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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

CO-OPERATION BETWEEN EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AND HEALTH BOARDS

Local Determination of Collaborative Arrangements

259. It is the wish of both The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department and The Scottish Office Department of Health that health, education and social work authorities should co-operate as much as possible in exercising their respective functions in respect of children and young persons with Records of Needs. The best and most appropriate arrangements for collaboration must be determined locally. However, for child health services, health service providers should ensure that there are appropriately qualified and experienced medical, nursing and therapist staff who have specific responsibility for advising education authorities of children they believe have, or are at risk of having, conditions which may give rise to special educational needs. Within the process of assessment for recording, these people might also be given the crucial function of co-ordinating the advice of their respective clinical colleagues and acting as points of contact for education authorities.

Nominated Officers

260. Where appropriate alternative arrangements are not already in place to assist liaison, education authorities and social work authorities should nominate officers to act as general points of contact for all organisations who meet children and young persons and who may wish to bring to their attention any whom they feel they should know about.

261. All services should, therefore, review their patterns of work and agree procedures which will avoid unnecessary duplication and delay and help ensure that the appropriate professionals can be involved in all stages of assessment and identification of a child's and young person's special educational needs.

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