A NUMBER of issues deemed to be "high risk" and in need of urgent attention have been highlighted in a new report on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) reforms in Bradford.

The report, which says a SEND inspection of the Bradford area is imminent, is due to be discussed by councillors today at a meeting of the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillors will hear that the work of the SEND Transformation and Compliance team has "identified a number of areas of high risk which require urgent attention".

On top of this, a report to the committee says consideration needs to be given as to whether or not current resourcing is "adequate to aid rapid recovery".

In looking at Education Health and Care Plans, the report says compliance rates within the statutory 20-week assessment period are low.

"In 2018 they were reported as 28 per cent compared to a national average of 58 per cent and Yorkshire and Humberside average of 59.8 per cent.

"Current performance is improving but distorted by the resolution of backlog cases which fall outside the 20 week period.

"The work of the Targeted Assessment Team is having an impact in this area."

It says there has been "significant delays in implementing the restructuring and colocation of the SEND 0 to 25 years integrated assessment team" and that the pathway on identifying and assessing Autism Spectrum Disorder is a "key risk" with a waiting list of two years plus.

The report says this is non-compliant with NICE (National institute of Clinical Excellence) timescales.

It also highlights access to CAMHS (Child Adolescent Mental Health Services) and waiting lists for access to specialist services like Speech and Language Therapy as high risk areas.

Among a number of other issues, it says "outcomes for children and young people with SEND do not fully meet their needs".

"The recovery and improvement plan to support the self evaluation needs to be in place in advance of the SEND inspection process and appropriately resourced," says the report.

"Service improvements are already being made, but given the multi agency and long term nature of some of the areas of concern these will need to be challenged, phased and embedded over the next 12 months.

"For example, the rationale behind a 12 month recovery plan is to enable the transformational change to be implemented and embedded.

"It will take 12 months to complete these changes for the existing 3800 EHC Plans as well as provide quality assurance to the circa 700 new assessments and plans annually.

"Effective project management coupled with action planning and change management is essential to deliver the recovery process."

Today's meeting, due to be held from 4.30pm in City Hall, will also receive a progress update following last year's damning Ofsted inspection, which rated Children's Services as inadequate.

"The continued focus of attention for the department is in creating the optimum operating environment for social workers and their managers to deliver safe and

high quality services," says a report to councillors.

"This is against the continued challenges of creating a stable and experienced permanent social care workforce."