Decision details

Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health, introduced the report

Cabinet was informed that at its meeting on 9 September 2014, the Individuals Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee agreed to establish a topic group to scrutinise the support available to young people with learning disabilities with transition from School to College/Further Education and where capable, into work opportunities.

The Topic Group met on eight occasions during the course of its investigations and reported its findings to the Sub-Committee on 22 September 2015.

During the review, the Topic Group had noted that the changes from the current “statements of educational need” to Education Health and Care Plans were part of the Children’s and Families Act which had become law on 1 September 2014.

The report considered how these Education Health and Care Plans should be written to ensure that they were person-centred.

The report also identified a number of recommendations for officers and external partners to ensure a joint working approach which ought to identify the best outcomes for the child.

Reasons for the decision:

Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, s. 122, Cabinet is required to consider and respond to a report of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee within two months of its agreement by that Committee or at the earliest available opportunity.  In this case, Cabinet was required to do this at its meeting on 18 November 2015.  Cabinet is also required to give reasons for its decisions in relating to the report, particularly in instances where it decides not to adopt one or more of the recommendations contained within it.

Other options considered:

None.  There are no alternative options.

Cabinet:

1.            Noted the report of the Topic Group and thanked it for its hard work and the high quality of its findings and pertinence of its recommendations and

2.            Authorised the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health to establish a link between the Local Authority and Job Centres and local employers to enable people with learning disabilities to obtain employment.