Decision details

Tier 4 CAMHS Hospital Independent Education Provision Policy

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Deleted

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning seeking adoption of a policy to outline the framework and take into consideration the terms and process of said policy.

Decision:

(i)  To approve the Tier 4 CAMHS Hospital Independent Education Provision Policy for the academic year 2020-2021.

(ii)  To authorise the Service Lead for Education to take any action necessary to give effect to the (said) policy and to authorise any changes necessary to (said) policy, where required to give effect to any Acts, Regulations or revisions whenever they arise.

Reasons for the decision:

1.  To date, Southampton City Council has no policy regarding this vulnerable set of pupils. This policy will establish a framework and process that the local authority and independent providers can adhere to as and when admissions arise.

2.  Where NHS bed spaces are unavailable, Tier 4 admissions (i.e. If a child or young person is sectioned under the Mental Health Act) are allocated to independent hospitals. In these cases, the statutory responsibility for education of children and young people admitted remains with the ‘home’ local authority and can be discharged to the hospital school (as attached to the hospital). This policy will provide the protocols for effective discharge of Local Authority responsibilities.

Alternative options considered:

The only alternative considered and rejected was not to implement the policy document. It has been necessary to challenge providers over the last academic year, however, to date there has been no formal document to establish process and procedures. Legal advice was sought from within Southampton City Council which suggested that establishing a policy would be advisable in this case.

Report author: Elliot Nolan

Publication date: 18/08/2020

Date of decision: 18/08/2020

Decided at meeting: 18/08/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 27/08/2020

Accompanying Documents: