******** NEW SENSORY PATHWAY WORKSHOPS *******
TPF said we would update you on our meeting with Nicola Marsden Assistant Director of
Trafford’s Children’s Community Services, Jill McGregor Director of Children’s Services, and therapy service leads. The delay in response was due to the surprise visit from OFSTE/CQC Inspectors for Trafford’s SEND Inspection.
This inspection has now been completed and will close this afternoon.
In our original email to Nicola Marsden, we asked several questions on your behalf and
whilst some points were clarified verbally we asked for written confirmation. We have now received that.
Nicola Marsden Assistant Director of Children’s Community Health services summarised
the service pressures.
A sensory OT offer was first commissioned by Trafford CCG, in 2018, the contract was for
the provision of a Sensory Occupational Therapy pathway to provide 78 assessments per year.
Between April 2022 and March 2023, the pathway assessed 150 children.
The predicted activity for April 2023 to March 2024 is 192 assessments.
Waiting times averaged 40 weeks but significantly the profile was an ever-increasing
waiting time.
The staffing required to manage the 2022/23 assessments was significantly more than
the funding enabled and this unfortunately impacted on other aspects of service provision and was not sustainable.
She explained the options available to the service to consider.
- Do nothing.
- Cap the offer at 78.
- Increase funding to meet current and predicted demand.
- Review the offer and develop a workshop-based offer.
- Decommission the LCO and contract with a private provider.
Nicola confirmed that there was no additional funding and with that in mind, option 4
was developed into a working offer.
Nicola also confirmed that the details of this offer where; Parental workshops are now
scheduled each month with space for 20 parents to attend each session. The workshops have been designed to provide techniques, and strategies to better manage and understand sensory challenges. We believe early access to these workshops will provide families with the necessary practical tools to support the child’s functional independence. The workshops will cover a wide range of topics related to sensory processing, self-care, coping strategies, and more.
Following the parental workshop, some children will receive follow on care to provide
further strategies and support, the need for this will be determined by the professional lead for the service.
Mainstream schools have been contacted to advise of 4 workshop dates between November 2023 and June 2024, they will be delivered by a specialist Occupational Therapist with support from SENAS or an Occupational Therapist
Special Schools have been contacted to book a specific date for a training session for
their school.
In addition, there is provision to provide ad hoc workshops for example the
specialist Occupational Therapist will provide sensory processing workshops as
part of the November Early Years Conference.
Schools will have access to the specialist Occupational Therapist via consultation
sessions where they can discuss a particular child or a number of children and
specific strategies for support will be shared. Following this consultation, a
brief report based on these recommendations will be shared with the school and
the family.
A new padlet (electronic information resource) has been developed with the aim of further supporting and consolidating this will be shared at the workshops and linked on the TLCO website and the Local Offer.
Referral criteria has been shared with partners and referrals will be accepted from
health and education professionals. As was the case with the previous pathway
schools will be required to evidence that strategies or interventions have been
implemented in the school setting prior to the referral being accepted.
TPF asked about the alignment to EHCP’s, and the service lead Louise Lee supplied the
following details:
· New pathway will be an initial offer of a workshop.
· Most children, it is expected the strategies required will be provided via the new pathway workshop.
· The use of the graduated response toolkit with school setting will be applied.
Children whose sensory needs which have a debilitating impact on their day-to-day
activities such as being unable to attend school will receive follow on care
and advice, and this will contribute to their EHCP.
The service will keep this under close review as the new model (therefore staffing capacity focus) is based on early intervention via the workshop approach and support for
schools.
TPF asked about support to schools beyond the workshops, and Louise responded that the vision in the new pathway is that links with schools will be strengthened which will enable over time, the service to be able to ‘quality assure’ the universal and targeted provision for children with sensory needs in schools.
TPF and the service leads agreed the following actions.
· TPF will facilitate a parent carer workshop/meeting for further discussions between the
service and families.
· Children’s Community Health Service will be completing a review in February 2024. They will contact TPF nearer the time to work in partnership on this.
· TPF has agreed to supply the feedback from our parent carer meeting.
· TPF shared not all children and families who thought they were on the list had received a letter. Nicola confirmed that all letters have now been sent out. If you have not received a letter about the new sensory workshops contact the service via [email protected] and if you have any other questions relating to this service please use this email as well. TPF has been assured that your emails will be responded to.
· TPF will also share further feedback on the workshops that parent carers have supplied since this meeting, and after half term we will coordinate another meeting for parent carers to meet with the service leads to explore the issues and concerns you have raised.
Please send us your feedback to [email protected] and mark SENSORY WORKSHOP FEEDBACK.
Many thanks
Justine
