Roles and duties of healthcare professionals
Under the provisions of the Children and Families Act 2012, which was designed to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) must provide a Designated Medical Officer (DMO) or Designated Clinical Officer (DCO). In Dudley we have both a DMO and a DCO. The DMO/DCO plays a key part in implementing the SEND reforms and in supporting joined up working between health services, local authorities, parent participation forums, schools and colleges. The DMO/DCO provide the point of contact for health colleagues, local authorities, schools and colleges seeking health advice on children and young people who may have SEN or disabilities.
We listen to children and young people, families and professionals and make sure that health services offer the right provision for children and young people with SEND so they are able to reach their goals and achieve their outcomes.
Currently, support is designed and delivered by a range of specialist staff and providers, working with different systems and with their own priorities across health, education and social care. Dudley is undergoing a period of transformation in which many of our community health services will be delivered by our Integrated Care Provider (ICP) - Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust. We aim to improve communication and links between health, education and social care professionals to ensure these services are coordinated.
We will work with families and providers to secure jointly commissioned services that are identified as being appropriate to meet the needs of the local population.
We provide a single point of contact for children, young people, families and professionals seeking health information or queries about the health provision in the Education, Health and Care Plan.
The Role of the DMO
Supporting the DCO with SEND strategic work streams
· Advice to local authority on specific questions related to health conditions and interventions
· Advice on individual cases as requested by schools/local authority
· Monitor and audit provision of health information related to SEND and suggest improvements where applicable.
· Establish Strategic Outcomes.
· Participation in Strategy development for CYP across the Dudley area.
· Serve at CCG Board level advising on SEND matters.
· Offer an educational role, enhancing engagement across the provider landscape.
· Co – ordination of the EHCP process
· Local Offer Oversight
· Extending reforms to 18 – 25y SEND clients.
The Role of the DCO
Single point of contact for families seeking health information or queries about the health provision in an EHCP.
- Participate and engage with children, young people and families.
- Single point of access for partner agencies and professionals to improve liaison and communication.
· Provide advice and support to educational establishments and Youth Offending Teams to support children and young people with medical conditions and to ensure that those staff delivering care to children and young people are adequately trained on the EHCP process and that it is kept up to date.
- Work with schools to co-ordinate any changes in the wide range of ever changing complex care programmes for Children and Young People following EHCP reviews or paediatrician consultations.
· Advise / signpost schools to relevant training and deliver training where appropriate and within skillset and knowledge base of the post holder.
- Promote excellent partnership working, co-ordination and transition to all adult health services
- Provide a clear process for mediation and oversight of tribunals where there is a disagreement regarding the health provision contained in an EHCP.
- Ensure all health services are reflected in the Local Offer and that health providers are cooperating with the Council in its development and review.
Health Visitor and School Nurse teams are statutorily commissioned by Public Health to deliver the UK Healthy Child Programme. This is a universal offer to all children and young people in the UK, designed to:-
• Help parents, carers or guardians develop and sustain a strong bond with children.
• Support parents, carers and guardians in keeping children healthy and safe, and reaching their full potential.
• Protect children from serious disease through screening and immunisation.
• Reduce childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity.
• Promote oral health.
• Support resilience and positive maternal and family mental health.
• Support the development of healthy relationships and good sexual and reproductive health.
• Identify health and wellbeing issues early, so support and early interventions can be provided in a timely manner.
• Make sure children are prepared for and supported in all childcare, early years and education settings, and are especially supported to be ready to learn at 2 years, and ready for school by 5 years.
• Continued support through school age years to help every child to thrive and gain maximum benefit from education, driving high educational achievement.
• Identifying and helping children, young people and families with problems that might affect their chances later in life, including building resilience to cope with the pressures of life.
Every day can be different. All Health Visitors and School Nurses are registered specialist community health practitioners. One day, a Health Visitor may be visiting a new family, seeing an expectant family, running a clinic for developmental checks, and seeing a new parent with mental health concerns. The next day, they may running a breastfeeding support group, visiting a family with a baby in a neonatal unit, and supporting a family with potty training issues. Equally, School Nurses may be supporting transition to high school, supporting a teenager who is being bullied, and teaching children in Key Stage 1 to wash their hands.
In addition to mandated visits to every child, Health Visitors and School Nurses also work with those children most in need, including those with special educational needs who may not be in school, and those where there may be Early Help or safeguarding concerns.
To note, Health Visitors will work with all families with children under 5 years, and may be able to provide additional details to partners in the child / family. School Nurses will not work with every child over the age of 5 years, unless there is a specified health concern where the School Nurse may have some input. They may therefore not be able to provide information to partners regarding individual children.