Congratulations to Torbay Area Partnership for attaining Youth Justice SEND Quality Lead Status with a Child First Commendation
Torbay Area Partnership is the latest service to join the Youth Justice SEND Quality Assurance process, richly deserving a Quality Lead Award with Child First Commendation at first attempt.
The submission was supported by an excellent evidence trail, as well as case studies of effective practice.
Torbay has instigated a compulsory rolling programme of SEN “Increasing awareness” training for all new and existing Council staff. Within the YOS team, this is supplemented by monthly in-house professional development sessions on a range of topics such as trauma-informed practice, brain injury, the exclusion process as well as the work of Speech and Language Therapists.
Relationships with education providers are robustly managed at all levels, secondary through to 16+. A powerful preventative “Child-First” structural provision is exemplified by the workings of a Pupil Referral Panel. The aim is to ensure that the needs of children at risk of exclusion are fully understood, informing the work of the Fair Access Panel, with packages of support made available to smooth reintegration into mainstream provision, be it school or college-based. Local performance indicators in terms of timeliness of response are assiduously monitored.
Another local Child First initiative is an outgrowth of the SENDIAS (SEND Information and Advice Service) Team offering a Mediation Service to families beyond the statutory SEND support role, including children with complex needs. Yet again, this demonstrates a commitment to place a child into education or training through supporting families, challenging providers and advocating for the needs to be met.
Well done Torbay Area Partnership!