Technology as a facilitator of multi-agency collaboration across special educational needs and disability services

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It has now been a decade since the Children and Families Act 2014 and the introduction of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). These changes were driven by a need to provide more coordinated, person-centred support for children and young people with SEND. However, even with EHCPs in place, ensuring effective multi-agency collaboration continues to be a challenge for Local Areas.

In this blog we explore why multi agency collaboration is so vital within SEND services and how technology can aid in facilitating this approach.

The crucial need for Multi-Agency collaboration

The importance of multi-agency collaboration for the outcomes of children and young people is crucial.

The idea of person-centred planning and multi-agency working between education, health and social care was driven by recommendations from the Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability green paper in 2012. It was acknowledged that focusing solely on education did not always address the complex needs of some children and young people effectively. Without strong multi-agency working, the complete view of a child or young person's needs and opportunities for achieving their goals could be missed. For example, a child with both educational and health needs is more likely to thrive when their teachers, therapists, and healthcare providers work together in their approaches and interventions. Multi-agency and person-centred planning approaches have been proven to lead to tailored provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, an improved experience for parents/carers, and better overall outcomes.

What does Multi-Agency collaboration in SEND Services look like currently?

Local Authority SEND services are supported by a dedicated and experienced work force. Across the country, many examples of good practice demonstrate the commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. However there are also significant challenges, especially as the demand for services continues to grow.

The SEND review  highlights a key concern in the substantial rise in the number of EHC plans each year since their introduction in 2014. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a 26.6% increase in the number of new EHC plans started. This demand adds to the existing pressures on SEND services, which already face stretched resources. In the current climate, effective multi-agency collaboration is even more critical. Yet, achieving it consistently across different areas remains challenging.

Evidence reviewed by the House of Commons Education Select Committee in 2019 highlighted that multi-agency collaboration has been challenging to implement across Local Areas despite best efforts.

Furthermore, Research from Ofsted in 2021 shows the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues. The report from Ofsted noted that multi-agency collaboration continued to be  challenging in the post-pandemic era. “[Ofsted] found examples of where the good work of individual practitioners was undermined by problems with multi-agency working.”

In summary, while there are instances of excellent multi-agency collaboration in SEND services, consistent implementation across Local Areas continues to face systemic challenges.

How can technology facilitate a collaborative approach in SEND services?

In the context of SEND services, recent advances in technology are emerging as powerful tools for enhancing multi-agency collaboration. At its best, technology speeds up or can reduce administrative tasks required to keep information about children and young people up to date, and create more effective coordination between professionals. By streamlining these tasks, SEND service professionals are empowered to focus on understanding the needs and ambitions of children, young people, and their families and enable leaders to make informed choices on how services are structured, or resources are prioritised.

Let's explore how technology can drive this collaborative approach:

1. Integrated Communication Platforms: Tools like Microsoft Teams enable seamless real-time communication between professionals across different agencies. These platforms make it easier for multi-agency panels to collaborate, even when team members are working from a range of locations within the local community ensuring everyone stays on the same page.
2. Unified and Secure Data Repositories: Cloud-based systems provide centralised, secure, and encrypted repositories of information. These allow multiple agencies to access, update and collaborate on a child or young person's data. These systems ensure that every professional involved has up-to-date information leading to more informed decision-making and coordinated action.
3. Data Analytics and Visualisation: Advanced analytics tools can process and visualise data from across multiple sources, helping agencies make informed decisions based on comprehensive insights. Senior leaders can better understand the performance of their services, quickly identifying areas that need attention or improvement.
4. Interoperable Systems: Standardised protocols and APIs play a crucial role in enabling software systems used by different services to communicate and share data seamlessly. The Department for Education as begun exploring a new initiative using a unique child identifier that aims at improving multi-agency information sharing, making it easier for these systems to integrate and collaborate. 
5. Geospatial Technologies: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping tools can help services visualise spatial data and map more efficient routes for some services, for example SEN Transport
6. Automated Workflow Solutions: Automation tools streamline repetitive tasks and processes, reducing administrative burden and ensuring timely execution of joint activities. This could include automated emails or notifications that can be shared with key services when an EHCP reaches a certain stage in a process.  
7. Generative AI: AI has the potential to revolutionise SEND services by automating routine tasks, such as extracting specific information from large volumes of documents, or generating written reports. This would allow professionals to focus more on reducing backlogs of requests and engaging in meaningful co-production with parents, carers and Children and young people, ultimately enhancing the quality and efficiency of the support provided.
8. AI and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning techniques can analyse large volumes of data to identify patterns and trends, offering predictive insights that aid in proactive decision-making and resource allocation. These can support SEND service leaders to identify previously unseen issues, or to optimise their resource allocation.  
9. Online collaboration tools: Video conferencing and collaborative document editing tools facilitate real-time discussions, sharing of best practice and joint working, regardless of geographical locations. This helps Local Authorities share best practice more easily, improving how well information can be disseminated.  

Bringing it all together

The integration of these technologies holds potential to significantly enhance the consistency and quality of SEND services.

Technology empowers professionals to make and contribute to high quality, timely decisions more easily, reducing delays in service provision. In addition, the opportunities that technology delivers to share best practice across geographical areas can continuously strengthen multi-agency collaboration within Local Areas.

Conclusion

The challenges facing SEND services are significant, but by investing in the right set of tools and platforms, the SEND system can empower teams to collaborate more effectively. This approach can ultimately improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND, ensuring they receive the support they need more efficiently and consistently.

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