ADCS

Remit

The Health, Care and Additional Needs Policy Committee has lead responsibility for policy regarding:

• child health, including complex health needs
• child and parental mental health
• children and young people in care
• children with learning disabilities
• children with special educational needs, liaising with the Educational Achievement Policy Committee

Minutes

Minutes from recent committee meetings are available in the members' only area of the website.

Updates:

November 2011

A number of issues in the Committee’s remit are high on the political agenda and developing quickly. Some issues are being covered at Board and Council level and some have been picked up by other ADCS Policy Committees:

Adoption (Board and Council)

• ADCS President Matt Dunkley has been in discussion with Number 10 and Martin Narey. Council of Reference will formally respond to Martin’s report at the meeting.

NHS and Public Health reforms (New team of interim health leads and Families, Communities and Young People Policy Committee)

• Lisa Christensen, Barbara Peacock and Elaine McHale are standing in for Ann Baxter and covering key external meetings, including the Local Government Health Transition Task Group.
• Rob Willoughby and Tim Coulson are representing ADCS on mental health and CAMHS groups.
• Families, Communities and Young People Policy Committee are looking at safeguarding in the new health system, including consideration of GMC draft guidance for GPs on child protection.

Special Educational Needs (Resources and Sustainability Policy Committee)

• The Resources and Sustainability Policy Committee is working on SEN funding arrangements in school funding reform. The Committee is also commissioning research work on SEN funding. The scope of this project will be discussed at the next Committee meeting on 25th November. Invitations will be extended to HCAN members.

Looked after status for young offenders (Families, Communities and Young People Policy Committee)

• Families, Communities and Young People Committee are considering this alongside other provisions in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, led by Andrew Webb. Resources and Sustainability members are also involved in discussions.