Communications & Engagement

The SEND LGA Peer review told us:

Development of a comprehensive SEND communication and engagement strategy across the local area is needed.

It is essential that staff across all sectors have a stronger awareness and understanding of the SEND vision in Gloucestershire and what is expected of them.

What we have done already:

We have reviewed SEND communications across the partnership and introduced:

• An interim short-term multi-agency communications strategy which brings together partners existing project communication plans
• Additional training for ICB and social care teams promoting understanding of lived experience and how children’s needs can be identified and met
• A SEND Champions network for social workers to support continuous development
• Dedicated SEND intranet pages to raise awareness within Gloucestershire Health & Care Trust.

What’s next

We will develop a medium to long-term Local Area Partnership overarching communications strategy for SEND to compliment individual campaigns and raise awareness, including further development of:

• internal communications to colleagues within the partnership
• a dedicated SEND training module for ASYE newly qualified social workers
• continuous review of the Local Offer
• communications to early years, schools, and further education
• updates from the Send and Inclusion Local Area Partnership Board.