Derbyshire County Council has launched a new digital case management system called iDOX. This initiative aims to improve the efficiency of assessments for children’s education, health, and care plans (EHCPs). The council is already seeing progress in this area after successfully clearing a historic backlog.
The iDOX system will enhance communication between the council, families, schools, health services, and other agencies involved in EHCP assessments. These assessments are legally required to be completed within a 20-week timeframe.
This technology is part of a £1 million investment the council recently made in its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service. This investment includes a complete redesign of the service, the establishment of new teams, the hiring of additional staff, and specialized training.
Councillor Alex Dale, the Cabinet Member for Education, stated, “SEND is one of our most sensitive and important areas of work. It requires close collaboration with families, schools, and other agencies to conduct detailed assessments for each child needing specific support. While we cannot rush this process, we recognize the need for significant improvement. We are committed to reducing delays, which can greatly affect children and their families.”
Councillor Dale added that as the new system is integrated into their workflow, communication with parents and schools will improve. However, he acknowledged that adapting to a new technology system takes time.
He emphasized, “While we work through this transition, we will continue to listen to parents and monitor our progress closely. We understand there is still much to accomplish.”
In addition to launching the iDOX system, the council received its Annual Review Letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for 2023/24. This letter highlights several issues that the council is already addressing through service changes and increased investments.
“While the Ombudsman’s letter does not present anything new, it provides an additional perspective to support the improvement journey we began last year,” Councillor Dale explained. “Although the Ombudsman holds local councils accountable, this year’s letter acknowledges the financial challenges and service demands that make improvements difficult. However, we are confident we are moving in the right direction, and we hope that as our new service settles in, the number of complaints and appeals to the Ombudsman will decrease.”
In addition to enhancing the SEND service, the council has invested £11 million to create 500 new special needs school places across the county as part of a five-year plan. They have also revamped other services within their schools and learning sector to strengthen the inclusion capacity of mainstream schools. This includes establishing a SENDCo Network and a SENDCo Helpline.
Recently, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission conducted a two-week Local Area SEND inspection, reviewing the partnership among the council, health services, and schools. They are currently preparing their report, which is expected to be published this autumn.
Councillor Dale noted, “Although we have a lot of hard work ahead, we are already making progress in many areas. We will use the findings from the Local Area SEND inspection to further develop our services across the partnership and continue our commitment to improvement.”
He added, “Our goal is to give every child in Derbyshire, regardless of their challenges or abilities, the best possible start in life. This is our commitment, and our work will continue.”
The council’s Cabinet will discuss the Annual Review Letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman on Thursday, October 17. The letter can be viewed by accessing the agenda for the cabinet meeting and selecting item 7.
You Might Be Interested In