1. Every Deaf Child Matters
All change in health services for Deaf Children
Ann James
Chief executive for the cluster of
NHS Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
26 June 2012
Respect, Quality, Effectiveness, Openness, Improvement

2. All change in health services for Deaf Children?
The Health and Social Care Act – new roles and responsibilities
New Roles and Responsibilities for children and young people
Meeting the needs of deaf children and young people
What should services be offering now
How can integrated commissioning be taken forward – a local example

3. 152 PCT’s (50 clustered PCT’s)
NHS Pre-2013
Department of Health
10 SHA’s (4 SHA)
152 PCT’s (50 clustered PCT’s)
NHS Providers
Non NHS Providers
Voluntary Sector
Local Authorities

4. The Health and Social Care Act New roles and responsibilities
NHS Commissioning Board
Clinical Commissioning Groups
4 regions
Local Authorities
Commissioning Support Units
27 Local Area Teams
Health and Wellbeing Board

6. New roles and responsibilities for children and young people
NHS Commissioning Board
New Organisation
Responsibilities for Commissioning Services for deaf children and young people
NHS Commissioning Board
NHS set in national direction and outcomes
NHS Commissioning Board Local Area Teams
Health Visitors 2015
Clinical Commissioning Groups
Audiology Services , Community Therapy Staff e.g. speech and language, Acute Hospital Services e.g. paediatric out patients
Local Authorities
School nurses. From 2015 health visitors, and social workers supporting children with additional needs
Health and Wellbeing Boards
Setting strategic outcome reviewing local needs and setting local outcomes

7. Meeting the needs of Deaf Children and Young People
Health
Early detection
General Childrens Services
Rehabilitation
Family
Impact
90% born to hearing parents
4 babies born every day
Social
Higher rates of abuse
40% mental health challenges
Additional needs
Education
43% less likely to gain A* and C GCSE’s

8. What should Services be offering now?
“The social care needs of all families with a deaf child should be reviewed as part of an initial assessment by the lead professional. In all areas there should be available a member of social care staff with appropriate expertise in working with deaf children and their families to respond to the identified needs”.
Services for deaf children should be clearly advertised and easy for families to make initial contact with professionals.
Information for families on assessment processes and support should be available in appropriate formats and languages.
Comprehensive, unbiased and clear information on childhood deafness, its implications and communication options should be provided to the families at the time of diagnosis.
Information on the services available to deaf children and young people and their families and greater understanding of the needs of deaf children and young people

9. How can integrated commissioning be taken forward
Put the needs of the individual and families first – get them involved
Single assessment process – health, social care, education and the use of personal budgets
Integrated pathway to meet their needs – all of their needs, not ours
Early diagnosis, support and collaboration
Support for children in care
Support during transition – childhood–adulthood

10. How can integrated commissioning be taken forward - a local example
How we are doing this in Devon
SEND pathfinder – single assessment and plan, personalisation, transition, support to parents/families and C&YP to find their way around the system
Joint DCC and NHS Devon procurement to find a Single Accountable Provider for the Integrated Children’s Services - underpinning principles as follows:
Strengthen integration of health, social care and education in the planning and delivery of services
Support delivery of partnership working including across statutory and voluntary sector
Proactive engagement & communication with families, children and young people, staff, and other stakeholders (clarity, openness, transparency)
Ensure that needs assessment and evidence based service delivery informs future arrangements
Ensure flexibility through adaptive and responsive solutions that are fit for the future
Ensure solutions that achieve consistency of approach but enable locally responsive services to be delivered

11. Respect, Quality, Effectiveness, Openness, Improvement
In-conclusion...
NHS is under-going major structural change
The needs of deaf children and young people are well understood, researched consistent.
New opportunities in commissioning need to focus on the needs of individuals and families.
Greater awareness and rehearsing how new structures and services will work
Respect, Quality, Effectiveness, Openness, Improvement