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ANNEX G ABERDEEN LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
PARTNERSHIP MATTERS
LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
June 2008
1. Statement of Purpose
This partnership will provide support to young people and adults (16 years or over), who due to the nature of their disability or additional support need, (for example, a difficulty in learning, physical disability, mental health problem or sensory impairment) cannot independently access and participate in further education. We will seek to ensure that all young people and adults have the chance to access a place with an appropriate further education provider with the necessary support.
In doing so, the young person or adult ("the learner") will be kept fully involved in discussions about an appropriate education placement and the decision making process involved. The needs and aspirations of the learner will be at the centre of any decision taken regarding an appropriate education placement.
All partners recognise, understand and respect the roles and responsibilities of the different agencies that provide support. Each partner acknowledges the need for on-going discussion about the provision of support, and is committed to working in partnership to ensure provision of that support.
The partners agree to review and update the Agreement annually to ensure quality improvement.
2. Partners
2.1 The partnership will comprise of:
I. Representation from Aberdeen College - Head of Access and Inclusion
II. Representation from Aberdeen City Culture and Learning - Principal Educational Psychologist
III. Representation from Aberdeenshire Education Learning and Leisure Service - Education Officer as nominated by head of service
IV. Representation from Aberdeen City Health and Care Services - Senior Manager as nominated by the Head of Health and Care
V. Representation from Aberdeenshire Housing and Social Work Services - Senior Manager as nominated by the Head of Social Work
VI. Representation form NHS Grampian - Senior Manager as nominated by NHS Grampian
VII. Representation from Skills Development Scotland - Skills Development Scotland Manager
VIII. Representation from - Lead Scotland
2.2 Those attending meetings of the Partnership will have sufficient authority to make decisions about the resourcing of support services.
3. Referrals
3.1 In the first instance, the further education provider will identify a support need and will liaise with the appropriate partners to consider provision of additional support.
3.2 All referrals for additional personal or health care support in college will be made to the local authority (social work service) and/or NHS board and an assessment of need will be carried out. A support programme will be completed by an appropriate member of staff from the local authority, NHS board and further education provider.
3.3 The support programme will contain details of personal and health care support required by the learner and will outline how this support will be provided. The partners will consider all requests for additional support and will jointly reach a decision on each request.
4. Review of Services
4.1 The partners agree to maintain an ongoing review of services, which will include:
i. mapping resources,
ii. establishing current levels and standards of service provision
iii. Identifying gaps in provision.
4.2 This will inform the future development of our support strategy.
5. Roles and Responsibilities of Agencies
5.1 The partnership recognises that further education providers are, in the main, responsible for the provision and funding of educational support whilst the student is attending College. Such support can include, depending on the individual need as assessed by the College:
i. Note taking
ii. Scribe/Reader
iii. Course materials in alternative formats
iv. Assistive aids
v. Adapted equipment as well as technology
vi. Special exam arrangements
Education services will ensure the provision of carers for learners still attending local authority schools the resource provision where the learner had individual support whilst attending school. This support would be over and above the support normally provided by the further education college.
5.2 We further recognise that Local Authority are responsible for the funding and provision of personal care support assessed as a need, as outlined in the learner's care plan, whilst attending college. This will include:
I. Personal Hygiene - Help with washing, if required, this may include showering or bathing.
II. Personal Assistance - Help with changing clothes. Help with transfers, including the use of a hoist where required. This may also include help in moving around.
III. Food and Food Preparations - Assistance with food preparations, e.g. cutting food and eating.
IV. Intimate Personal Care - Help with going the toilet and with the use of associated aids/equipment.
V. Administration of Medication - Help to self administer medication.
VI. Provide and identify additional support needs to allow access to adequate and efficient education
5.3 NHS boards will be responsible for the funding and provision of health care support, as outlined in a learner's care plan, whilst attending college. This will include:
I. Administration of medication - a learner may be unable to administer their own medication in relation to for example, asthma, diabetes, mental health problems or epilepsy
II. The further education provider will be responsible for making a reasonable adjustment to allow medication to be given to a learner but not for the administration of the medication itself.
III. The further education provider will ask the learner to provide written confirmation of their medication requirements and details of the procedures to be followed in an emergency.
5.4 The NHS and Social Work Services are responsible for providing the learner with advice and guidance regarding the storage and administration of medication whist studying on a course in Aberdeen College. Aberdeen College will be responsible for obtaining the appropriate first aid assistance and/or calling the emergency services should the learner require medical help.
I. Social work services and NHS boards will ensure that they and/or this contracted agencies have suitable relief staff arrangements in place that ensures consistency for the learner.
5.5 Skills Development Scotland will offer learners a range of products and services to:
I. Develop individuals' career planning and decision making skills
II. Help individuals become more aware of the world of work
III. Assist individuals enter appropriate education, training or work
The delivery of these products and services takes account of the differentiated needs of individuals, including those with additional support needs, and are designed and delivered to meet these needs. Underpinning service delivery are processes, including the use of assessment tools and approaches, which recognise and identify the particular needs of individuals.
5.6 While all partners understand these roles and responsibilities, we all agree that the over-riding aim is to work collaboratively in partnership to provide the best support available to a learner. There will be occasions therefore when partners may consider providing support not explicitly within their statutory responsibility. Where this is agreed this must be made known to the learner and their carer / parent.
I. Students coming from local schools and agencies with specific software/hardware, College can look at adapting this to meet College Health and Safety guidelines.
6. Transport
6.1 Local authorities will provide and pay for specialist transport services to and from the further education provider where the learner's Assessment of Need shows a need for this service.
6.2 The further education provider will consider providing and paying for transport services where social work services have not assessed a learner as being in need of specialist transport, but lack of transport is the barrier to a disabled learner accessing college. This may be deemed to be a reasonable adjustment by the further education provider under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
7. Disclosure Arrangements
7.1 All partners will ensure that all employees or employees of agencies contracted by the partners, who are supporting students in Aberdeen College, have a current Enhanced Disclosure Certificate as stated in the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003, before starting a post. All partners will ensure that Enhanced Disclosure checks are undertaken in a 3 year cycle.
7.2 Aberdeen College will ensure that all support workers/carers employed by a student through Direct Payments has a current Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.
8. Transition Information Sharing
8.1 Under the terms of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland)
Act 2004 ("the 2004 Act"), Education Authorities will be obliged to provide the further education provider with relevant information on a learner at least 6 months before they are due to start a course at the college. This will include the learner's expected leaving date and information on current support needs that the authority thinks will help the further education provider make suitable provision.
8.2 Under the terms of the 2004 Act, if requested by the Education Authorities, further education providers will be obliged to provide information on any provision they are likely to make for the learner on ceasing to receive school education. The information provided will be taken account of by the Education Authority in considering the adequacy of the additional support to be provided for the learner, during the period before they cease to receive education.
8.3 Information sharing will be crucial to the success of the partnership. All partners agree therefore to share information (with the consent of the learner or via the learner's parent / guardian in the absence of capacity on the part of the learner) in good time to assist in the planning of the transition and support to be put in place. Forms used by partners involved in specific support cases where they contribute to with the sharing of information as part of the students initial support meeting.
8.4 Lead Scotland have referral form used for information sharing. This form ensures they can be part of this information sharing process and is signed by the learner and would be attached to application form.
9. Attendance at Meetings
9.1 All partners will be represented at meetings to discuss, agree on or review support arrangements.
10. Review of Provision
10.1 Provision of support may change depending on the needs of the learner. Should there be a need to consider changes to the support programme these will be discussed with the learner, their carer/s and relevant partners including the social worker. The partnership will be made aware of any significant changes.
10.2 Where appropriate (and with the permission of the learner) the further education provider will be invited and represented at reviews called by other agencies.
11. Monitoring Arrangements
11.1 Existing Aberdeen College procedures such as course/subject student evaluation forms will be used to record feedback from learners/carers and professional staff in order to monitor the support arrangements put in place and the quality of support. Matters relating to support will also be raised and discussed at The Partnership Matters Strategy Group meetings. Complaints made to all partners will be monitored and appropriate action taken.
11.2 Partners will meet on a quarterly basis to consider support arrangements that have been put in place and feedback on these and any other relevant matter relating to provision and support.
11.3 This partnership agreement will be reviewed annually, and revised as necessary. However, this agreement can be revised at any time, for example if there is a need to consider any proposed changes to the care/support.
12. Recording and Information Systems
12.1 To ensure that all relevant information about a learner including his/her support needs is passed on to the appropriate agency, up to date systems of communication will be developed.
12.2 All partners will have access to all information (subject to appropriate legislation and with the permission of the learner) required to make an informed decision about support arrangements for the learner.
13. The Learner
13.1 The learner will have a support programme that will be agreed upon by all partners and the learner and/or parent/guardian. The programme will identify the learner's individual needs and aspirations and outline how they will be supported by all partners in achieving these. The college will ensure that it is updated on a regular basis and revised as necessary.
13.2 The support provided will not compromise the learner's dignity or self-respect.
13.3 The support provided will respect the beliefs and cultural identity of the learner.
14. Provision of Support
14.1 Information relating to the support arrangements, and how this is managed and monitored should be treated in an open but confidential manner, respecting the privacy of the learner at all times.
14.2 Social work services, education services, NHS boards, Lead Scotland and the further education provider records should be available to other partners, where appropriate and with the permission of the learner, to assist in the decision making process.
15. Health and Safety
15.1 Health and safety procedures will be followed, in providing support to the learner, and reviewed if amendment required.
15.2 The further education provider will record accounts of all serious incidents/ accidents in which the safety of the learner or care staff were put at risk.
16. Support of Staff
16.1 Social work services and NHS Grampian will ensure that any member of staff employed to offer personal or health care support has been trained to carry out the tasks allocated to them. Staff should demonstrate the knowledge, level of skills and experience and if necessary qualifications to support the needs of the learner.
16.2 All staff will be provided with training and development by their employer that reflects the needs of the learners they will be supporting. They may also be provided with on the job training. On occasion partners may consider joint training initiatives.
16.3 All partners will ensure that support is available to all staff members from their manager.
16.4 Partners to encourage collaborative learning and development through the sharing of ideas and staff training in regards to student support arrangements.
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