SENDIASS guidance for health

Health care services

Many children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), will also have medical needs. Different health care providers are commissioned by NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Board to provide health care services for these children and young people.

The Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) supports joined up working between health services and local authorities.

The DCO is not routinely involved in assessments or planning for individuals, except in the course of their usual clinical practice, but they are responsible for ensuring that assessment, planning and health support is carried out by health providers and agreeing the health services within an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP).

Herefordshire Designated Clinical Officer: hwicb.herefordshiresenddco@nhs.net

Worcestershire Designated Clinical Officer: hw.senddco@nhs.net

Designated clinical officers are employed by NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire Integrated Care Board which is part of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System. More information can be found on Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System SEND webpages.

Useful websites to health care services related to SEND in your area

Healthcare Service for Children and Young People in Herefordshire

Healthcare Service for Children and Young People in Worcestershire

Learning Disability Register and Annual Health Checks

If your child or young person has a learning disability you can ask for them to be added to the Learning Disability Register at your doctor’s surgery. Anyone of any age, and any level of learning disability can join the register, even if they live independently and have little or no support. 

By being on the Learning Disability Register they will get extra support when they visit the doctors and could receive an annual health check once they are 14 years old. 

Mencap have further information on the Learning Disability Register and Annual Health Checks. 

Healthwatch provide information on health services and give you the opportunity to have your say about how services operate. 

Healthwatch Herefordshire

Healthwatch Worcestershire