SEND Quality Assurance Framework

The NHS England South East Mental Health, Learning Disability, Autism and SEND programme, in partnership with colleagues from the North East and Yorkshire region, have developed and launched the SEND Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) which aims to support ICBs in delivering SEND services. 

The QAF was co-produced through engagement with the Council for Disabled Children (CDC), health professionals, and regional parent carer leads as well as children and young people and has been designed to ensure systems understand their overall position at a place and system level to inform improvement plans. The information gathered through the framework provides the ICB with assurance and can be used to develop areas that are either location specific or that can be considered as a system wide priority.  

There are five domains and corresponding key lines of enquiry within the QAF that have taken learning from the NHS England SEND ICB Maturity matrix and SEND Local Area Inspection outcomes, and implementation of the SEND Code of Practice has also informed the development of this framework.   

What to expect: 

·         A structured, transparent approach to quality assurance for Integrated Care Boards  

·         Practical resources and guidance to support implementation 

·         Opportunities for ongoing collaboration and feedback