We are thrilled about our new funding from the Department for Education (DfE) which means that we can continue our project to join up assessments, plans and services for children in England who need palliative care.
Together for Short Lives is being awarded the money through DfE’s voluntary and community sector grant programme for 2015/16. The funding will enable us to extend our special educational needs and disability (SEND) project for another year and will:
- improve the information and advice available to children with life limiting conditions and their families through our Helpline and resources
- help us to influence local offers, which all areas in England should publish to describe the local services available to disabled children and young people
- help improve the way in which short breaks for children who need palliative care are jointly commissioned by the NHS and local authorities
- help education professionals to support children with life-limiting conditions in school, college and early years settings.
Our project will also improve the extent to which local voluntary sector providers of children’s palliative care:
- deliver integrated services
- are able to adapt to personal budgets – and help the families who use their services to make the most of personal budgets
- are included in local offers.
Andrew Fletcher, Director of External Affairs at Together for Short Lives said:
“We are delighted to be awarded funding to support our project to help improve support for children with life-limiting conditions.
“With support from DfE over the last two years, we have made a great deal of progress in encouraging children palliative care providers to play a full part in working together with schools, health and social care services.
“This crucial funding means we can continue this important work, so that children and families can benefit from better integration and can spend more precious time together as a family.”
Our project will continue as local areas continue to implement the government’s SEND reforms. These mean that:
- statements of SEN are being replaced with with education, health and care (EHC) plans for all children and young people with SEN aged 0 – 25 who are in full time education
- children and young people with EHC plans are eligible for a personal budget
- the NHS and local authorities have a duty to jointly commission services for all disabled children and young people aged 0 – 25.
