Meeting Details
Date: Thursday 18 July 2019
Time: 10:30–13:30
Venue: County Hall, Norfolk County Council, Martineau Lane, Norwich,
Norfolk, NR1 2DH
Agenda Item 1: Welcome and Introduction
1.1 James Bullion, co-chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Copies of papers and action cards
distributed. Apologies from members who could not attend.
1.2 Thanks were given to Jared Carpenter for agreeing to be stand-in autistic co-chair in Mark Rushen’s
absence.
1.3 Attendees introduced themselves, giving brief description of their roles and interest in Autism.
Agenda Item 2: Presentation: Hoarding and Neglect Policy with Walter Lloyd-Smith
2.1 Walter Lloyd-Smith (WLS), Safeguarding Adults Board Manager, gave presentation on self-neglect,
hoarding, its impact on people’s lives and current policy initiatives. Examples of what was meant by hoarding and self neglect were given, including photographic and anecdotal evidence. Unique nature of Self-neglect as a category of Adult Abuse in the Care Act as a violation where the victim and perpetrator are the same person was explained. The problems involved with attempting to resolve the problem were outlined: there is no nationally accepted definition of self neglect beyond the specific wording of the Care Act; no two cases will present in the same way; with a responsibility to keep people safe. Results of the 2018 county-wide survey aimed at frontline practitioners seeking information on self neglect and hoarding were shared. The issues and challenges arising from the survey were used to develop a new county-wide strategy, the key points of which were outlined; guidance on approaches and what constitutes hoarding; focus on Early Help / Help Hubs; questions to help assess individual’s capacity; and assessment guidance.
Presentation concluded with information on where to find the strategy. WLS encouraged attendees to
download and share the Strategy and accompanying information and asked that the Strategy be promoted
via the NAPB network.
2.2 Jarred Carpenter asked why in cases where hoarders were being taken advantage of by drug dealers,
hoarding was flagged as a problem but not the drugs. WLS stated that both issues are important and the
lead for issues around drugs will usually be the police. In the context of this presentation his focus was on
hoarding and vulnerability, but where both are present, both will be followed up. The connection is something we will need to look into.
2.3 The Board as a whole raised the issue of non engagement with Safeguarding services, where
individuals wish to be left alone and will not work with people who want to help. However, WLS explained
that there are cases where services cannot walk away as there is a responsibility to keep the individual
and others safe e.g. public health concerns.
2.4 Bruce Hubbard questioned usefulness of the 2018 survey given low engagement with overall workforce. WLS agreed that low engagement was not ideal but stated that having any data when previously none had been collected was useful.
2.5 Bruce Hubbard asked how many of Survey responses were from people working with autism. WLS stated that he did not know. He recognised that hoarding can be a trait for people with autism.
2.6 Tracey Walton asked if hoarding and self-neglect are recorded in case management systems. WLS
answered today that different services do not use the same systems, but Adult Social Services can via
LiquidLogic Adults Social Care System (LAS) and housing partners will have something similar. This
means that NCC can link autism/hoarding data so long as cases are recorded consistently.
2.7 James Bullion thanked WLS on behalf of the Board. Agreement to support the Self-Neglect initiatives via the work of the Board.
2.8 WLS explained that there may be a business case for a specialist Self-Neglect Service. WLS said he would like to bring the case to the NAPB for comment and to receive help with improving it. Amanda Dunn and the Commissioning team will support this work as it develops.
Agenda Item 3: Presentation: Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Update with Maxine Blocksidge
3.1 Maxine Blocksidge (MB), Senior Adviser for SEND at NCC, gave a presentation on the Norfolk Area SEND Strategy and SEND and Alternative Provision Transformation Programme. Michael Bateman,
SEND & Alternative Provision (AP) Transformation Lead for Children’s Services. MB presented as
Michael Bateman was unable to make the meeting and sent his apologies. The Area SEND Strategy has been co-produced with a range of stakeholders including Health and Family Voice. An information outlining the Area SEND Strategy has been sent to GP Surgeries. The Strategy on the Local Offer and a survey is open until the 13th August to gather feedback. The NAPB are encouraged to give feedback and
share it as widely as possible. Maxine is involved in collating the self-evaluation framework for Norfolk SEND. This is part of a continuous cycle of review and planning.
The Area SEND Strategy has four key priorities:
- The SEND journey
- SEND Provision
- Improve Confidence in the Local Offer
- Preparation for Adult Life
More information is available on the SEND Local Offer webpage on the NCC website.
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and families/send-local-offer
The SEND & Alternative Provision Transformation Programme has had a £120m capital investment
agreed by NCC.
The aims are to:
Provide good quality education closer to a children’s home, improving children’s day-to-day lives by reducing travel times and supporting them to learn close to their families.
Champion good quality education for children with SEN needs, whether they are in a early years, school
and college mainstream provision or special schools and alternative provision
Ensure that children that need special school places can access them, by increasing the number of
places in the county
Reduce exclusions and ensure that children’s needs are met in their local mainstream schools,
whenever possible
Ensure that the council understands and can meet future needs
Return to a balanced budget within the High Needs Block and the SEN Transport Budget
MB acknowledged that the current 20-week performance regarding EHCPs is not good enough
and there is a workstream within the Transformation Programme to focus on this. A portal is also being
developed in Synergy that parents will be able to monitor the progress of their child’s EHCP.
Three new special schools are being developed and expansion/refurbishment of existing special schools.
Mainstream inclusion is being developed through Workstream 1. John Crowley is leading Workstream 2 on EHCP Performance.
Workstream one is looking at mainstream inclusion. Among their goals is the creation of a single “front
door” for all schools, including academies, to provide basic help and support around inclusion and
exclusion. Ways to apply for top-up funding for particular needs in schools will also be made simpler.
SEND Local Offer working with Family Voice will be hosting six roadshows around Norfolk. These will
provide an opportunity to give feedback about provision in Norfolk. Market place stalls will be
available at these events which the NAPB would be able to support. These events will run from 10:30am
to 12:30am with lunch provided. Flyer to be sent to NAPB members.
3.2 Bruce Hubbard noted that there were no targets given on any of the presented material. MB explained that each of the workstreams will have objectives and targets and these will be reported on. Bruce Hubbard, Tracey Walton and MB are scheduled to meet in the coming weeks to align this work with the NAPB Education working group. This will provide a clear plan for members.
3.3 Trevor Key highlighted the importance of sign language in improving inclusion. MB agreed and will take points back to the Workstream 1 led Stuart Mason.
3.4 Agreed standing NAPB agenda item with Maxine Blocksidge to prepare and provide an update at each
NAPB meeting
Agenda Item 4: Updates from Working Groups
4.1 Engagement
Lee Gibbons updated the board on the Engagement Working Group progress. Working Group met with Deb Fair, Digital Experience Designer in the Customer Service and Communications team, to discuss changes to the NCC NAPB webpage with the aim to make it more concise and engaging. Tracey Walton to develop the raw content of the page then work with Working Group members to make it as appealing as possible to autistic users.
Tracey Walton and the Autism Administrator attended Easy Read Training provided by NHS, with the Autism Administrator taking additional training provided by NCC. Unfortunately, it proved unfeasible
to translate the entire Autism Questionnaire due to its size. Consequently, it was decided to follow national
examples, and have an easy-read introduction. The introduction will advise what the questionnaire is
about, why the questionnaire is needed, what it will achieve and who can help the person filling it in to
complete the questionnaire, followed by the original questionnaire. This will be distributed as soon as
possible.
Two seats are available for an autistic older person and an autistic young person to join the Working
Group. It does not necessarily have to be someone from the Board, and it can be people from outside the
NAPB. Anyone who wishes to become involved to email the administrator at autism@norfolk.gov.uk
4.2 Data
Tracey Walton reported that there has been little progress since the last NAPB meeting because of annual leave and the shorter time between meetings. An autistic employee has completed his placement, and his work which will form the foundation of an Autism Dashboard. Tracey will prioritise reviewing and getting it out as soon as possible. James Bullion requested that the Dashboard be made an agenda item for the next meeting or the one following that.
4.3 Diagnostic Pathways
Tracey Walton gave an update. There have been several Working Group meetings since the last NAPB and this has supported an independent commissioned review of pathways by RethinkPartners. The Working Group will be looking at the recommendations of the independent review and it was suggested that this be an item at a future Partnership Board. Tracey Walton advised that an improvement plan is in place with Autism Service Norfolk with meetings scheduled weekly with the clinical psychologist to progress the plan. A contract monitoring meeting with NCH&C has been arranged every month to ensure clear communication and share progress and identify issues for solution.
Alan Hunter assured the Board that a lot of work is going on with 3rd sector support.
James Bullion asked if there was enough input from the health services on the board. Amanda Dunn answered to say that this is being considered. A discussion needs to be had with Jocelyn Pike, Chief
Officer at South Norfolk CCG, about where leadership sits and the wider CCG structure. Engagement is
needed between Jocelyn and other Commissioning Group members.
4.4 Education
Maxine Blocksidge gave a short update. Bruce Hubbard, Maxine and Tracey Walton will meet next
week to refresh and prepare for future Working Group meetings. Maxine asks for patience and hopes to
have more progress to report at the next meeting
4.5 Workforce Development and Training
Jane Hanrahan, Workforce Development Manager, gave an update for the Board on behalf of Tom
Bassett, who was delivering an autism course in Great Yarmouth based on material coproduced with
the Board.
Jane gave a brief update on Autism workforce development training at NCC. The learning consists
of two parts, an eLearning module and an in-person face to face training day. Internally the program is
rolling out positively.
Jane sought advice from the Board regarding how to progress training to wider partners including the
CCGs. The Workforce Development Group would like to ensure that the course NCC has developed in
house can be gifted to others, but need assurances that the people delivering the training were suitable
and competent to deliver the specialised training. Following discussion of potential options, it was
decided that seeking accreditation for potential trainers would be the best option. Organising this will
be delegated to the Workforce Development WG. Because of the limitations of NCC’s eLearning
platform preventing outside users from accessing the autism eLearning an alternative solution must be
found. Other platforms are available, but they have different costs and limitations. Jane asked the board
whether they required reports from other organisations (e.g. NHS) on how many people have
completed the training. Tracey Walton advised that the Autism Self-Assessment requests data on autism
training delivered. James Bullion stated that it was important in principle to have this information and the
Board unanimously agreed.
Following a question from Bruce Hubbard Jane Hanrahan briefly discussed explained the reasons for
charging a fee to access the course and its materials. As per previous NAPB decisions, NCC will not make
money from providing the training, but costs involved in hosting eLearning must still be covered.
It was decided that ways to allow schools and the police to access training would be investigated at a
later date once work with the NHS was completed.
Tom Bassett has delivered training to a local prison and will be delivering to Norfolk Museums Service.
He has also made connections with Wymondham Town Council to potentially deliver the training there
as well.
Agenda Item 5 : Minutes of previous meeting (22/05/19) and matters arising not on the agenda.
5.2 The EHCP PowerPoint has been sent to Kim Woodrow.
5.3 Action plans for Working Groups are being updated post every meeting.
5.4 Tracey and Rebekah have not met yet.
5.5 The data collected for the Autism Dashboard has been compiled and in the process of being reviewed. The Data WG will work through this.
5.6 Page 5-6, item 3.4 – this continues to be worked on.
5.7 Page 6, item 3.5 – item resolved as part of the Board meeting with Maxine Blocksidge’s presentation.
5.8 Page 7, item 4.3 – ways to support this are still being investigated. Lee Gibbons and the Engagement
Working Group have scheduled a separate meeting post the NAPB to discuss in more details.
5.9 Page 7, item 5.3 – recommendations have been added to the plan.
5.10 Pages 7-8, item 6.1 – the Autism Strategy has gone through the Health and Wellbeing Board. The Health and Wellbeing Board is committed to doing the autism training. The Strategy will now go to Cabinet and the Joint Strategic Commissioning Committee in August.
5.11 The Autism Administrator informed the Board that dates for the next NAPB Meetings had been arranged until October 2020. The Administrator also reported that a Quiet Room had not been booked for the meeting on Wednesday 29th January 2020, and asked whether the Board wished to change the date or the venue. The Board decided to keep the date and change the venue.
Date, time and location of next meeting
Thursday 17th October 2019, 10:30am-1:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall
Wednesday 29th January 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm. Venue to be arranged – see 5.11 above.
Thursday 16th April 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall
Thursday 16 July 2020, 10:30am-13:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall
Thursday 15th October 2020, 10:30am-13:30pm. Edwards Room, County Hall