SEND interim Ofsted CQC visit

We are pleased to report that the initial feedback following the SEND interim Ofsted visit was very positive. The ambition and progress made was recognised by the inspectors. Thank you if you completed the confidential survey and took part in interviews, our survey return rate was very good and we really appreciate your help.

The visit was not an inspection, it was more of a 'fact finding mission' a way for the visiting team to learn about what had worked locally in response to the pandemic and more importantly what the challenges were. We are fortunate that Dorset has been able to feed into this national information gathering work, which will influence policy in the future.

It’s important to have good work recognised. However, we know we have more to achieve – especially in ensuring personalisation and coproduction is at the heart of everything we do – but we feel very confident that we will get there.    

A new plan has been launched to make Dorset the best place to grow-up. The new Children, Young People and Families Plan 2020-23 has been drawn-up by the Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People.

The plan is available online here alongside an Easy Read version and we are also sending a children’s version to young people who contributed ideas. You can view the brilliant feedback received from children and young people via the #ILiveinDorset competition, which asked ‘what would make Dorset the best place to grow-up.

Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services view seeking report

A message from NHS Dorset Clincial Commissioning Group

Earlier this year, the team at NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group met many people interested in children and young people’s mental health services. Thank you to everyone who shared their views and experiences.

We are already using what you told us to further inform future planning and we want to continue working with children, young people, families and other stakeholders to do this. We received many comments about how difficult things are for families when a young person needs an assessment related to autism and so we have already started work on this. 

Later this year we hope some of you will be able to help design this service. We will be keeping our website Your Mind Your Say updated with all the latest news and information about this work. If you have any questions, please contact us at communications@dorsetccg.nhs.uk
 

Free Impartial Advice & Support

Dorset's Special Educational Needs & Disability Information Advice and Support service (SENDIASS) now have their own website.

The SENDIAS service provides free, confidential and impartial advice and support. They help parent carers with finding other support, expressing their views for assessments or at meetings, and they support families when there are disagreements. They also have a separate service for young people too.  

The SENDIASS face to face 'drop in' sessions are on hold right now. Instead Dorset SENDIASS have teamed up with Dorset Parent Carer Council and are offering parent carers a chance to meet up and chat online every Friday morning (term time only). To get a copy of the link to join in just text 07827 793244 . 

Get the flu vaccine to protect the ones you love

Following on from the last edition of the newsletter, we wanted to include a reminder that if you receive an invitation to have a flu vaccination then please do take it up. The best way to keep you and your loved ones protected from flu is by having the flu vaccine. Getting flu can be very nasty and can result in hospitalisation and in some cases death.

People First Dorset has created a video in partnership with Pageant Productions for the Dorset Clinical Commissioning group, to highlight the importance of getting a flu jab if it's offered to you. 

What should be in our next newsletter? 

This newsletter is produced in partnership with the Dorset Parent Carer Council and colleagues from NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.

If there is something that you would like to see covered in the newsletter, please contact Rian Davies, email: rian.davies@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Please also check our website, which will be kept updated with our latest Coronavirus advice.