Question: When is a consultation not a consultation? Answer: When only 1 out of 4 meetings about the new Haringey SEND Strategy meet the Amaze recommended minimum 3 weeks notice.

  • By Brian Leveson
  • 16 Jun, 2021

The purpose of these consultation meetings is to ensure lessons learned from amongst other things, the Amaze Report (described by the department as 'a clear action plan') are taken forward. But lessons are not being learned - particularly about engagement and consultation.  Does no one remember Overview and Scrutiny Panel rejecting the proposed privatisation of Haringey SEND Transport over this?

Wednesday 16th July 2021: 6pm to 7pm

These events are hosted by Haringey SENDIASS at Markfield and presented by Mary Jarrett (Head of Service, Integrated SEND) - see slides below

Sendiass Markfield is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Conversation about SEND Strategy in Haringey

Time: Jul 5, 2021 05:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98784954757?pwd=Q0tWNnYxek5RdkZNV0krbDg0KzRZZz09
 
Meeting ID: 987 8495 4757
Passcode: 961999


Monday 5th July at 5.30pm to 7.00pm

These events are hosted by Haringey SENDIASS at Markfield and presented by Mary Jarrett (Head of Service, Integrated SEND) - see slides below

Sendiass Markfield is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Conversation about SEND Strategy in Haringey

Time: Jul 5, 2021 05:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96062909008?pwd=dnZUbU54R0RDQUtXTHgraEREZmlrdz09

Meeting ID: 960 6290 9008

Passcode: 469382

Wednesday 7th July at 5.30pm to 7.00pm

These events are hosted by Haringey SENDIASS at Markfield and presented by Mary Jarrett (Head of Service, Integrated SEND) - see slides below

Sendiass Markfield is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Conversation about SEND Strategy in Haringey

Time: Jul 7, 2021 05:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/98776804905?pwd=eHAvUjMrOGdBYmk2SmM5MEViRnBydz09

Meeting ID: 987 7680 4905

Passcode: 277372

Slides for the meeting - our commentary is underneath

This is the 4th Head of SEND in less than 18 months.

The Ofsted 17th December 2019 focused visit identified the recruitment and retention of permanent social workers and managers as an area of social work practice that needs improvement. 50143403 (ofsted.gov.uk)

Families of children with SEND in Haringey felt neglected by the department, who focused their efforts and resources on EHC plans.

At the end of March 2021, 160 families on the disabled children's team list who had not contacted the department during the lockdowns were told that they would get a 'welfare check call'. within 2 weeks.

After a month, when no call was forthcoming, we enquired as to what had happened.

So, we got a call, out of the blue, but it was not pre-arranged and it was not convenient, so we asked for a follow up call.  At this point we were told that this was not a 'welfare check call' to see how we were, but a 'welfare project call' - to help the department work out is priorities for the next year.

We were then told that these calls were only courtesy calls - and we would not be getting one.  

There are no alternatives here to going to 'virtual meetings'.  Not everyone is accommodated here.  For example:

  • no indication of what people for whom communication via Zoom (people with additional needs) or 
  • who have English as a second language or 
  • people who are simply too busy to attend 
  • parents fed up of the merry-go-round of meeting, promises and then nothing happening 

The Amaze report - a clear action plan, clearly not being followed

AMAZE report - 'clear action plan': link AMAZE report recommendations for Haringey professionals (difficultparent.com)

PARTICIPATION PROJECTS AND COMMUNICAITON

Professionals to plan ahead for consultations and engagement opportunities, with an ideal minimum of three weeks' notice for meetings and six for consultation

Judge them on what they DO - NOT what they 'say'

Here the department acknowledge that "Families don't always ask for help, language and communication can be barriers to getting help and Haringey has diverse communities with a range of needs - so one way of communicating through one channel won't help".
This is written by some who in our experience responds to a question about service by turning it into a formal complaint. So rather than responding to a question like "Can a take my kid to school via Taxi, because you have failed to meet with the agreed level of service?" with a 28 day complaints procedure, thereby a very medically unwell child misses seeing a doctor face to face for the first time in a year.
What have they missed: Saying things does not make it happen.  Haringey need to do the hard work after years of struggle for parent carer and families - not just say it.

Haringey's Consultation Charter - Is it being followed?

Link to Haringey's Consultation Charter: consultation_charter.pdf (haringey.gov.uk)

By calling this process a 'consultation' Haringey SEND department, in my view, are having a particular type of engagement. 

In 2019, Haringey SEND department got themselves into a bit of a pickle with parents and the Overview and Scrutiny Panel about "a consultation that was not a consultation" on privatising the SEND transport system.

It would be remise not to learn the lessons of that not a consultation consultation and make the same mistake twice...
Haringey has a Consultation Charter

Is this a consultation?

Is this a consultation?

Does it have all the features of a consultation?

Will everyone be engaged?

Are documents being translated into languages other than English?

How will inclusion be ensured for people who cannot access virtual meetings?

Is best practice to ensure equality, diversity and social inclusion being followed? (like their own 'amazing' action plan?
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