Decision details

RESOLVED:

1.           Surrey County Council contracts with Surrey and Borders Partnership (SABP) for overnight short breaks at Beeches for up to 12 months commencing on 1 December 2015 as an interim arrangement.

2.           The interim arrangement is reviewed by Cabinet as part of a revised special educational needs and disability (SEND) strategy be brought back to Cabinet that includes recommendations from the SEND Governance Board regarding future provision for short breaks.

3.           A report is presented to Cabinet within the 12 month interim period based on an assessment of the needs for children with disabilities in the east of the county, and an assessment of capacity available in order to meet demand, in relation to short break provision.

Reasons for Decisions:

Surrey County Council would benefit from a more comprehensive assessment of future demand to determine whether or not additional short breaks provision for children is required. Any recommendations in relation to short breaks provision should be considered in the round, alongside all arrangements for disabled children. This approach will enable Surrey County Council to be confident in its commissioning decision. In order to allow time for this review it is recommended that a block contract is agreed with SABP for overnight short breaks at Beeches for up to 12 months.

The SEND Governance Board have developed a programme of work to review the provision of all SEND services for children and young people that supports Surrey County Council’s emerging SEND strategy.

[The decision on this item may be called in by the Social Care Services Board]