Leadership in the joint commissioning of services for children with SLCN - the way forward

Tuesday 2 June 2009
Church House Conference Centre, Dean's Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, in partnership with the Department of Health and Department for Children Schools and Families, hosted a one-day conference bringing together key local and national leaders with responsibility for strategic planning in health, education and social services. This event is referenced in the 'World class commissioning for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Invitation to become a commissioning pathfinder' document to support the pathfinder process.

With a combination of keynote presentations and interactive sessions, the conference explored effective ways for leaders to work jointly in the commissioning and provision of services for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), and identify solutions to the barriers to the commissioning of these services

The event was aimed at those who have been successful or bidding to be commissioning pathfinders, in addition to those who have not been successful. In order to maximise outcomes, we hoped delegates attended as part of multi-agency team, for example speech and language therapy leaders, directors/assistant directors of children's services, children's commissioners in health, education and leaders who represent clusters of schools, and representatives of local voluntary services. However, following numerous requests from individuals who would like to attend, individuals were also welcomed.

Aims

This high-profile conference:

• Supported understanding of the national policy context
• Explored effective joint commissioning across health and education
• Focussed on practical examples of where services have been successful in joint commissioning and how this learning can be applied to commissioning of services for children with SLCN
• Identified the links between commissioning and workforce/skills mix.

Outcomes

• Teams began the development of a local framework for action
• The framework included implementing the Government action plan Better Communication, and areas that link to the commissioning pathfinders and the commissioning process.

Please see the agenda for full details.

Presentations

• Current health service challenges and opportunities - Karen Middleton, Chief Health Professions Officer, DH
• Better communication: better leadership - Hardip Begol, Deputy Director, Special Educational Needs and Disability Division, DCSF
• Value of early intervention - Jannet Wright, Professor in Speech and Language Therapy and Head of the Speech and Language Therapy Division, De Montfort University. For further information, please see accompanying reference list.
• Case study: Integrated team for disabled children Saltway Centre - Adina Grace, Assistant Director Commissioning Children and Young People, Swindon PCT
• Case study: Commissioning for outcomes - challenges and opportunities - Sue Brunton-Reed, Director, Effective Training and Consultancy Limited working with Thurrock Children's Trust, Justine Henderson, Independent Consultant , Willoughbys Limited, and Philip Franklin, Business Development Manager, Children, Education and Families, Thurrock Council
• Case study: Commissioning for joint outcomes: City & Hackney - Sally Shaw, Interim Children's Therapy Manager, City & Hackney Community Health Services / The Learning Trust
• Case study (cont): Commissioning for outcomes: building a framework - Marie Gascoigne, Director, MGA: Consulting

The Commissioning Support Programme also provided a leaflet detailing the resources available to support you with the commissioning cycle which was made available to each delegate.