Evaluation of the SEND Pathfinder Programme: Early Findings

1. Evaluation of the SEND Pathfinder Programme: Early Findings June 2012

2. Outline • The findings reported • Are based on the first monitoring returns provided by all Pathfinder sites • Are sites own perceptions of progress • Cover the period to the end of March 2012 • Are based around the Common Delivery Framework (CDF), which sets out a series of themes and elements which it was anticipated each Pathfinder would need to address • Will be updated quarterly based on future monitoring submissions

3. Pathfinder progress setting up governance structures by end of March 2012 • Substantial progress setting up governance structures • Three quarters of areas (22) had their board or governance structure fully in place • Two thirds (19) had agreed a clear set of Pathfinder objectives

4. Stakeholder engagement There is a group of stakeholders that are common to almost all sites …but also some less represented than might expect – but may reflect local focus / circumstances

5. Good progress on staffing… but more mixed on other developments • Almost all areas had a designated Pathfinder lead in place, and three quarters had a nominated project manager • Wider restructuring had caused issues in some areas • Leads and Project Managers most often from education or a multiagency background • Most areas reported that they had at least partially developed commitment from education (28), social care (25) and health (25) to share resources signalling some collective responsibility • Far fewer had secured resource for the resultant service provision • Most of the Pathfinder areas had started to consider the development of their approaches to change management, market development and the local • … but many still perceived themselves to be in the early stages of developing these elements

6. Parent-carer and VCS involvement in the development of the Pathfinder • Pathfinder areas had made good progress in terms of engaging the VCS and parent/carers in the development of the Pathfinder • Although the majority of areas were still in the early stages (or had not yet begun) engaging children and young people in this development

7. Overall it is a mixed picture across the areas • 19 judged at least a third of the 16 progress measures to be fully in place • 13 were still in the early stages of developing (or had not yet begun) a third of their progress measures

8. Progress engaging and involving families and young people to participate in the Pathfinder • Most had begun to consider raising awareness with families and young people • … but few had done so • As a result the numbers recruited to the end of March were very small • By early June the number recruited had risen to 129 – but heavily dependent on one site • The vast majority of those recruited were already in receipt of SEN support • … and 80% receiving specialist health support

9. Progress setting up the Pathfinder infrastructure • By the end of March 2012 all Pathfinder areas had begun to develop their assessment and single plan pathway • Around half of the areas had reached ‘partial development’ of the assessment pathway and were considering • A set of assessments (by different agencies) being brought together – 12 of 14 areas • Single assessment episode supplemented by ad hoc specialist assessments – 8 of 14 areas • The most common planning approaches being considered by the 14 areas were • Single planning events • The use of a planning coordinator to create the plan with the family and liaise with professionals from relevant agencies to obtain their input • Relatively few had progressed personal budgets, information sharing or risk management

10. Key conclusions and implications

11. Contact Graham Thom Director SQW t. 07766 916897 e. gthom@sqw.co.uk w. www.sqw.co.uk Meera Prabhakar Senior Consultant SQW t. 07715 071574 e. mprabhakar@sqw.co.uk w. www.sqw.co.uk