-19
- Occupational therapy - information about how to access the service during Covid-19
- Community and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - updated service information
- Specialist Community Nursing Service - updated service information
- Specialist Community Paediatrics Service - updated service information
- Community Eating Disorder Service - updated service information
- Continuing Care Service - updated service information
- Health passports for children and young people - programme information
- Talking Therapies Service - updated referral information
Council
- Launch of Family Wellbeing Centres
- Brent Health Team for Looked After Children - updated service information
- Wellbeing and Emotional Support Team (WEST) - updated service information
- Roundwood Youth Centre - updated offering
Other
- Summer holiday activities for SEND
- Disability Access Funding
- Personal Independence Payments
- Benefits post-16
- Accessible travel options
- Brent Transport Policy – updated policy
- Brent transport policy statement for 16-to-19-year olds - updated statement
- First Tier SEND Tribunal - updated briefing note
Developments and feedback
Parents said they would like more information about the following areas, all of which have been added to the site:
- Pathways for accessing speech and language therapy
- Covid-19 support offered by local voluntary groups and organisations
- How to access paediatric services during the pandemic
- How to give feedback on the EHC assessment process
Parents have also been able to access additional information and support thanks to a series of online workshops hosted by Brent Parent Carer Forum. Organised in partnership with the charity Contact and involving professionals from education, health and social care, parents were able to book these workshops via the Local Offer. They included:
- Understanding SEND services in early years and beyond
- Legal changes involving capacity and consent within health and social care
- Better sleep
- Managing your mental health
Local Offer usage
| Local Offer usage July to December 2020 |
|---|
| Total number of page views (users) 43,756 |
| Average number of uses per month 5,376 |
| Average number of page views per month 7,292 |
| Most looked at areas - health visiting service, volunteering, blue badge parking, children’s centres, Early Years Inclusion Support Team, EHC plans |
| Local Offer usage January to June 2020 |
|---|
| Total number of page views (users) 33,782 |
| Average number of users per month 4,463 |
| Average number of page views per month 5,630 |
| Most looked at areas – health visiting service, volunteering, blue badge parking, EHC planning and assessment, education, social care |
Future work
The Children and Family Support area of Brent Council’s website, which includes the Local Offer, is being relaunched to improve the user journey and experience. Based on consultation with user groups, the following recommendations are being used as a basis for the new-look site, which is being launched in late summer/autumn 2021.
- Making the Children and Families area more prominent and easier to find
- Adding icons
- Improved internal search functionality – a responsive search function (as the user types, a list of suggested pages/terms should appear in a drop-down)
- Adding key information as a requirement to build consistency (e.g. ‘can I book in advance?’, content of sessions)
- Option to click on a map to see services/activities/centres near you
- Simplifying and standardisation of language across the area
- Synergy across areas e.g. information always in right-hand navigation
- More interactivity across pages
- Mobile optimisation where important links and buttons are at the top of the pages
- The EHC needs assessment and annual review process is being reviewed. Changes are due to come in to affect from 1 March 2021.
- A new e-Portal for professionals to submit an early help assessment (EHA) is due to go live on 1 January 2021
Get in touch
If you would like to offer feedback about our Local Offer, please complete our evaluation form. If you’re a service provider and would like to be included on the site, please complete our joining form