Purpose

To provide an update and approve a change of approach in relation to the Sensory Impairment Service (in Education) Disaggregation

Decision

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

i)               Approved that from the Children’s Sensory Impairment Service remain in the Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) as an aggregated service with North Northamptonshire Council named as the Lead Authority. The service delivery arrangement is to be assessed after 2 years of being in place (July 2026).

ii)              Agreed and approved that Schedule 2B1 of the IAA be amended to reflect the decision to amend the delivery model.

iii)            Agreed that a Service Plan, Schedule 3B1, be agreed by North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils and appended to the IAA.

iv)                 Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills, in consultation with Monitoring Officers and Section 151 Officers for North and West Northamptonshire, to take any further decisions and actions necessary and complete any legal agreements required to affect the decision.

v)                   Noted that a report will be considered by the Joint Shared Services Committee in relation to the remaining of the service in the Inter Authority Agreement between North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council  

Reason for Recommendations –

·       The service model for the Sensory Impairment Service ensures a continuous effective service delivery within this statutory function. It also considerably reduces the risk of service failures or issues as a result of limited specialist resources and capacity to support the vulnerable end-users, as well as reputational damage.

·       This arrangement provides greater flexibility for both authorities to develop a sustainable future service delivery model.

·       The service is operating under the single service model and has in place      funding to deliver a safe and legal service.

Alternative Options Considered:

·       Disaggregate the SIS as laid out in the Blueprint Agreement into two distinct, separate services. This would leave the Service open to a number of risks to the service being delivered in a safe and legal manner. Risks include the national shortage of suitably trained staff and reduction in capacity for each Council as set out at 6.1 of this report.

·       Change to a traded (commissioned) service model for the service which would retain the current lead authority arrangement governed under a between agreement between North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Councils. After full consideration it is felt that the IAA would allow for such an arrangement without disruption to services.