You said, we did - Local Offer

February 2024

You said	We did
I can’t find any information on the Holiday, Activities and Food scheme (HAF) on the Local Offer for children receiving means-tested benefits.	We provided information and the link to the website about West Northamptonshire’s HAF Scheme.

January 2024

You said	We did
Its hard to get back to the Local Offer webpages from the search directory.	The Digital Team created a clearer link back to the webpages from the directory.
Having two search boxes so close to each other is confusing.	The Digital Team have added text to the Local Offer search bar which makes it clearer which one to use.
There are too many filters in the directory.	We have streamlined the data base to make it easier to find what you are looking for.

December 2023

You said	We did
We can't easily find the SEND ranges on the Local Offer website.	We added a listing so that the SEND ranges can be found on both the services results, and the resources results.

November 2023

You said	We did
We can’t find the SEND Improvement Board records on the SEND Local Offer.	We added them to the web page for the SEND Strategy for everyone to read.

October 2023

Our Partners at NHS England reviewed our SEND Local Offer and sent us over the following comments.

“We found it easy to navigate, generally user friendly etc. We liked the alphabetical visual content page and also the intelligent search engine that anticipates what you are searching for as you type.”

You said	We did
“In searching for “transition” (on the WNC website) it does not take me to Preparation for Adulthood. I think transition is more of a health term whereas Preparation for Adulthood is more common language in care and education settings.”	We have asked the Web team to add Transition to the WNC search bar so that when someone searched for ‘transition’ on the website they will have the Local Offer as a result. (search engine optimisation). The Local Offer directory will return results for transitions and PFA.
The Health section looks a bit brief in parts at the moment but I know there is the caveat at the start that it is all still under development.	We have updated the description of complex needs, and are waiting for advice about Children’s Continuing Care from our local partners.
I like the simplicity of the pages – not too much text and well-spaced out. Easy to read etc. Are there links to easy read docs or in other formats for those that may need this?	We are undertaking ‘accessibility document’ training in November 2023 to ensure that all new printable resources meet the government guidance for accessibility requirements for public sector websites and we will be able to add more resources when this is completed.
I really like the inclusion of the QR code.	We are aiming to include these in all our printable resources.
The phrase “social care” as opposed to “social need” (though I think it does go on to describe wider “need”/early support etc. The word “care” – may be a bit off-putting or people think that’s not relevant for them, whereas everyone has needs.	This will be discussed at the next Local Offer Steering Group in January 2024.
We thought the You Said, We did, inclusion is nice. Obviously very new and work still needed but good to have the examples – be good to see the outcomes from this.	Thank you.

September 2023

Short Breaks journey – Phases of Engagement

Stage	Who did we engage with	You said	We did
Initial engagement Sept 20 – Oct 20	14 people responded to the survey of which 13 were parents	Need to improve transitions All children to be able to access support One referral process More early help support Need flexible, responsive, forward thinking, transforming services A simpler pathway to access services is required Not enough staff to support children with 1:1 or 2:1 staffing needs Flexible, integrated services Services close to home	Potential new model designed that included: Single service offer Run and led by one organisation. The redesign proposal was developed by a Partnership Design Group
Design phase Nov 20 – Mar 23	Children With Disabilities Board (members included NPFG and providers)	These proposals were discussed and reviewed at each Children with Disabilities Board to shape the model.	Redesign proposal was developed and agreed by a Partnership Design Group, agreed, and approved by the Children and Young People’s Transformation Board
Second phase April 23- Jun 23	233 people from an electronic survey and 6 focus groups. 43% of respondents were parents/carers 28% current provider staff 34% public	Majority of respondents said: Bring residential and non-residential short breaks together Flexible team across services Increasing non-residential short breaks will reduce need for residential short breaks One referral point and joined up assessment and reviews More short breaks with 1:1 or 2:1 staffing Additional services: Fundraising Peer support Volunteer buddies Whole family activities	The proposed lead provider model will have: Central hub supporting all services Single referral and assessment pathway Staff working across the contracts Grow capacity through fundraising and volunteers Specialist play workers to support with designing activities Build community relationships and links to enable greater choice of short breaks Advertise short break opportunities centrally Support families to step up and step down Additional day care activity offered a residential short break Add home care services

Stage

Who did we engage with

You said

We did

Initial engagement
Sept 20 – Oct 20

14 people responded to the survey of which 13 were parents

Need to improve transitions
All children to be able to access support
One referral process
More early help support
Need flexible, responsive, forward thinking, transforming services
A simpler pathway to access services is required
Not enough staff to support children with 1:1 or 2:1 staffing needs
Flexible, integrated services
Services close to home

Potential new model designed that included:

Single service offer
Run and led by one organisation.

The redesign proposal was developed by a Partnership Design Group

Design phase
Nov 20 – Mar 23

Children With Disabilities Board (members included NPFG and providers)

These proposals were discussed and reviewed at each Children with Disabilities Board to shape the model.

Redesign proposal was developed and agreed by a Partnership Design Group, agreed, and approved by the Children and Young People’s Transformation Board

Second phase
April 23- Jun 23

233 people from an electronic survey and 6 focus groups.
43% of respondents were parents/carers
28% current provider staff
34% public

Majority of respondents said:

Bring residential and non-residential short breaks together
Flexible team across services
Increasing non-residential short breaks will reduce need for residential short breaks
One referral point and joined up assessment and reviews
More short breaks with 1:1 or 2:1 staffing
Additional services:
- Fundraising
- Peer support
- Volunteer buddies
- Whole family activities

The proposed lead provider model will have:

Central hub supporting all services
Single referral and assessment pathway
Staff working across the contracts
Grow capacity through fundraising and volunteers
Specialist play workers to support with designing activities
Build community relationships and links to enable greater choice of short breaks
Advertise short break opportunities centrally
Support families to step up and step down
Additional day care activity offered a residential short break
Add home care services

Phase	Plans for engagement
Third phase Sept 23-Oct 23	Electronic survey Public workshops Short Breaks staff workshops Provider forums Community events Scrutiny Committees
Final consultation October 2023	The final phase of engagement of the Short Breaks services has commenced before advertising the opportunity to potential providers to deliver the new vision of short breaks services. This is now your final opportunity to share your views on the potential new model of short breaks services for the future. We want to encourage you to complete the survey. Your view is very important to us and your feedback will help us get the short breaks services right for the future. We recognise that this is a very difficult time for parents and that you may have more questions. With potential change on the horizon this can bring out a range of emotions, some may be positive but also there may be anxiety and concern about how this will impact you and the services you receive in the future. This is why it is important that we involve you in this final stage so that you can help to shape what the services look like going forward. Nothing has yet been decided for certain yet, feedback given over the next 6 weeks from all stakeholders will be used to inform decisions about the way forward for these services. The proposals that we are consulting on have been developed through engagement with families and providers including their staff. These discussions have shaped the proposal and we want to make sure that everyone has one last chance to have a voice before the final model is advertised to providers. Final Engagement Opportunity we want feedback on potential changes following previous engagement and the development of a new short breaks model the proposed model combines the current short breaks services into one offer delivered by a single lead provider. This will allow for a more joined up approach, improved efficiency resulting in increased choice for parents on the range and flexibility of the services offered the base budget for the services remains the same at £2.8m. By using the pooled funding more innovatively we aim to improve the range and quality of clubs and activities for children with disabilities providing a better experience for children and a break for parents helping to reduce the potential for the family to go into crisis and require more intensive support the transformation may mean that the current services need to change with the aim of using resources more effectively to improve support for families a new central hub is proposed to manage a single referral route, keep developing services, raise additional funds and recruit and train volunteers the feedback received from the engagement will be used to develop the specification for the tender of short breaks services later in 2023, with the new model expected to be in place from April 2024 Complete the survey This survey will close on 19 November 2023

Phase

Plans for engagement

Third phase
Sept 23-Oct 23

Electronic survey
Public workshops
Short Breaks staff workshops
Provider forums
Community events
Scrutiny Committees

Final consultation
October 2023

The final phase of engagement of the Short Breaks services has commenced before advertising the opportunity to potential providers to deliver the new vision of short breaks services.

This is now your final opportunity to share your views on the potential new model of short breaks services for the future.

We want to encourage you to complete the survey. Your view is very important to us and your feedback will help us get the short breaks services right for the future.

We recognise that this is a very difficult time for parents and that you may have more questions. With potential change on the horizon this can bring out a range of emotions, some may be positive but also there may be anxiety and concern about how this will impact you and the services you receive in the future. This is why it is important that we involve you in this final stage so that you can help to shape what the services look like going forward.

Nothing has yet been decided for certain yet, feedback given over the next 6 weeks from all stakeholders will be used to inform decisions about the way forward for these services.

The proposals that we are consulting on have been developed through engagement with families and providers including their staff. These discussions have shaped the proposal and we want to make sure that everyone has one last chance to have a voice before the final model is advertised to providers.

Final Engagement Opportunity

we want feedback on potential changes following previous engagement and the development of a new short breaks model
the proposed model combines the current short breaks services into one offer delivered by a single lead provider. This will allow for a more joined up approach, improved efficiency resulting in increased choice for parents on the range and flexibility of the services offered
the base budget for the services remains the same at £2.8m. By using the pooled funding more innovatively we aim to improve the range and quality of clubs and activities for children with disabilities providing a better experience for children and a break for parents helping to reduce the potential for the family to go into crisis and require more intensive support
the transformation may mean that the current services need to change with the aim of using resources more effectively to improve support for families
a new central hub is proposed to manage a single referral route, keep developing services, raise additional funds and recruit and train volunteers
the feedback received from the engagement will be used to develop the specification for the tender of short breaks services later in 2023, with the new model expected to be in place from April 2024

Complete the survey

This survey will close on 19 November 2023

August 2023

West Northamptonshire's new Local Offer launched in August 2023.

West Northants Council needed a new SEND Local Offer. The Send Local Offer is part of the SEND Support Services. The SEND Local Offer needed a new directory, as well as new webpages and content.

A group of partners from the local authority, health and the Northants Parent Forum Group (NPFG) recruited a new member of staff to run the project. The SEND Local Offer Manager started in Spring 2023.

A development group for the SEND Local Offer started in June 2023. Membership is from interested partners including health, social care and parents. School staff have volunteered to join the planning for the new academic year in Autumn 2023. This group will report to the Improvement Board. The SEND Local Offer development group said that families wanted a printed magazine as well as a new e-magazine to replace the popular SNIX magazine.

Parents took part in iterative testing of the custom-made directory for the Local Offer during the Spring of 2023. 8 people each gave up an hour of their time to help the Digital Team with the design. Another 2 representatives from the NPFG met with the team to give a strategic parental view.

4 different groups of young people met with the SEND Local Offer Manager to explain what they thought other young people would want to find. The 'preparing for adulthood' topics guided the conversations. They also said the Local Offer should be colourful and have photos of local people and places.

Parents described what information would be useful at each stage of their child’s development. Parents represented NPFG, a Dad's group, the Down's Syndrome Group and a Special School.

The web team built the new website and pages with all the content and links. The Digital Team listened to all the feedback and created a new directory and office systems.

There is a SEND strategy for the next 3 years, agreed with partners, including parents. The planning sessions offered an opportunity for the attendees to comment on a new SEND Local Offer.

We will publish feedback from all contributors for the Local Offer in this section. It will be populated monthly, with agreement from the Local Offer Steering Group.

Last updated 06 March 2024