Purpose

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

Content

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.