Teen, mental health and ECHP re assessment . Sorry it’s long.

[TrappedandChocolated]

DS16 has had his ECHP since he was 12. His needs have not been reassessed since then. He goes to a special needs school.

His echp mentions his anxiety but there’s no targeted health provision in his plan for it. Although his school were providing this anyway until DS decided he no longer wanted to engage and he requested to stop it. Ironically this was because he was anxious. He has selective mutism and finds talking therapies overwhelming.

I’ve tried to find him some form of therapy which would allow me to deliver CBT type stuff to him through training me but it doesn’t seem to exist. I am turned away everywhere I try because DS will not engage. But his anxiety is impacting the whole family and controls our whole life. It can’t continue on.

He tried medication but then stopped that as it made him feel weird. He won’t go back on it.

He does want help but I don’t know how to help him or who to turn to, his anxiety is controlling him and us. He has a PDA type autism.

Firstly can anyone recommend a type of therapy or professional who may be able to help us?

Secondly, I would like DS to have support for mental health written in to his echp without years worth of waiting lists.

Do I request a re assessment of needs or do I ask for a personal budget (we are having a review currently) to fund mental health support? The evidence I have is just reports saying DS is having severe anxiety.

Thank you.

DS will not engage.

It is far more likely to be can not engage.

It sounds like DS needs far more provision in the EHCP. SALT, OT and MH therapies. On the latter, if talking therapies don’t work, there are possibilities that rely less on verbal communication such as animal-assisted therapy or art therapy. Some people find something like Mindjam helpful if DC like gaming. All of which are actually special educational provision and belong in F of the EHCP rather than in G the health provision section.

Personally, I wouldn’t request a reassessment of needs at this point, because is likely an appeal would still be needed to secure the detailed, specified and quantified provision DS needs, anyway.

What I would do is appeal (and as part of this, seek independent assessments) following the review. (BTW is DS 16 in Y11 or 16 in Y12? Because if the former a review meeting should have been held before now because the finalised phase transfer EHCP must be finalised by 31st March.)

Personal budgets are to fund provision in the EHCP, so, at the moment, it is highly unlikely the LA will agree to a personal budget for MH support that isn’t in the EHCP.

@StrivingForSleep Thank you for the detailed reply. How would I get evidence to say MH support is needed?

DS has some reports from CAMHS which has repeated references over the past year to his mental state. Would these be enough? He’s in yr11 . The last review we had was his annual one in March 2024.

I will appeal to get these things put in place. What professional could I use for an independent assessment of mental health? Would it be a psychiatrist?

General CAMHS reports are highly unlikely to be enough. They won’t be written in the correct way.

It depends on DS’s needs, what type of assessment/report you need and what finances allow, but you could consider an educational psychologist, a clinical psychologist &/or a psychiatrist. SALT, OT and ISW would also be helpful, but which to prioritise depends on what evidence you already have and DS’s needs. If you can't afford independent assessments but aren't eligible for legal aid, contact Parents in Need.

If DS is in Y11 the LA must finalise by 31st March. If they don’t do this, you need to email the Director of Children’s Services reminding them of their duty and, at the same time, look for someone to write a pre-action letter - SOSSEN can help with a pre-action letter but there is a wait so if you get to that point you may want to look elsewhere. Time will be of the essence.

@StrivingForSleep thank you again. Could you describe what ISW is please? I’ve not heard of this.

I think we will prioritise the psychiatrist report as I think this will be the best option for DS.

ISW is independent social worker.

Make sure any professional you use have experience of writing reports for SENDIST.

@StrivingForSleep I didn’t know independent social workers were a “thing”! I’ll certainly look in to this. Thank you very much

Evidence from an ISW can be extremely helpful for some appeals.

@StrivingForSleep I feel less lost now than I did when I posted. Your advice is so appreciated .