Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Leads

The role of a SEND Lead

Our SEND Leads:

• liaise with child and adult health services about specific children and young people
• participate in EHC plan quality assurance exercises and feed back to health colleagues
• provide support and training to health colleagues about SEND
• work with partners in cases that need mediation services to resolve disputes outside of tribunals
• review and provide evidence for first tier tribunal cases where there is a health element for determination
• participate in SEND Local Area Inspections

SEND Health Advisory Service

The SEND Health Advisory Service (otherwise known as SHAS) has been established to help support children and young people across Gloucestershire who are being considered for an Education & Health Care Plan (EHCP).

The service offers a holistic health needs review to all children aged 0-25, who are not currently receiving support from another health service.

Following the appointment, the health advisors will then signpost the family to further support should unmet health needs be identified during the consultation. They then write a report which is sent to the local authority to help inform the process of Education & health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).

The health advisors are not case holders and so cannot make any onward referrals for further support. If professional referrals are required, the health advisors will signpost to either the GP, or the school to request these referrals be actioned to support the child’s health needs.

Referral to this team can only be accessed via the Local Authority Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) process. We do not accept referrals from any other sources.

Useful information