Decision details

To agree the joint commissioning strategy for the Speech and Language Therapy service for children and young people in Surrey, which includes the Council becoming responsible for funding all provision for school aged children that require speech and language therapy to help them progress their learning

RESOLVED:

1.   That the Cabinet approves the draft commissioning strategy and the five joint commissioning principles within the strategy

2.   That the Cabinet agrees in principle to the realignment of commissioning responsibilities for the Council and Surrey Clinical Commissioning Groups.

3.   That the Cabinet agrees for work to continue in developing a detailed costing model for a new speech and language therapy service.  At this stage it is estimated to mean an increase of £377,000 in the Council’s budget, to be made available from the School’s High Need Block and will be subject to Schools Forum approval in June.

4.   That the Cabinet agrees that the new speech and language therapy service should be procured through devolving funding directly to special schools and specialist centres and bringing the mainstream service in-house to the Council.  This service will be fully in place from September 2016.

Reason for Recommendations:

Early identification, timely interventions and an integrated school offer will create a service that is built from trust and confidence in the system, where meeting the communication needs of a child or young person is seen as everybody’s responsibility.  

Implementing this joint commissioning strategy and resourcing and procuring the service differently will offer the following benefits :

·        Single speech and language therapy service across Surrey for children and young people aged 0-25 years which focuses on achieving good outcomes and is co-designed with families and schools

·        A service that achieves value for money by allowing schools to manage the therapy provision directly

·        Clear commissioning principles and arrangements in place between Education and Health, including funding responsibilities

·        Investment into early years which focuses on early identification of need and timely intervention (i.e. significantly reduced waiting times and therapy at a time when it is needed)

·        Speech and language therapy that forms part of an integrated school offer for children and young people in specialist SEND provision

·        The joint commissioning strategy was reviewed at the Children and Education Select Committee on 26 January 2015.  Recommendations including support for a hub and spoke structure for therapy provision and emphasis on post-16 provision are reflected in this paper.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Education and Skills Board]