Conversion rate of EHC needs assessment requests to social work assessments under s17 children act.

Title: Conversion rate of EHC needs assessment requests to social work assessments under s17 children act. The information requested regards the process the local authority children social care (csc) undertake when the LA is informed of an Education, Care and Health Needs Assessment (EHC NA).

1. Do CSC contact the family on notification of a EHCNA? a) If not, then how is this recorded in the EHCP section D?

2. If CSC do contact the family who undertakes that contact (MASH, Short break team, CWD team, other?)?

3. what form does that contact take - telephone call, email, letter etc?

4. What is the conversion rate of that contact with family into a Child and Family assessment under s17 The information should cover the period Sept 23 to Aug 24 Sept 24 to Aug 25

Lincolnshire County Council does not routinely contact families upon receiving notification of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment.

As part of the EHCP process, locality teams are contacted to request information regarding any current involvement. However, if there is no existing involvement, the team does not initiate contact or complete a Child and Family Assessment at this stage.

Therefore, there is no available data on conversion rates from EHCNA notifications to Section 17 assessments.

While there can be an entitlement to an assessment under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 due to a diagnosis of disability or additional needs, the Front Door may recommend an Early Help Assessment where support needs are identified rather than safeguarding concerns. In such cases, families will be signposted to relevant resources, including:

Local Offer:https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/special-educational-needs-disabilities

Activities and Holiday Clubs: https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/lincolnshire-children-and-youngpeople Carers

Assessment information: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/support-carers

Training for Parents/Carers on Sensory Processing Difficulties: https://www.lincolnshirechildrenstherapyservices.nhs.uk/neurodevelopmentaldifficulties/sensory-processing-difficulties

Working Together Team: https://www.wtt.org.uk/

Lincolnshire HAF Programme: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/school-pupil-support/holidayactivities-food-programme

If a family specifically requests an assessment under Section 17, this will be screened by Children’s Services (CSC) to determine the appropriate next steps.

Depending on the outcome, this may lead to an Early Help Assessment or a Social Care Assessment, with a referral to the locality teams. If the child meets the criteria for the Children with Disabilities (CWD) service, this will be considered and referred accordingly, a decision is made in conjunction with CWD