Abstract
Why are we conducting a workshop? To address the pressing challenges in delivering integrated services for children with SEND, sharing Rochdale's successful model to inspire and guide others.
Who is it for? Stakeholders involved in SEND, including local authorities, care organizations, community sectors, academics, and anyone interested in improving outcomes for children and families.
What are we going to do? A 60-minute workshop featuring a 15-minute introduction including the context and challenge, 15 minutes presenting Rochdale's case study including exploring tools and methodologies 20 minutes of interactive group work, 10 minutes feedback, and a 5-minute closing.
Introduction (15 min) - In 2021, Rochdale created a shared vision for an Integrated SEND System. The aim being to work collaboratively to support population and service led approaches, reduce inequalities, and develop prevention and early intervention which would improve health and social care outcomes and wellbeing across the life course of children with SEND. This move was instigated as a catalyst to support better outcomes for local young people. This was important because Rochdale has some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK and is below the national average in outcomes for children and young people1. It is also known that there are significantly poorer health outcomes for people in the UK with on average men and women with learning disabilities dying 22 and 26 years younger than the general population2.
Exploring tools and methodologies(15mins) Here the tools, frameworks and methodologies will be introduced. Including the impact of partnering with the Council for Disabled Children (CDC), in the development of a child centred strategic approach and the redesign of governance. The development of a new SEND Alliance and SEND Mandate, which created joint ownership for identifying solutions. The utilising of an Outcomes Based Commissioning (OBA) approach, where collectively stakeholders and families agreed joint overarching goals and a common set of measurable objectives: The 7 SEND Outcomes. Leading to the commissioning of services that are needs led and outcomes focussed rather than output focussed.
Workshop activity - Interactive Case Study Analysis (small group activity)
There will be interactive discussions and activities to involve participants actively in understanding the challenges and solutions. Each group will be provided with a specific aspect of Rochdale's case study (e.g., strategic outcomes, SEND Alliance model). Each group will be asked to apply this aspect of the project to their own context. Exploring the strengths, development areas and contextual variances. Each group will feedback their insights. The second part of the activity will be in one group, participants will be encourage to share other tools, frameworks and they have used and these will be added.
The workshop will end with a summing up of the activities and plans for any actions to take away
Take-Home Messages:
•Clear understanding of Rochdale's journey and integration strategies.
•Practical tools and methodologies shared during and after the session.
•Insights on overcoming challenges and fostering collaboration.
•Empowering participants to initiate their integration journey for improved outcomes.