1. Louise de Menthon and Alison Sutherland
KIDS
Working with disabled children, young people and their families
Louise de Menthon and Alison Sutherland

2. Over 8,000 disabled children, young people and their families
About Kids…
Over 8,000 disabled children, young people and their families
140 services across England.
Our aim is to help families, children and young people…
Build confidence
Have a happy childhood
Develop skills
Challenge discrimination
Give parents a break
Access to fun activities
Support Siblings
Our vision is a world in which all disabled children and young people realise their aspirations and their right to an inclusive community which supports them and their families.
We care for over 8,000 disabled children, young people and their families every year by delivering around 140 services across England.
Our aim is to:
equip parents with extra skills and confidence to nurture and develop their disabled child
enable disabled children to have a happy childhood
support teenagers and young adults to develop practical, social and interpersonal skills, challenge discrimination and achieve their goals
provide parents with support and breaks from the pressures of caring for a disabled child
provide fun activities and support for siblings of disabled children and young carers
assist local authorities and other organisations in making their facilities accessible and welcoming to all disabled children and young people.
Our vision is a world in which all disabled children and young people realise their aspirations and their right to an inclusive community which supports them and their families.

3. The Education Health and Care Plan…
Why change the Statement to an EHCP?
Children, young people and parents at the centre of decision making
Supporting children, young people and parents to participate
A focus on achieving the best possible outcomes
Why change the Statement to an EHCP?
Shift in focus – relating to part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014: Section 19 Principles - Children, young people and parents at the centre of decision making, Supporting children, young people and parents to participate, A focus on achieving the best possible outcomes.

4. Key changes
Working across agencies and institutions: education services, health services and care services (joint commissioning work)
Plan focused on aspirations/goals and outcomes – rather than looking at just weakness’.
0-25 system

5. What does it mean to go through a ‘Conversion’ or ‘Transfer’?
What does it mean in Islington?
How does the conversion process work – what to expect?
Each conversion/transfer varies depending on the child's needs and the professionals working with that child – no conversion process is exactly the same. Sometimes there will be no difficulties, sometimes you will want to gather more up to date reports so it could take a bit longer…. The most important thing is your child/YP ends up with a great plan.
It simply means your child’s statement of SEN will cease to exist, and instead your child will be issued with an EHC plan.
VERY SIMPLY: Each local authority carries out the process slightly differently. In Islington – you will be contacted by someone at the LA 2 weeks in advance to tell you that the conversion process is beginning. The LA have ‘keyworkers’ who co-ordinate this whole process.
You will be asked to work with school or your IS to complete Section A of the EHCP. This is the profile for your child. There are a huge number of resources to help you do this. We are here to support you with this process, as is the SENCo at your childs school.
Invited to transfer review and sent Draft – working document –can be amended or completely changed but helpful to have at the meeting .
Transfer Review - This is essentially replacing the annual review. The meeting will usually be held at school, and you can invite all those who work closely with your child. The focus will be on going through the Special Educational Needs section – written by gathering all reports and advice from specialists and professionals. Then you will look at Section E and F – outcomes and provisions. There will be lots of discussion around these sections.
Following the meeting, you will receive the second (much more accurate) draft plan. At this point, we can work together, or you can work independelty to edit, amend the plan as you see necessary. You have 14 days to include all your thoughts and comments and send it back to the LA.
Depending on the changes you have made, the LA will either input these directly, or call you in for another (more informal meeting) to discuss the amendements suggested.
Once these have been agreed, the plan is finalised and you are happy, it can be signed off and used!

6. Common challenges Securing input from health and social care
Preparing young people to make their own decisions
Understanding the offer for young people aged – esp. in college
The 20 week timescale

7. Best possible educational and other outcomes
EHC plans must focus on education, health and care outcomes that will enable progress
Distinction between aspirations and outcomes
‘A benefit or difference made to an individual as a result of an intervention’
Personal and ‘not expressed from a service perspective’ and not a description of a service being provided
What needs to be achieved by end of a phase or stage

8. What is Independent Support and how does it fit into the assessment/conversion process for EHCP’s.

9. Independent supporters are trained to help families during an Education, Health and Care Plan assessment and throughout the process of developing the plan.
Our Role –
Helping you/yp to understand Islington’s referral process and the local offer
To act as a named contact person for you/yp throughout the assessment and planning process
Liaising across a range of local services with you/yp to help gather appropriate information and co-ordinate process
Provide information and resources on good quality section A, goals and outcomes

10. What type of advice/support can an Independent Supporter provide?
• Listen to you and your child/young person. • Meet with you to explain the new process. • Help to start thinking about your aspirations for your child and what’s important for the future. • Support during meetings. • Liaison with professionals. • Help to explain professional reports and recommendations. • Help with any paperwork, including the draft Education, Health and Care Plan. • Help with understanding personal budgets. • Support for young people with a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA).