The Young People, Learning and Employment Policy and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 16 September 2025 to discuss the council's work programme, review supported internships and employment opportunities, and receive an update on the transformation of services for children with disabilities. Key decisions included the approval of recommendations for the SEND strategy, the ongoing development of supported internships, and the integration of services for children with disabilities.

Work Programme for 2025-2026

The committee reviewed and discussed its work programme for the municipal year 2025-2026. The scheduled meeting dates for the year were confirmed as 2 December 2025 and 3 February 2026. The committee's work programme is designed to provide scrutiny with maximum opportunity to impact and influence council policy, focusing on areas where the council is developing new policy (pre-decision scrutiny), reviewing implemented policies (post-decision scrutiny), or providing oversight. The committee's terms of reference cover a broad range of areas including children's safeguarding, education, employment and skills programmes, libraries, and leisure services. The work programme is flexible to accommodate urgent issues that may arise.

Supported Internships and Employment Opportunities

The committee reviewed the effectiveness of the council's supported internship programme, which aims to help young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) secure sustained, paid employment. The programme, delivered in partnership with the City of Westminster College, involves a structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. Interns spend approximately 70% of their time on work placements, supported by job coaches.

The report highlighted the programme's recruitment process, which begins nine months before the academic year, and its digital presence, including promotion via the Westminster SEND Local Offer website and the All For Youth newsletter. The council's Communications team also disseminates information through social media. The programme has seen positive outcomes, with a significant percentage of graduates securing employment or apprenticeships. For the 2023-2024 academic year, 12 interns graduated, with 5 securing employment outcomes. Feedback from interns indicated high satisfaction with work placements and the support received, although some expressed a desire for greater involvement in choosing work rotations and a preference for work placements over classroom learning. Employer feedback was also positive, with partners reporting increased confidence in supporting interns and recommending collaboration with the Supported Internship team.

The committee was asked to consider how the council could further support the programme to improve its promotion and intake, and how to develop partnerships to create more placement and employment opportunities. The report also detailed the development of the Supported Employment Team, with new roles created to focus on working with schools and employers to enhance opportunities for residents with SEND.

Update on Services for Children with Disabilities

The committee received an update on the transformation of services for children with disabilities, which aims to create a more integrated and accessible service for families. Following an extensive review in 2024, which included consultation with 129 families, over 85 staff members, and input from the Make It Happen Parent Carer Forum, a key recommendation was to bring together the Bi-Borough Short Breaks service and the Disabled Children's Teams (DCT) into one integrated Children with Disabilities service.

This transformation aligns with national Social Care Reforms promoting a Family First approach, which emphasizes integrated pathways, multi-disciplinary support, and a lead practitioner model to ensure seamless support for families. The new Bi-Borough Children with Disabilities Service will consolidate three separate teams under one management structure, creating a joined-up pathway that is accessible and equitable. Key changes include establishing a single assessment pathway, embedding systemic practice with increased clinical capacity, and strengthening capacity through streamlined reviewing processes and flexible family help practitioner roles. The service is expected to be fully operational by early November 2025.

Workstreams within the transformation programme are also addressing the strengthening of the Children with Disabilities centre offer within the wider Family Hub offer, the procurement of a homecare and respite framework, and improving inclusion in mainstream community-based settings. The procurement of a framework for home, community, day, and overnight respite aims to deliver a high-quality, flexible service with better value for money and clearer safeguarding standards. An Inclusion Working Group is also focused on improving accessibility across universal services, with a SEND Criteria Checklist and Inclusion Pathway developed to support community settings in including disabled children.

The financial implications of the restructuring are expected to result in a Westminster reduction of £96,816.20 for 2025/26 through management efficiencies and a more equitable distribution of caseloads. The service has also significantly reduced overspend in Bi-Borough Short Breaks. The new integrated model is anticipated to improve financial sustainability and resilience in meeting growing demand. The report highlighted that the consultation process and proposed changes have been positively received by the Make It Happen Parent/Carer Forum.

SEND Strategy 2021-2024 Review and Recommendations

The committee reviewed the SEND Strategy 2021-2024 and discussed various aspects of support for children with SEND. Key topics included workforce stability, the effectiveness of Bi-Borough arrangements, the integration of NHS services, funding of SEND initiatives, early years support, and mental health provisions in schools. The committee also considered support for schools in adopting neurodiverse-friendly practices and the creation of additional places for SEND children.

Following the discussions, several recommendations were made:

• The Council will consider introducing and training teaching staff in Makaton for children with communication difficulties.
• The Council will continue to investigate opportunities for SEND young people to obtain employment after leaving education.
• The Council will lobby for additional support to address the increasing financial demands for children with SEND.
• The Council will continue to investigate ways to work with the Integrated Care Board (ICB), Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE), and partners in the co-production of services for children with SEND.
• The Council will continue to prioritise school attendance for children with SEND, working with schools to maximise attendance and minimise suspensions.
• The Council will continue to work closely with NHS ICB partners to develop the role of community hubs within the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams model to increase early intervention for children with SEND.

Rising Costs and Challenges in Providing Care for Children with Complex Needs

The committee also discussed the rising costs and challenges associated with providing care for children with complex needs. This included discussions on the council's priorities for supporting these children, attracting foster carers, the cost of out-of-borough placements, and initiatives to keep children at home. The council's funding mechanisms, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the need for complex care, and strategies for managing high levels of need were also examined.

Recommendations arising from this discussion included:

• The Council will lobby for legislative change to support the service in light of increasing financial demands for children with complex needs.
• The Council will continue to advocate for joint accountability and integrated services to ensure continuity of care and smooth transitions for young people with complex needs.
• The Council will continue to explore initiatives to address pressure on the overall care placements budget and financial pressures on the council.
• The Council will take action to drive policy and legislative changes that emphasize joint commissioning of provision for complex needs where health and social care needs are intertwined.
• The Council will investigate funding options for domestic violence and violence against women as preventative measures for children with complex needs.