High Needs Delivery Advisory Board

The High Needs Delivery Advisory Board was set up to support local areas to support each other, sharing learning on what works in improving outcomes in High Needs and tackling shared challenges together. It is made up of sector leaders and experts alongside families with lived experience.

Using IMPOWER’s proven EDGEWORK® change methodology approach and tools to drive culture and behaviour change, this Board provides the infrastructure to share skills and expertise across multiple local areas experiencing the same issues.

We provide a safe space for Senior Leaders to share insights, ask questions and pose worries or challenges they’re facing.
We generate ideas and solutions to specific challenges affecting the High Needs system, drawing on the insights of families with lived experience.
And, we provide a catalyst for learning at practitioner level that can create and embed new approaches to child-centred, strengths based support for children with SEND.

The work delivered by local authorities and IMPOWER to improve outcomes for children with additional needs in a sustainable way is hugely impressive. It has helped inform the thinking of the national SEND review as importantly the approach is sustainable and replicable – and I have valued their keenness to share learning with others to support broader sector thinking.

DAME CHRISTINE LENEHAN, DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BUREAU & DFE ADVISOR

IMPOWER has had a massive impact on the culture change across the local area and also between the local authority and with the Parent Carer Forum. It is apparent from their work that it is not only the Local Authority that are their clients but the children and families, whose lives they are changing for the better

JENNY COLES, HIGH NEEDS DELIVERY ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR

In Lincolnshire, we are incredibly proud of the impact we have achieved. We have seen often brave, innovative and inspirational thinking by the local authority and its partners, which has been truly beneficial in effecting positive change for the families of children with SEND in Lincolnshire and should be applauded.

CORALIE CROSS, CHAIR OF LINCOLNSHIRE PARENT CARER FORUM (LPCF)

84%

Of SENCOs say that VSEND will be helpful to their school or setting

32%

Reduction in requests in for assessment with parents and schools more confident that needs were seen and met (Autumn term 2020 vs 2-year average)

54%

Of those accessing SEND advice line were successful and didn’t need specialist support to meet their needs (i.e. EHCP)

Aim of the board

Enable joint working and skills sharing across local areas experiencing similar issues
Provide a reflection, innovation and problem-solving forum for leaders, drawing on the insights of families
Keep a focus on the delivery of frontline changes which improve the lived experience of children with SEND and their families
Share learning and insight on ‘what works’ with the wider sector

Meet the HNDAB panel