A NEW county-wide charter has been launched in Warwickshire aimed at improving services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Working Together Charter – jointly developed by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice, and IMPACT – commits partners across the area to ensure families are listened to in the development of SEND services.
The charter recognises the role of Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice and IMPACT, and commits services to open communication, valuing everyone’s contributions, and working in partnership.
WCC education spokesperson Coun Kam Kaur said: “The Working Together Charter showcases our dedication to collaborating with local partners to enhance services for children and young people with SEND, and emphasises the significance of actively listening to the needs of families to help shape the delivery of our services.”
Tracy Pilcher, Coventry and Warwickshire ICB’s Chief Nursing Officer, added: “We know how important local services are to children and young people with SEND and their families – so it is only right that they are involved in the development of those services.”
Elaine Lambe from Warwickshire Parent Carer Voice added: “We look forward to this charter being recognised by all the service providers and a consistent approach to participation being developed.”
‘Fractured relationships with parents and carers’ was one of the areas of concern highlighted in a damning 2021 report by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission into WCC’s SEND services. WCC and the Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group had to produce a Written Statement of Action to explain how ‘significant areas of weakness’ would be tackled.
In March, a review by the Department for Education and NHS England said services were improving, and good progress was being made on most actions in the Written Statement of Action.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/send-resources/send-practitioner-parent-resources/2 for more information about the Working Together Charter.
