Option Advantages Disadvantages Option 1 - LA meets its statutory No contribution to addressing Continue with responsibilities current DSG overspend existing Minimises disruption to Question of equitability - contribution children, young people and whether LA should be funding from DSG professionals cyp whose level of need would funds (Do not ordinarily entitle them to Retain required support for nothing) this SLT support. vulnerable learners Continued joint working between education and health Cost effective May support LA in Would damage partnership Option 2 LA – addressing part of the DSG working and trust to make the overspend are also under pressure CCG’s case to to make savings likely to – transfer simply lead to funding responsibility reductions rather than cost and costs to transfer. Health Increases pressure on service to trade services to increase income LA statutory responsibility and case law Would support LA in Does not meet statutory LA’s Option 3 – addressing DSG overspend responsibilities Reduce or Loss of Statutory support to remove DSG vulnerable learners with funding statements/EHC plans contribution to Highly likely to lead to SLT dispute/mediation/tribunal Spot purchase of SALT will be at increased cost Non-financial appraisal A non-financial options appraisal was carried out on 21 October with representatives from Speech & Language therapy and the Specific Language Disorder Team. The scoring for each option is shown below:
Option Advantages Disadvantages Option 1 - Continue with existing contribution from DSG funds (Do nothing) LA meets its statutory responsibilities Minimises disruption to children, young people and professionals Retain required support for vulnerable learners Continued joint working between education and health Cost effective No contribution to addressing current DSG overspend Question of equitability - whether LA should be funding cyp whose level of need would not ordinarily entitle them to this SLT support. Option 2 – LA to make the case to transfer responsibility and costs to Health May support LA in addressing part of the DSG overspend Would damage partnership working and trust CCG’s are also under pressure to make savings – likely to simply lead to funding reductions rather than cost transfer. Increases pressure on service to trade services to increase income LA statutory responsibility and case law Option 3 – Reduce or remove DSG funding contribution to SLT Would support LA in addressing DSG overspend Does not meet LA’s statutory responsibilities Loss of Statutory support to vulnerable learners with statements/EHC plans Highly likely to lead to dispute/mediation/tribunal Spot purchase of SALT will be at increased cost Non-financial appraisal A non-financial options appraisal was carried out on 21 October with representatives from Speech & Language therapy and the Specific Language Disorder Team. The scoring for each option is shown below:
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