Worcestershire County Council has committed to providing better training after an investigation revealed it had failed a child with special needs because of a lack of basic knowledge.
A looked after child with special educational needs (SEN) missed out on five and a half terms of education and didn’t receive therapy for two years because staff at a council-owned company, Worcestershire Children First, had such a poor grasp of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.
An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the process of finding a new school for the child was beset by delays and a lack of understanding of the Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan process.
The SEN team admitted it was unaware of its powers to name certain types of schools in a child’s EHC Plan.
Ms Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: ‘It is incomprehensible that staff dealing with the child’s education provision, working in an education department, could have such a poor understanding of the law around special educational needs and disabilities and their duties towards children in their care.
‘They also failed to act on the concerns raised by its specialists for looked after children. Not knowing they could specify the type of school is basic knowledge and it is bewildering staff didn’t know their remit.’
Cllr David Chambers, Cabinet Member for Education at Worcestershire County Council, said: ‘We would like to apologise to the family involved in this case.’
He continued: 'We fully accept the recommendations of the report. We are committed to working together as a genuine partnership, with our families at the heart of this partnership, to ensure meaningful improvements are made for all children with SEND and EHCPs in Worcestershire and that they receive the support they need and deserve.
‘Training provided under our SEND improvement plan will be reviewed to ensure improved practices can be taken forward.’
