Designated Clinical Officer Islington Lesley Platts l.platts@nhs.net

DCO Experienced paediatric therapist who have a dedicated role in providing a link between the Local Authority and Health services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Clinical expertise in caring for children and young people with additional needs and providing advice to education. They have a key role is supporting Islington CCG  to meet its statutory responsibilities and ensure that health advice is given within 6 weeks for EHCP assessment, agreeing the relevant health services within an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

DCO The DCO oversees the processes for Health information being shared with Education for the purposes of EHCP needs assessments; they offer advice, quality checking and support to clinicians writing reports for this purpose, ensuring standardisation and fair access to services for families. They are a member of the EHC Management Board and agree health provision They act as a point of contact for others involved in the care of children and young people with additional needs on matters related to health and education, for example, local authorities, schools, colleges, voluntary services Key advisor to LA at SEN Tribunals

DCO Key strategic advisor on health and CAMHS to LA and CCG and support pathways of care for early identification and access to appropriate assessment for CYP SEND Identifying effective models and evidence based clinical practice around for CYP with SEND including NICE guidelines Identifying clinical service area development areas Promote integrated working practices across agencies included coordination of care, shared assessments and joint visions around outcomes Bridge with GP and acute services to support CYP SEND processes Supporting SEN with their duties regarding pupils with medical conditions

Support for Families Being a parent to a disabled child or child with special educational needs can become a stressful experience when you can't find the information, advice or support you need and then there's the health services !!!!

Work with families Provision of information and advice in the Local Offer on available health services for children and young people with SEND, their parents and those who may care for them or want to refer them for assessment Co-ordinate health content for the local offer Ensuring a process is in place for review and monitoring of outcomes Answer queries, complaints and comments regarding health service provision for CYP with SEND Review pathways for specialist commissioning AAC/equipment / wheelchairs etc particularly around transition Ensuring evidence based practice and up to-date research and audit into clinical interventions Developing joint care pathways such as Down’s Syndrome pathway