Inspectors find weaknesses in SEND provision at 'inadequate' council

Ofsted and health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found "significant weaknesses" across support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Sandwell, where children's services are set to be transferred to an independent trust amid concerns about standards.

Inspectors found that the area's child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) is failing to effectively link up with Sandwell Council's social workers to integrate support, including the drafting of education, health and care plans (EHC) for young people.

As a result, EHC plans "vary in quality and often do not contain relevant information about health or care", a letter to the council's children's services and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) following the inspection in January states.

Both organisations have been told the weaknesses are so severe they are now required to deliver a written statement of action on how they intend to improve. Other problems identified included staff and senior management not being held to account for the poor provision of support.

"There is no clear overarching accountability structure to ensure that provision is co-ordinated and effective action takes place in a timely manner," the letter states.

"Systems and structures that help key leaders to challenge the underperformance of individuals or teams are not good enough."

In addition, inspectors found that SEND children "make slower academic progress", they are more likely to be absent and excluded from school and struggle to find work when they leave education. 

"There is a legacy of poor practice in the local area, particularly in children's social care, and improvements are not being made quickly enough," the inspectors' letter states.

Despite the concerns the inspectorate did find some areas of good practice, noting that all the area's special schools are rated as either "good" or "outstanding".

Sandwell Council's inclusion service was also found to provide effective support within schools. Young people and their parents also felt listened to and there was evidence that feedback from families was already "having a positive influence on some of the services".

Sandwell council's children's services has been subject to three "inadequate" judgments from Ofsted between 2013 and 2015. Last October children's minister Edward Timpson ordered an independent trust be set up to run the department. 

Chris Ward, director of education, skills and employment at Sandwell Council, said: "This review has been very helpful and will assist all of the organisations concerned to identify where we all need to improve. We took immediate steps, even before the review is finalised, to address these issues.