Every Deaf Child Matters

All change in health services for Deaf Children

Ann James

Chief executive for the cluster of

NHS Devon, Plymouth and Torbay

26 June 2012

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All change in health services for Deaf Children?

• The Health and Social Care Act – new roles and responsibilities

• New Roles and Responsibilities for children and young people

• Meeting the needs of deaf children and young people

• What should services be offering now

• How can integrated commissioning be taken forward – a local example

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NHS Pre-2013

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Department of Health

10 SHA’s (4 SHA)

152 PCT’s (50 clustered PCT’s)

NHS Providers Non NHS Providers Voluntary Sector

Local Authorities

The Health and Social Care Act New roles and responsibilities

NHS Commissioning Board

4 regions

27 Local Area TeamsHealth and

Wellbeing Board

Local Authorities

Commissioning Support Units

Clinical Commissioning

Groups

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New roles and responsibilities for children and young people

•NHS Commissioning Board

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New Organisation Responsibilities for Commissioning Services for deaf children and young people

• NHS Commissioning Board NHS set in national direction and outcomes• NHS Commissioning Board Local

Area TeamsHealth Visitors 2015

• Clinical Commissioning Groups Audiology Services , Community Therapy Staff e.g. speech and language, Acute Hospital Services e.g. paediatric out patients

• Local Authorities School nurses. From 2015 health visitors, and social workers supporting children with additional needs

• Health and Wellbeing Boards Setting strategic outcome reviewing local needs and setting local outcomes

Meeting the needs of Deaf Children and Young People

Health

•Early detection•General Childrens Services•Rehabilitation

Family •Impact•90% born to hearing parents•4 babies born every day

Education

•43% less likely to gain A* and C GCSE’s

Social

•Higher rates of abuse•40% mental health challenges•Additional needs

What should Services be offering now?

“The social care needs of all families with a deaf child should be reviewed as part of an initial assessment by the lead professional. In all areas there should be available a member of social care staff with appropriate expertise in working with deaf children and their families to respond to the identified needs”.

•Services for deaf children should be clearly advertised and easy for families to make initial contact with professionals.

•Information for families on assessment processes and support should be available in appropriate formats and languages.

•Comprehensive, unbiased and clear information on childhood deafness, its implications and communication options should be provided to the families at the time of diagnosis.

•Information on the services available to deaf children and young people and their families and greater understanding of the needs of deaf children and young people

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How can integrated commissioning be taken forward

•Put the needs of the individual and families first – get them involved

•Single assessment process – health, social care, education and the use of personal budgets

•Integrated pathway to meet their needs – all of their needs, not ours

•Early diagnosis, support and collaboration

•Support for children in care

•Support during transition – childhood–adulthood

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How can integrated commissioning be taken forward - a local example

How we are doing this in Devon

• SEND pathfinder – single assessment and plan, personalisation, transition, support to parents/families and C&YP to find their way around the system

• Joint DCC and NHS Devon procurement to find a Single Accountable Provider for the Integrated Children’s Services - underpinning principles as follows:

– Strengthen integration of health, social care and education in the planning and delivery of services

– Support delivery of partnership working including across statutory and voluntary sector

– Proactive engagement & communication with families, children and young people, staff, and other stakeholders (clarity, openness, transparency)

– Ensure that needs assessment and evidence based service delivery informs future arrangements

– Ensure flexibility through adaptive and responsive solutions that are fit for the future

– Ensure solutions that achieve consistency of approach but enable locally responsive services to be delivered

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In-conclusion...

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• NHS is under-going major structural change

• The needs of deaf children and young people are well understood, researched consistent.

• New opportunities in commissioning need to focus on the needs of individuals and families.

• Greater awareness and rehearsing how new structures and services will work