Issues tracker

Issues raised by children and young people

The Voice, Influence and Change Team at Leeds City Council provide opportunities for children and young people in Leeds to have a voice and influence in education, health and social care services in Leeds.  

The issues tracker is a mechanism to log the issues raised by children and young people and what action has been taken to raise these issues with services. 

All issues and challenges raised are shared with the Voice and Influence Transparency Working Group and subsequently with the Leeds Area SEND Partnership Board. 

If you have any further questions about the issues tracker please email LLO@leeds.gov.uk 

issues tracker children and young people

Fun activities outside of school

What children and young people have told us
  • SEND training for activity providers.
  • Holding groups and activity providers accountable for accessibility. 
What we are doing to improve fun activities outside of school
  • A review of short breaks and fun activities in Leeds (2024).
  • Joint funding for initiatives designed to improve the wellbeing of children, young people and families in Leeds.
  • Coproduction of commissioning for short breaks.
  • Streamlining, personalising, and improving the personal budget system for children with additional needs.

Early diagnosis and support

What children and young people have told us
  • Help people to get their diagnosis earlier.
  • Awareness of the impact a late diagnosis has on young people.
  • Post diagnosis support.  
What we are doing improve early diagnosis and support
  • As the health issues are a challenge to the health system and will not be fully resolved easily, the Leeds Parent Carer Forum and the Designated Clinical Officer will review regularly and provide updates.
  • Additional funding for CAMHS to increase capacity.
  • 3 additional Occupational Therapists to increase capacity and reduce waiting times.

Disability awareness

What children and young people have told us
  • Disability awareness amongst peers.
  • Disability celebration. 
  • People being supportive of needs
  • People to care.
  • Standardising accessibility, for example easy read, different coloured backgrounds.
What we are doing to raise awareness of disabilities 

Raising awareness of disabilities artwork project / campaign launched May 2024. 

https://wearechildfriendlyleeds.com/raising-awareness-of-disabilities/ 

SEND training and support for professionals

What children and young people have told us
  • SEND training for all professionals, including those in the private sector.  
  • After training support and resources.
  • Standardising accessibility in the learning environment, for example easy read, different coloured backgrounds. 
What we are doing to ensure professionals receive SEND training

SENDIASS to be the first point of contact for young people, parents, carers and professionals about education, health and care processes and support available.

  • Ensure professionals in education settings are aware of the Graduated Approach (training and support).
  • Health colleagues to launch a national SEND training framework by NHSE.
  • Working groups set up to look at training for professionals. 
  • Support for education settings including early years. 
  • Support from SEND Teams to schools and settings to support early identification and graduated approach.
  • Development of the workforce to ensure that families are involved in decision making.
  • Refresh of Best Strat Plan.
  • Continued support and offer from SEND Teams and learning Inclusion to support inclusive practice in schools.
  • Continue to embed practice around being a trauma informed city  - joint funding for  initiatives designed to improve the wellbeing of children, young people and families in Leeds.
  • Ordinarily Available Toolkit developed so all schools, settings and other services across the partnership are clear on what inclusive SEND provision looks like.

Mental health support

What children and young people have told us
  • Better support for over 18 year olds. 
  • Mental health support for all.
  • Tailored support for young people with SEND. 
  • Access to CAMHS to be made easier. 
What we are doing to improve mental health support
  • Review of MindMate Spa

MindMate is the local website designed with young people, for young people, their families and professionals to provide a central place for information about common mental health issues. The website it there to help you explore emotional wellbeing and mental health issues and offer information about where support is available.

For young people over 18 years old Mindwell is the mental health website for people in Leeds. The website can help you find information about support in Leeds and different ways to take care of your mental wellbeing. 

There are a range of service in place in Leeds to support children and young people’s emotional and mental health that are commissioned to work across Leeds.  

Information about Mental Health services in Leeds can be found here. 

Bullying and discrimination

What children and young people have told us
  • Lessons in school about bullying and discrimination linked to SEND.

What we are doing to address bullying and discrimination

  • Child Friendly Leeds: 12 Wishes as a high profile and visible set of priorities (Including Wish 4). CFL Wish 4 Working Group, brings together a cross service group to look at bullying, discrimination and celebrating what connects us.
  • Leeds Healthy Schools Framework: PSHE/SEMH, bullying is included in both of these areas. This tool allows us to see how schools are grading these sections. Through schools work on healthy schools, we encourage them to have a pupil friendly version of the antibullying policy.