Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
About SEND
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB (formerly NHS Vale of York CCG) and our partners within Health, the Local Authority, Education and Social Care recognise that children and young people are exceptionally important and improving their health and wellbeing is a key priority
The Children and Families Act (2014) places a statutory duty on the NHS to work with local authority partners to provide help and support to children, young people aged 0-25 years, and their families, who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
SEND covers physical and mental health conditions and learning disabilities: conditions do not have to be long-term or lifelong, although many children and young people with SEND do have such conditions.
The Children and Families Act 2014 requires ICBs and health providers, to work effectively together to improve outcomes for disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs (SEN). The aim of this legislation is to ensure a more integrated and personalised service, a focus on outcomes and alignment with a number of key NHS programmes such as Transforming Care (Learning Disability), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) transformation and integrated and personalised commissioning.
Our Roles
The Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) role is a key element in supporting health services in the implementation of the Children and Families Act and the scope of the role is very broad. The key responsibilities of the DCO are as follows:
- Oversight – across all health professionals delivering healthcare to individual disabled children, young people and those with special educational needs
- Co-ordination – in relation to the Local Offer, process for mediation arrangements regarding the health elements of the EHC plan and EHC assessments with other key assessments such as Children and Young People’s Continuing Care assessments and Looked After Children Health assessments
- Strategic – contribution to the development of a joint commissioning strategy and participation and engagement strategy.
The DCO can be contacted at hnyicb-ny.send@nhs.net
The Associate Designated Clinical Officer (ADCO) works closely with the Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) in supporting health services to implement the Children and Families Act (2014). The key responsibilities of the ADCO include:
- Oversight of health advice at the multi-agency EHCP panels
- Providing SEND and EHCP training in relation to health, to health providers and the local
authority - Engaging with partners and stakeholders to ensure the voice of children and young people are
at the centre of everything we do
The ADCO for York can be contacted at hnyicb-voy.send-ehcp@nhs.net.
The ADCO for North Yorkshire can be contacted at hnyicb.send@nhs.net.
- Provide business support to the DCO (Designated Clinical Officer) and the ADCO (Associated Designated Clinical Officer).
- Act as a first point of contact for colleagues, stakeholders, and multiple external organisations.
- Respond and signpost queries relating to Children and Young people particularly in relation to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
- Advocate for children and young people with SEND.
For queries relating to the York area, please contact voyccg.send-ehcp@nhs.net.
For queries relating to the North Yorkshire area, please contact hnyicb-ny.send@nhs.net.
Local Offer (including SEND specialist support and inclusion)
If children and young people aged 0-25 years old have special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND), York's Local Offer website will provide them, their families and professionals with accessible information about services and support available locally.
The Local Offer helps you to understand what services you can expect from a range of local agencies, including your statutory entitlements, eligibility and referral criteria. The Local Offer also makes clear what is available from a wide range of services, including:
- Early years settings
- Schools (including academies and free schools) and colleges
- Sport and recreation
- Health services
- Social care
- Employment and further education
You can find out more about SEND specialist support and inclusion here.
SEND Mission Statement
Please find attached our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 'Mission Statement' detailing how we will provide the best support possible for Children and Young People with SEND in North Yorkshire and York.
